Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems has an opening for a Mechanical Engineer or Principal Mechanical Engineer for the common avionics design team located in Rancho Bernardo, CA. Selected candidate must be from a commutable distance from site.
This Mechanical Engineer will report to the common products design team IPT Manager and will work to design deliverable electro-mechanical chassis assemblies using 3D modeling software. Close coordination with electrical engineering teams and other technical groups as required in order to integrate equipment into the chassis design.
Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems has an opening for a Mechanical Engineer or Principal Mechanical Engineer for the common avionics design team located in Rancho Bernardo, CA. Selected candidate must be from a commutable distance from site.
This Mechanical Engineer will report to the common products design team IPT Manager and will work to design deliverable electro-mechanical chassis assemblies using 3D modeling software. Close coordination with electrical engineering teams and other technical groups as required in order to integrate equipment into the chassis design.
This position may be filled at either the Mechanical Engineer or Principal Mechanical Engineer level based on the qualifications below.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Basic qualifications for an Engineer Mechanical - Bachelors in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) discipline with 2 years engineering related experience, OR Master’s in STEM with 0 years of experience
- Basic qualifications for a Principal Engineer Mechanical - Bachelors in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) discipline with 5 years engineering related experience, OR Master’s in STEM with 3 years of experience, OR a PhD in STEM and 1 year of experience
- Proficiency in mechanical design with CATIA Computer Aided Design (CAD) software
- Experience creating and releasing Build-To-Print (BTP) engineering packages
- Ability to provide guidance on electrical/mechanical part selection, fabrication, and installation in accordance with military, industry, and company M&P specifications
- Ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with all levels of the organization
- Ability to obtain and maintain an active in-scope US Government Secret or Top-Secret clearance
- Ability to obtain and maintain Program Access (PAR) within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the company to meet its business needs.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Final US Government Secret or Top Secret Clearance
- 2+ years of air vehicle avionics electronics packaging and electronic test fixture mechanical design experience
- Experience with circuit board and cable assembly design & manufacturing
- Thorough understanding of MIL specifications and aerospace standards
- 5+ years of air vehicle avionics electronics packaging and electronic test fixture mechanical design experience
- Working understanding of MIL-STD-810G/DO-160, MIL-HDBK-516C requirements, and DO254 design assurance guidance for flight certification
- Able to perform standard mechanical analyses including mechanical stackup, tolerance, and thermal analysis of avionics box design
- Able to verify the structural integrity of avionics box design using stress Finite Element Analysis tools
- Proficiency with Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) tools such as Teamcenter or Enovia
- Experience in applying Configuration Management practices
- Experience with Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerance (GD&T) ASME Y14.5M application
- Demonstrated proficiency in analytical thinking, troubleshooting issues, and problem-solving skills
Skills Required
- Degree in STEM with required experience depending on level (Engineer: Bachelor's +2 years engineering experience or Master's +0; Principal: Bachelor's +5 years or Master's +3 years or PhD +1 year)
- Proficiency in mechanical design using CATIA CAD software
- Experience creating and releasing Build-To-Print (BTP) engineering packages
- Ability to provide guidance on electrical/mechanical part selection, fabrication, and installation per military, industry, and company M&P specifications
- Ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with all levels of the organization
- Ability to obtain and maintain an active in-scope US Government Secret or Top-Secret clearance
- Ability to obtain and maintain Program Access (PAR) within a reasonable period
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.







