RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available
CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No
CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret
TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time
DescriptionNorthrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems has an opening for a
Principal Technical Editor and Writer- Product Support to join the team of qualified individuals. This position is located onsite, in
San Diego, CA.This is not a traditional technical writing role. The ideal candidate will excel in classical technical communication while actively leading and embracing the integration of artificial intelligence tools into the end-to-end authoring workflow. You will help transform how complex aerospace and defense documentation is created, maintained, validated, and delivered in an era of rapidly evolving platforms and regulatory demands.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead the evaluation, integration, and optimization of AI-powered authoring tools (large language models, generative AI, automated validation systems, and knowledge graphs) to improve efficiency, consistency, and accuracy of technical content.
- Collaborate with engineering, sustainment, and AI/ML teams to develop and refine prompts, fine-tuning strategies, and human-in-the-loop workflows that leverage AI while ensuring compliance with military standards (MIL-STD-38784, S1000D, IETMs, etc.).
- Support creation and maintenance of structured authoring environments and single-source-of-truth repositories that feed both human and AI consumers.
- Development and sustainment of cable and wiring Functional Flow Diagrams (FFD) for an Interactive Electronic Technical Manual (IETM).
- Authoring, rewrites and/or edits of technical documents such as descriptive and procedural data for maintenance and user manuals.
Basic Qualifications:- 5 Years experience with Bachelors; 3 Years experience with Masters; 1 year experience with PHD
- Experience in IETM data module authoring and development experience using Spec1000D,
- Experience with Mil-STD-38784, MIL-STD-3048, Mil-STD-1808, and Tech Manual Style Guide constraints.
- Authoring experience will include Arbortext, SGML and/or XML authoring software, Astoria Navigator common source database, and IETM technical publications development processes.
- Skilled in writing maintenance related procedures (e.g. Descriptive/ Fault Isolation/ Fault Reporting/ Operational/ Procedural & Non-Procedural/ Repair/ Scheduled-Maintenance/ Avionics/ Electrical/ Mechanical - Maintenance Manuals),
- Familiar with using Illustration Part Breakdown (IPB), SpecView IETM viewer to publish and check accuracy of authored artifacts.
- Demonstrated hands-on experience integrating AI/LLM tools into professional authoring workflows (e.g., using GPT-class models, Claude, custom fine-tuned systems, or enterprise platforms like Palantir, ServiceNow, or specialized IETM tools with AI layers).
- Must be able to obtain and maintain a US Government Secret clearance.
- Willing to travel to customer designated locations when performing verification events.
Preferred Qualifications:- Hands on maintenance experience with RQ4 unmanned aircraft &/or ground segment systems such as USAF Global Hawk, FMS ROK and Japan, NATO AGS, and MQ-4 Triton programs are highly desirable.
- Experienced with using the Interactive, Electronic, Technical Manuals (IETM) Operations and Maintenance Manual (OMM), the Operations and Maintenance Manual development process and participating in Customer Validation and Verification (CVV) events.
- Development processes associated with Time Compliant Technical Orders (TCTO's).
- Lead Writer experience using AGILE & JIRA best practices.
- Strong understanding of prompt engineering, AI output evaluation, RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) architectures, and techniques for ensuring factual accuracy and traceability in AI-assisted content.
Primary Level Salary Range: $85,600.00 - $128,400.00
The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions.
Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.
The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.
