Principal Manufacturing Systems Engineer/Sr. Principal Manufacturing Systems Engineer
Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems is seeking a Principal Manufacturing Systems Engineer (Level 3) or Senior Principal Manufacturing Systems Engineer (Level 4) to join the Advanced Manufacturing Technology & Innovation team in Palmdale, CA or El Segundo, CA.
In this role, you will help define, develop, implement, and transition advanced manufacturing technology solutions that improve efficiency, reduce cost, and enhance quality. These solutions support production applications across a range of advanced manufacturing areas, including but not limited to:
- Composites fabrication
- Assembly
- Automation
- Inspection
- Direct part manufacturing
- Low observable (LO) technologies
- Digital manufacturing capabilities
You will be responsible for incorporating requirements into development plans and evaluating process and tool performance to verify effectiveness. The role also includes identifying issues, initiating corrective actions, and ensuring technical, schedule, and cost objectives are achieved while maintaining product quality.
Additional responsibilities include:
- Providing guidance on design concepts, TRL/MRL maturity, and specification requirements
- Recommending effective use of manufacturing techniques and resources
- Ensuring processes and procedures comply with applicable regulations and standards
- Interfacing with internal and external customers, program offices, engineering teams, and executive leadership
- Managing multiple projects concurrently in a dynamic, fast-paced environment
- Applying budgeting and project management skills to scope, execute, and track project efforts
This position may be filled at either level based on the selected candidate’s qualifications.
Basic Qualifications for Principal Manufacturing Systems Engineer (Level 3):
- Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline with 4 years of experience in engineering, aviation, systems engineering, aerospace, or manufacturing/production or Master’s degree in a STEM discipline with 3 of experience in engineering, aviation, systems engineering, aerospace, or manufacturing/production or PhD in a STEM discipline with 0 years of experience
- Experience working with IPTs, stakeholders, and customers such as the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy
- Project or program management experience, including proposal development, scheduling, and budget tracking
- Strong familiarity with process development and process controls
- Ability to travel 20–35%
- This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Secret clearance as well as Program Special access within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the company to meet its business needs
Basic Qualifications for Sr. Principal Manufacturing Systems Engineer (Level 4):
- Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline with 8 years of experience in engineering, aviation, systems engineering, aerospace, or manufacturing/production or Master’s degree in a STEM discipline with 6 of experience in engineering, aviation, systems engineering, aerospace, or manufacturing/production or PhD in a STEM discipline with 4 years of experience in engineering, aviation, systems engineering, aerospace, or manufacturing/production
- Experience working with IPTs, stakeholders, and customers such as the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy
- Project or program management experience, including proposal development, scheduling, and budget tracking
- Strong familiarity with process development and process controls
- Ability to travel 20–35%
- This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Secret clearance as well as Program Special access within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the company to meet its business needs
Preferred Qualifications
- Current active U.S. Government Secret clearance with a periodic reinvestigation or original adjudication completed within the last 5 years
- Current Program Special access
- Demonstrated technical leadership, sound judgment, and decisiveness in ambiguous or fast-moving situations
- Strong understanding of systems engineering processes
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Project, and Visio
- Experience developing, integrating, and deploying network architecture and digital infrastructure
- Experience translating broad customer or stakeholder needs into clear technical requirements
- Proposal experience and involvement in early phases of the program lifecycle
- Advanced communication systems experience
- Experience operating in high-rate production environments with increasing schedules and delivery demands
- Experience with Siemens NX, TcE, CPLM, SAP, and Manufacturing Execution Systems
- CAM experience
- Experience integrating hardware and software within manufacturing systems
- Experience in production assembly or fabrication environments, including one or more of the following: Digital transformation, Augmented reality / virtual reality, Systems integration, Industrial IoT, RFID, Manufacturing operations
- Extensive experience with edge user devices such as HoloLens 1, HoloLens 2, and tablets
- Working knowledge of classified information systems infrastructure
- Digital manufacturing experience
- Architecture, design, and integration experience for engineering systems and software
- Strong technical writing skills
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in a STEM discipline plus 4 years of relevant engineering, aviation, systems engineering, aerospace, or manufacturing/production experience; or Master's degree plus 3 years; or PhD with 0 years
- Experience working with integrated product teams, stakeholders, and customers such as the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy
- Project or program management experience, including proposal development, scheduling, and budget tracking
- Strong familiarity with process development and process controls
- Ability to travel 20-35%
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Secret clearance and Program Special access
- Current active U.S. Government Secret clearance with recent periodic reinvestigation or original adjudication
- Current Program Special access
- Demonstrated technical leadership, sound judgment, and decisiveness
- Strong understanding of systems engineering processes
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Project, and Visio
- Experience developing, integrating, and deploying network architecture and digital infrastructure
- Experience translating customer or stakeholder needs into technical requirements
- Proposal experience and involvement in early program lifecycle phases
- Advanced communication systems experience
- Experience in high-rate production environments
- Experience with Siemens NX, TcE, CPLM, SAP, and Manufacturing Execution Systems
- CAM experience
- Experience integrating hardware and software within manufacturing systems
- Production assembly or fabrication experience, including digital transformation, augmented or virtual reality, systems integration, Industrial IoT, RFID, or manufacturing operations
- Experience with HoloLens 1, HoloLens 2, and tablets
- Working knowledge of classified information systems infrastructure
- Digital manufacturing experience
- Architecture, design, and integration experience for engineering systems and software
- Strong technical writing skills
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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
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.


.png)






