Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems has an opening for a Principal Aeronautical Engineer/Senior Principal Aeronautical Engineer (Liaison Engineer/Material Review Board) - 4/10, 1st Shift to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals within our Vehicle Engineering organization. This role is located in Palmdale, CA.
In this role, you will be assessing and dispositioning non-conformances as they occur in our test environment. The selected candidate will author detailed engineering direction as well as collaborate readily with support engineering roles in order to ensure the integrity of the final product.
Please note that this opportunity is contingent on program funding. Start dates are determined after funding confirmation.
This position can be filled at a Principal Aeronautical Engineer level or a Sr. Principal Aeronautical Engineer level.
Key Responsibilities:
Establish and maintain Material Review Board authority in order to autonomously address the rigors of the role.
Assess, disposition, and buy off non-conformance (MRB) tags and Engineering Change Requests (ECRs) as they arise in the flight test environment.
Coordinate dispositioned repairs, as appropriate, with support roles in the organization.
We offer flexible work arrangements, phenomenal learning opportunities, exposure to a wide variety of projects and customers, and a very friendly team environment. Candidate must be willing to work extended shifts, weekends and holidays as required to meet program schedule and objectives. We are looking for self-motivated, proactive, and goal-oriented people to help us grow our services and become even better at what we do.
Basic Qualifications for a Principal Aeronautical Engineer:
Bachelor’s of Science degree in a STEM discipline AND 5 years of related professional/military experience in Engineering, a Master’s degree in a STEM discipline AND 3 years of related professional/military experience in Engineering, OR a PhD in a STEM discipline and 1 year of related professional/military experience in Engineering.
Knowledge of the MRB process / experience with the MRB process
Experience with CATIA V5, NX, Visualization Pro, TeamCenter, MES, or other CAD programs
Be able to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance (U.S. citizenship is a pre-requisite) as well as Program Special access within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the company to meet its business needs. Clearance and Program Access Required for Start as determined by the company to meet its business needs.
Basic Qualifications for a Senior Principal Aeronautical Engineer:
Bachelor’s of Science degree in a STEM discipline AND 8 years of related professional/military experience in Engineering, a Master’s degree in a STEM discipline AND 6 years of related professional/military experience in Engineering, OR a PhD in a STEM discipline and 4 years of related professional/military experience in Engineering.
Knowledge of the MRB process / experience with the MRB process
Experience with CATIA V5, NX, Visualization Pro, TeamCenter, MES, or other CAD programs
Be able to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance (U.S. citizenship is a pre-requisite) as well as Program Special access within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the company to meet its business needs. Clearance and Program Access Required for Start as determined by the company to meet its business needs.
Preferred Qualifications for both levels:
Bachelors or advanced degree in Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering
Experience with the manufacture and repair of composite structures
Experience with the conceptual operation, and troubleshooting of, typical aircraft subsystems
Experience in a developmental/operational test maintenance environment
Experience working in an aircraft manufacturing facility
Experience interfacing with a military customer
Experience working hands-on in a production assembly line environment
Experience with aircraft structures design
Experience with aircraft subsystem design
Previous MRB/LE Authority for Engineering
Primary Level Salary Range: $114,000.00 - $171,000.00Secondary Level Salary Range: $142,200.00 - $213,400.00The 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.Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline and 5 years of related engineering experience for Principal level
- Master’s degree in a STEM discipline and 3 years of related engineering experience for Principal level
- PhD in a STEM discipline and 1 year of related engineering experience for Principal level
- Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline and 8 years of related engineering experience for Senior Principal level
- Master’s degree in a STEM discipline and 6 years of related engineering experience for Senior Principal level
- PhD in a STEM discipline and 4 years of related engineering experience for Senior Principal level
- Knowledge of or experience with the Material Review Board process
- Experience with CATIA V5, NX, Visualization Pro, TeamCenter, MES, or other CAD programs
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Secret security clearance and program special access
- U.S. citizenship
- Willingness to work extended shifts, weekends, and holidays as required
- Degree in Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering
- Experience manufacturing and repairing composite structures
- Experience with aircraft subsystems, developmental or operational test maintenance, aircraft manufacturing, production assembly, or aircraft structures and subsystem design
- Experience interfacing with military customers
- Previous MRB or Liaison Engineering authority
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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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage offers multiple medical plan options by region alongside dental, vision, mental‑health resources, and wellness programs. Recent materials also highlight added family‑building support, including a dedicated fertility benefit.
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Retirement Support — The 401(k) savings plan is positioned as competitive with a company match, auto‑escalation features, and access to an employee stock fund/ESPP. Official filings and benefits guides emphasize retirement as a core element of the Total Rewards package.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Many sites offer a 9/80 schedule, generous PTO, paid holidays, and flexible/telework options where program needs allow. Paid parental and caregiver leave are prominently featured, with recent enhancements for the delivering parent.
Northrop Grumman Insights
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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.
