Energetics Manufacturing Engineer - level 3/4

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No

CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret

TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the TimeDescription

At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.

Northrop Grumman is in need of a Principal or Sr. Principal Industrial Engineer to work at its Elkton, Maryland facility. 

Northrop Grumman Propulsion Systems and Controls (PS&C) facility in Elkton, Maryland began solid-propellant rocket operations in 1948. Today, the Elkton PS&C facility designs, develops, and produces solid-propellant propulsion and ordnance systems in programs professionally managed for a wide variety of Government and commercial customers. The facility also serves as the hub for offsite engineering and test facilities in Ronkonkoma, NY and Palm Beach Gardens, FL.

Elkton, Maryland is located on the Upper Chesapeake Bay, midway between Philadelphia and Baltimore. Discover charming small towns, parks with miles of trails, specialty and antique shops, award winning restaurants, and inns.  You can hike, bike, camp, bird watch, ride horseback, or drop a fishing line.  Five rivers, Chesapeake Bay and the C&D Canal can be explored by boat or by land. Experience panoramic views from Turkey Point Lighthouse on a bluff overlooking the Bay, or from the banks of the C&D Canal where ships from around the globe cruise. https://www.ccgov.org/government/tourism

The Principal / Sr. Principal Industrial Engineer analyzes and designs sequences of operations, workflows, and equipment layouts to drive efficiency, throughput, and producibility in plant and SRM production operations. This role establishes methods for maximum utilization of production facilities and personnel; leads continuous improvement activities; and uses data‑driven tools and MES integration to eliminate bottlenecks, standardize processes/metrics, and sustain improvements. The engineer conducts studies on cost control, cost reduction, inventory control, quality improvement, optimized logistics and material handling practices, and production record systems, and develops and implements plans and programs for facility modifications and revisions to operating methods. The role develops forecasting techniques and supports accident prevention measures and recommends training programs across all phases of production operations.  The position can rapidly grow into a CI/producibility champion, and shop‑systems expert.

Core Responsibilities

• Analyze and design sequences of operations, workflows, and equipment layouts (using VSM, line balancing, capacity/utilization analysis) to improve efficiency, throughput, and remove bottlenecks.
• Establish methods and standards to maximize utilization of production facilities, equipment, and personnel, including manpower planning, skill matrices, recovery scheduling, and TPM/L2L maintenance concepts.
• Conduct studies related to cost control, cost reduction, inventory control, quality improvement, and production record systems, and translate findings into practical, implementable solutions.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives (Kaizen/AIW, 5S/POU, standard work, TPM, RCCA/defect analysis) to improve safety, plan vs. actual performance, schedule adherence, quality yield, rework, and backlog.
• Use CORE, Tableau, MES data, and simulation tools (e.g., FlexSim) to create visual shop metrics and drive data‑based decisions, forecasting, and improvement roadmaps.
• Develop and implement facility and operating method changes; support accident prevention and safety improvements
• Lead cross‑functional workshops and training to standardize and sustain improvements across manufacturing, facilities, safety, quality, and supply chain.
• Understand manufacturing systems architectures, and recommend/drive improvement efforts to streamline to help drive data driven decisions.

What We’re Looking For

• Strong industrial engineering & operations background with demonstrated impact in manufacturing/production environments. (e.g., standards development, workflow analysis, line balancing, layout optimization, simulation, statistical analysis and forecasting).
• Regularly apply ingenuity and creativity to resolve novel or high impact issues in manufacturing, cost, and safety performance.
• Demonstrated ability to translate analytical results into practical, implementable improvements in production operations.
• Works under general direction with significant independence in determining and developing approaches to solutions.
• Ability to clearly communicate technical approaches and influence cross‑functional teams, prioritize high‑ROI improvements, and drive closure on actions.
• Represents the organization in providing solutions to challenging technical issues associated with specific projects and production operations.

The level to be hired will depend on demonstrated skills, experience, education, and competency.

Basic Qualifications for Principal (level 3):

• Must have a bachelors degree in STEM and at least 5 years of experience. Will consider those with a masters degree and at least 3 years of experience.
• The ability to obtain a secret clearance, US citizenship is a pre-requisite.
• Experience leading process mapping and optimization efforts
• Experience with work measurement and standard work methodologies
• Execution of lean or six-sigma projects

Basic Qualifications for Sr. Principal (level 4):

• Must have a bachelors degree in STEM and at least 8 years of experience. Will consider those with a masters degree and at least 6 years of experience.
• The ability to obtain a secret clearance, US citizenship is a pre-requisite.
• Experience leading multi-area or site-level process mapping and optimization efforts
• Leadership/mentorship of early career engineers
• Strategic execution of work measurements, standard work, and lean or six-sigma initiatives

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelors and/or masters degree in Industrial Engineering
• Active secret or higher clearance.

This position falls under a Federal Explosives License issued by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) for this location.  Candidates hired into this role will be required to complete and submit an Employee Possessor Questionnaire to ATF for approval to be a possessor.

Primary Level Salary Range: $108,800.00 - $163,200.00Secondary Level Salary Range: $135,800.00 - $203,600.00

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.

Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.