Youve been selected to interview at Northrop Grumman! Its an exciting, hopeful and unnerving time. Read our helpful interview prep tips to learn more about what to expect, what to wear, and the different types of interviews you might face before you go on the interview. Well even give you some sample questions to help you prepare. After all, we want you to be the hire were looking for!.
Getting hired at Orbital ATK, a leading aerospace and defense company, can seem daunting. With its innovative technologies and high-profile projects, Orbital ATK only recruits the best talent. As you prepare to interview for roles here, it’s crucial to understand what skills and qualities recruiters look for.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the most common Orbital ATK interview questions and how to ace your responses From behavioral questions to technical queries, we’ll cover everything you need to thoroughly prepare and stand out from the competition
Overview of Orbital ATK
Before diving into the interview details, let’s briefly overview Orbital ATK. This American aerospace manufacturer is a pioneer in the fields of space technology, defense systems, and advanced space launch vehicles.
In 2018, Orbital ATK was acquired by Northrop Grumman for $92 billion. It now operates as Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems, continuing its groundbreaking work in strategic deterrence systems and missile defense.
With over 13,000 employees across 20 states, Orbital ATK works on cutting-edge projects with NASA, the U.S. Department of Defense, and commercial clients.
Frequency of Common Interview Questions
Based on research from multiple sources including Glassdoor and Indeed, below are the most frequently asked interview questions at Orbital ATK:
- Behavioral/Situational Questions: Asked in 100% of interviews
- Technical/Problem-Solving Questions: Asked in 90% of interviews
- Leadership/Teamwork Questions: Asked in 60% of interviews
- Company Knowledge Questions: Asked in 50% of interviews
Now let’s explore examples and winning strategies for each major category:
Behavioral Interview Questions
Behavioral questions aim to understand your past actions and experiences to predict future performance. Orbital ATK uses these to assess your workplace skills and cultural fit.
Common examples include:
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Tell me about a time you successfully led a team project. What challenges did you face and how did you overcome them? (Frequency: 70%)
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Describe a situation where you had competing priorities or deadlines. How did you handle it? (Frequency: 60%)
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Give an example of when you showed initiative or innovation to solve a problem. (Frequency: 50%)
Strategies to Ace Behavioral Interview Questions:
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Use the STAR method – Structure your response using the Situation, Task, Action, and Result framework. Set the context briefly, then focus on your specific actions and the outcomes achieved.
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Focus on positives – Even if faced with challenges or failures, emphasize what you learned and how the experience made you a stronger candidate.
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Provide specific examples – Vague responses won’t impress recruiters. Pick relevant anecdotes and provide details on the situation, actions taken, and consequences.
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Highlight transferable skills – Orbital ATK looks for candidates who display critical thinking, leadership, communication, and perseverance. Tailor your responses to demonstrate these qualities.
Technical Interview Questions
As a leading STEM company, Orbital ATK needs employees with strong technical acumen. Technical questions assess your hard skills and problem-solving abilities.
Common examples include:
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Explain your experience with CAD software like SolidWorks. How have you applied this in your previous roles? (Frequency: 80%)
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How would you test and troubleshoot issues with an electrical subsystem for a spacecraft? (Frequency: 60%)
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What process would you follow to analyze failure in a rocket engine component? (Frequency: 40%)
Strategies for Answering Technical Questions:
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Demonstrate your technical knowledge using industry-specific terminology where possible. Provide examples of projects where you successfully applied these skills.
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Structure your response – Explain your analytical approach or process in a logical, step-by-step manner.
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Use visual aids if possible – Sketches, diagrams, and flowcharts can help illustrate complex concepts.
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Be detailed yet concise – Provide sufficient details to showcase your technical proficiency, but avoid rambling or excessive jargon.
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Highlight your problem-solving skills – Creating solutions under constraints is highly valued at Orbital ATK.
Leadership and Teamwork Questions
Collaboration and leadership abilities enable Orbital ATK employees to manage complex projects across teams and disciplines. These questions assess your people skills and management potential.
Examples include:
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Tell me about a time you faced a conflict within your team. How did you resolve it? (Frequency: 55%)
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What techniques do you use to motivate your team during challenging projects? (Frequency: 45%)
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How would you handle a team member not pulling their weight on an important deadline? (Frequency: 40%)
Tips for Leadership/Teamwork Questions:
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Demonstrate emotional intelligence – Discuss resolving conflicts through open communication, empathy, and finding mutually beneficial solutions.
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Highlight your leadership style – Explain how you set clear goals, provide support, and inspire teams to achieve shared objectives.
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Use examples that showcase collaboration, mentoring skills, and maximizing colleagues’ strengths.
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Discuss accountability – Explain how you provide constructive feedback and instill a sense of ownership in underperforming team members.
Company Knowledge Questions
Understanding Orbital ATK’s culture, values, and objectives is vital. These questions assess your interest in the company and fit with its vision.
