Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems (NGAS) has an opening for an Advanced Automation Manufacturing Engineer or Advanced Automation Principal Manufacturing Engineer to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals. This position will be located at Palmdale, CA Center of Excellence where technology and teamwork come together. The qualified applicant will become part of Northrop Grumman's Manufacturing Engineering Team working in a collaborative environment while promoting a positive and proactive teamwork environment.
Advanced Automation Manufacturing Engineering job duties involve the following:
Provide guidance to Engineering regarding design concepts to ensure the best manufacturing technique is being used to meet the Engineering design
Participate in tool design reviews to ensure tools are feasible and reduce build times and program costs during assembly
Define sequence of operations for product builds, investigate and initiate corrective actions and improvements that involve non-conforming product and identify improvement opportunities in areas that require producibility and affordability initiatives
As a member of the Automation Manufacturing Engineering team, you will define, develop, implement, and transition new technology solutions to manufacturing to increase efficiency, reduce cost, and improve quality. Manufacturing concept and process solutions for production applications cover advanced technologies including but not limited to composites fabrication, assembly, automation, inspection, direct part manufacturing, survivability technologies, as well as digital capabilities. The role requires incorporation of requirements into development plans and evaluation of performance of processes and tools to verify their efficiency. In addition, you will identify and initiate corrective action of problems and deficiencies to ensure technical, schedule, and cost objectives are met, and product quality is maintained. In this role, you will provide guidance regarding design concepts, directly support, and ensure the successful implementation of new solution capabilities released to production, and specification requirements to best utilize resources and manufacturing techniques. This role involves interfacing with internal and external customers, program offices, engineering disciplines, executive management and requires the ability to handle multiple projects concurrently in a dynamic/fast-paced work environment.
Advanced Automation Manufacturing Engineers for Aeronautics Systems are expected to provide technical solutions to a wide range of complex and difficult problems. They are problem solvers who can provide results that are innovative, thorough, practical, and consistent with organization objectives. We seek Manufacturing Engineers that use a unique skill set that includes a hands-on approach and support as the technical representative voice for the Manufacturing organization.
Basic Qualifications for Advanced Automation Manufacturing Engineer:
Bachelor’s Degree with 1 year or Master’s degree with 0 years of related experience in production assembly / fabrication including composites, machining, coatings application, or production manufacturing operations
Experience supporting manufacturing / production operations with an understanding of manufacturing processes and procedures
Experience in machining, robotics, or numerical control programming
Experience in composites, automation, heating systems or coatings application
Experience working or knowledge of Process Work Instructions (PWI)
Experience in creating work instructions, training materials & visual aids
Experience reviewing and interpreting Blueprints and 3-D models
Experience in system requirements development, acceptance testing and training
Experience working hands-on in a production assembly line environment
Experience in troubleshooting systems, and root cause and corrective action analysis
Proficient in Microsoft Office Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook
Ability to interface / communicate with multiple levels of leadership, engineering, production, customers, and suppliers
Active in-scope U.S. Government Secret / Top Secret security clearance that has been granted / renewed within the past 5 years
Must have the ability to obtain and maintain Special Program Access within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the company to meet its business needs
Ability to work 1st shift, or 2nd shift and any work schedule (times may vary)
Basic Qualifications for Advanced Automation Principal Manufacturing Engineer:
Bachelor’s Degree with 4 years or Master’s degree with 3 years or PhD degree with 0 years of related experience in production assembly / fabrication including composites, machining, coatings application, or production manufacturing operations
Experience supporting manufacturing / production operations with an understanding of manufacturing processes and procedures
Experience in machining, robotics, or numerical control programming
Experience in composites, automation, heating systems or coatings application
Experience working or knowledge of Process Work Instructions (PWI)
Experience in creating work instructions, training materials & visual aids
Experience reviewing and interpreting Blueprints and 3-D models
Experience in system requirements development, acceptance testing and training
Experience working hands-on in a production assembly line environment
Experience in troubleshooting systems, and root cause and corrective action analysis
Proficient in Microsoft Office Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook
Ability to interface / communicate with multiple levels of leadership, engineering, production, customers, and suppliers
Active in-scope U.S. Government Secret / Top Secret security clearance that has been granted / renewed within the past 5 years
Must have the ability to obtain and maintain Special Program Access within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the company to meet its business needs
Ability to work 1st shift, or 2nd shift and any work schedule (times may vary)
Preferred Qualifications
Degree in a STEM field (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math)
Experience in project management and execution (proposal creation, scheduling, budget tracking)
Experience in Manufacturing Execution System and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems
Experience in solid modeling design using NX Siemens, CATIA or Solid Works
Experience providing innovative techniques focused on improving product designs and tooling assemblies or equipment
Experience in using Microsoft Office Project, Visio, SharePoint
Experience in Transition to Production activities
Active in-scope Special Program Access clearance preferred
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree (or Master's/PhD per level) with related manufacturing/production assembly experience
- Experience supporting manufacturing/production operations and manufacturing processes/procedures
- Experience in machining, robotics, or numerical control programming
- Experience in composites, automation, heating systems or coatings application
- Knowledge or experience with Process Work Instructions (PWI)
- Experience creating work instructions, training materials, and visual aids
- Experience reviewing and interpreting blueprints and 3-D models
- Experience in system requirements development, acceptance testing, and training
- Hands-on experience in a production assembly line environment
- Experience troubleshooting systems and performing root cause and corrective action analysis
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook)
- Ability to interface and communicate with multiple levels of leadership, engineering, production, customers, and suppliers
- Active in-scope U.S. Government Secret or Top Secret security clearance granted/renewed within the past 5 years
- Ability to obtain and maintain Special Program Access as required
- Ability to work 1st or 2nd shift and varied work schedules
- Experience with NX Siemens, CATIA, or SolidWorks (preferred)
- Degree in a STEM field (preferred)
- Experience in project management, MES/ERP systems, Microsoft Project, Visio, SharePoint (preferred)
- Experience in Transition to Production activities (preferred)
- Active in-scope Special Program Access clearance (preferred)
Northrop Grumman Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Northrop Grumman and has not been reviewed or approved by Northrop Grumman.
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Retirement Support — 401(k) matching is considered strong, with additional defined-benefit coverage for certain cohorts and options like catch-up contributions. Retirement programs are repeatedly highlighted as a core strength of the total rewards.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — PTO, company-paid holidays, and compressed work schedules (such as 9/80) provide meaningful time away and flexibility. These scheduling options are cited as a major quality-of-life benefit across many locations.
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Parental & Family Support — Paid parental leave alongside caregiver leave, adoption assistance, and back-up care supports a range of family needs. These programs have been expanded recently, signaling continued investment in family support.
Northrop Grumman Insights
What We Do
We are a close-knit community of big thinkers collaborating to keep the world safe. Our passion, creativity and expertise bring next-level technology solutions to life in autonomous systems, cyber, C4ISR, strike, space, and logistics and modernization for our customers around the globe. On the Northrop Grumman team, you’ll join our pursuit of excellence immersed in a dynamic culture of innovation and respect. Your unique perspective will help achieve our shared vision for the future of global security. Every step of the way, you'll be supported by world-class training, employee resource groups and a comprehensive benefits package that enables greater health and happiness for you and your family. Worldwide and across disciplines, we’re challenging what’s possible for technology to protect people and places from undersea to outer space and into cyberspace. And we see the impact of our performance every day. We are Northrop Grumman, and we work on what matters—now, you too can make a difference. Explore opportunities in engineering, IT, manufacturing, business management, cybersecurity and more with us. Northrop Grumman is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
