Systems Engineer

Company: SmartSearch
Location: Gilbert
Posted on: April 1, 2026

Job Description:

Job Description Job Description: NG Mesa works a 9-80B office schedule. Regular office hours are 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM. This is an on-site position. Principal/Sr. Systems Engineer Northrop Grumman solves the toughest problems in space, aeronautics, defense and cyberspace to meet the ever-evolving needs of our customers worldwide. Our 85,000 employees are Defining Possible every day using science, technology, and engineering to create and deliver advanced systems, products and services. We are committed to advancing global security and human discovery in support of our customers' missions around the world. We do so by providing leading technology and national security solutions and services to markets around the world. Northrop Grumman's Armament Systems Division based in Mesa, Arizona produces automatic medium caliber gun systems. Northrop Grumman ATK gun systems built for the U.S. and international militaries have been used in all major conflicts since World War II in a variety of applications to include small and large ground vehicles, helicopters, airplanes and naval ships. Role Description: This Systems Engineering position is for an individual contributor role on medium caliber gun system programs within the Armament Systems Division. As part of the Systems Engineering group, the Principal Systems Engineer coordinates planning, organization, implementation, integration and completion of assigned engineering projects. This position is located in Mesa, Arizona. Responsibilities The Principal Systems Engineering position carries the following set of primary responsibilities: • Accountable to the Systems Engineering Manager and Program Managers for meeting technical performance measures, cost targets, and schedule requirements on assigned engineering projects. • Provides technical oversight to the assigned integrated project team; sets engineering work direction for other engineers, technicians, and administrative personnel and assigns tasks based on project objectives. • Performs planning and execution of gun system development and testing projects, including voice of the customer techniques, requirements development and management, gun system definition, verification and validation, and risk management to design of gun systems. • Ensures pertinent design factors such as contractual, environmental, cost, schedule, technical performance, system integration, producibility, interchangeability, and material requirements are considered during development and program execution. • Leads failure investigations and associated corrective actions. • Works with design, project, manufacturing and quality engineers through the development process and ensures timely flow of information among and between engineering team members. • Coordinates with Aftermarket Services team to support fielded systems and ensures cross-functional coordination to deliver outstanding customer service. • Supports Program Manager as a control account manager to ensure accurate schedule and cost tracking. • Presents work products at program reviews, proposals, or other project meetings. • Prepares and plans cost estimates and written technical proposals. • Acts as a technical interface to external customers, and forms working relationships with representatives of external technical organizations. • Develops technical relationships with vendors and suppliers, in coordination with subcontracts management and quality functions, to facilitate technical flow-down and understanding of requirements, testing, and process control. • Supports manufacturing trade studies and early supplier involvement. • Shares knowledge with other engineers. • Supports and leads continuous improvement initiatives within the overall engineering department. Position may be filled at a higher level, depending on education and/or years of experience. Position Requirements for Principal Systems Engineer: • BS in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering • At least 5 years of directly related mechanical design experience in defense or aerospace industry or 3 years of directly related experience with a Master's degree. • Demonstrated project management skills and techniques including work breakdown structures, integrated master scheduling and earned value management. • Experience in product development projects and sustainment of legacy programs for complex aerospace or defense systems. • Mechanical design experience with complex gear trains, cams, springs, clutches, machined components, welded structures, electric motors and solenoids preferred. • Familiarity with mechanical and electrical engineering processes and other specialty engineering activities within the product development process. • Experience writing statements of work and estimating project scope. • Demonstrated effectiveness in achieving results through understanding and management of internal processes and customer/supplier relationships. • Knowledge of operations of upstream process inputs (Lead System Integrators, Business Development, Contracts, Pricing, and Program Management). • Knowledge of operations of downstream process customers (both internal and external: Modeling & Simulation, Configuration Management, Manufacturing Engineering, Manufacturing Operations, Assembly, Test, System Verification & Validation, Integrated Logistics Support, and End User). • Skilled in working with Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Project. • Understanding of Six Sigma disciplines, design for assembly / design for manufacturing (DFA/DFM). • Strong oral and written communication skills with ability to focus on multiple projects and deliver status on risk areas and required actions. • Demonstrated strength in technical writing. • Knowledge of requirements decomposition, FMEAs, verification and validation, and risk analysis. • Experience with requirements database tools such as Cameo, DOORS, or TCSE. • Experience in performing failure analysis and driving implementation of robust corrective action. • Ability to scope and generate product test plans, lead tests as Test Engineer and generate comprehensive test reports for internal and external customer distribution. • Familiarity with computer aided design (CAD) software, preferably NX, and engineering requirements and analysis tools (FEA). • Understanding of GD&T • U.S. Citizen and be able to obtain a DoD Secret Clearance • Position may require domestic and international travel, • Must be able to obtain clearance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and Explosives as an Employee Possessor. • Candidates hired into this role will also need to complete a Gun Control Act Self Certification form. Position Requirements for Sr. Principal Systems Engineer : • Includes all of the above with at least 9 years of directly related mechanical design experience in defense or aerospace industry or 7 years of directly related experience with a Master's degree.

Keywords: SmartSearch, Tempe , Systems Engineer, Engineering , Gilbert, Arizona