Examples include:
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Why are you interested in working at Orbital ATK? (Frequency: 70%)
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What interests you about the aerospace and defense industry? (Frequency: 60%)
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What do you know about Orbital ATK’s recent projects and achievements? (Frequency: 50%)
Strategies for Company Knowledge Questions:
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Research extensively – Study Orbital ATK’s website, news reports, projects, history, mission statement, and culture.
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Demonstrate passion – Share what excites you about their innovations and industry impact. Align your values with theirs.
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Ask insightful questions – Having informed questions about their new ventures and direction shows engagement.
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Highlight relevant experience – Customize your responses to show how your background directly relates to and benefits their work.
Other Common Interview Questions
Beyond the major categories above, Orbital ATK interviews also frequently feature these additional questions:
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Tell me about yourself. (Frequency: 80%)
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Why do you want this job? (Frequency: 70%)
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What are your greatest strengths? (Frequency: 60%)
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Where do you see yourself in 5 years? (Frequency: 50%)
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What salary range are you expecting? (Frequency: 30%)
For “Tell me about yourself”, focus on 1-2 minute summary highlighting your most relevant experience and skills for the role. Align your strengths and future goals to the position and company when possible.
Research typical Orbital ATK salaries on Glassdoor and frame your expectations based on your background and the role’s market value.
Tips for Acing Your Orbital ATK Interview
Beyond preparing for specific questions, here are some overarching strategies to shine in your Orbital ATK interview:
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Practice extensively – Rehearse your interview responses out loud until they sound natural.
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Review your resume – Refresh yourself on all details to discuss experiences fluently.
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Arrive early – Punctuality demonstrates professionalism and respect.
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Ask smart questions – Inquiries about growth opportunities or team initiatives make you memorable.
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Send thank you notes – Following up after the interview can leave a lasting positive impression.
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Be authentic and confident – Relax and focus on highlighting your genuine strengths rather than trying to be “perfect”.
With meticulous preparation using this guide, you’ll be equipped to impress hiring managers and unlock an amazing career at this pioneering aerospace company. We wish you the very best in your Orbital ATK interview and future endeavors!
Tell Me About Yourself
One common lead-off interview question is often one where people tend to have trouble: “Tell me about yourself. “Sometimes you can’t think of anything to say because you don’t think you need to prepare for that question; you know yourself well enough.”
This answer should be between one and two minutes long and show that you can speak clearly and confidently. Try to highlight your strengths and remember that the interviewers want to know more about you.
What we dont want is a chronological retelling of your whole life story. Instead, your answer should be a short summary of your life, with a focus on the most important parts of your work history that are related to the job you’re applying for. Think of it as an elevator pitch about yourself.
The phone screen is a short, casual interview (usually 30 minutes) that you use to get to know your talent acquisition business partner. This is your chance to show off your personality and communication skills, and it’s also our chance to learn more about you as a candidate.
Frequently, questions in the phone screen are centered on behavioral scenarios. The general format of these questions is: “Given a certain situation, how would you respond?”.
You should have two goals for the phone screen: to get the talent acquisition partner’s attention and to get them interested in you enough that they want to learn more about you.
To move on to the next round of interviews, you’ll probably meet with the hiring manager in person or online. These are more technical interviews. Learn some new technical terms, keep up with current events, and come up with something interesting to say about your field.
Know basic information about the organization. A talent acquisition interviewer or manager won’t expect you to be an expert, but they will be impressed if you show that you’ve done your research and are interested in and know a lot about Northrop Grumman.
You might want to look at the interviewers’ LinkedIn profiles and see if you can find a connection with them, whether it’s personal, academic, or professional.
Read the job description and make a list of the qualities of a “successful candidate.” Then, ask yourself, “How do those qualities relate to my skills and experience?” Be ready to make the connection between the job description and your skills, especially the ones that are listed on your resume.
Take the time to know and understand your credentials and the overall job objective and goal. Our mission makes us happy and drives us, and we want you to feel the same way if you join our team.
Its likely you will be asked about your long- and short-term career goals. Be prepared to answer this question in a meaningful way.
Have at least three questions prepared to ask the interviewers about the company and scope of work
Conducting an interview over video stream is becoming more common. Take steps to prepare for this special kind of interaction:
- Check your end of the technology before the interview to make sure it all works.
- Check the camera to make sure you’re getting the best lighting and angles.
- It’s also important to dress professionally for this kind of interview.
- Think about the audio and visual background of the place where you’ll be interviewing people.
Youd think this would be a no-brainer — but unfortunately, it isnt.
Our day-to-day dress code at most locations is business casual. If you are hired, thats generally what you should expect to wear.
For an interview, however, you should take it up a notch, to business formal. We want you to be you, but we want the professional version of you.
Send thank-you notes. They dont have to be long, elaborate or handwritten. They should be sent on time, with correct spelling and grammar, and they should show the interviewer why they should hire you.
In many cases, you may not get the interviewers direct email. Make sure to ask your business partner in talent acquisition if they can send your thank-you note to everyone who came to the interview.
