Northrop Grumman Mission Enabling Products (MEP) Business Unit designs, builds, and delivers space, defense and aviation-related systems to customers around the world. Our main products include satellites and associated space components and services, launch vehicles and related propulsion systems, missile products, subsystems and defense electronics, precision weapons, armament systems, and advanced aerospace structures.
Learn more about Mission Enabling Products at our website: Mission Enabling Products | Northrop Grumman
As a Principal/Sr. Principal Mechanical Engineer in Goleta, CA you will be responsible for creating and implementing deployable structures and mechanical mechanisms at the cutting edge of space technology. You will have ownership of your work from the concept creation through the design and analysis phases and may also participate in the manufacturing, testing, and integration of the systems.
Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Create, prototype, design, and analyze structures and mechanisms for moving mechanical assemblies such as solar arrays, booms, and other support structures and mechanisms for satellite subsystems.
- Develop and refine components and subsystems utilizing design skills, hand calculations, and finite element analysis or other modeling tools as needed.
- Perform detailed 3D designs, generate CAD drawings and related documents, and support manufacturing and assembly of components.
- Document test plans and procedures requirements.
- Participate and present in internal and external (customer) design reviews.
- Strive for the highest possible structural performance that is also cost effective and assures complete reliability.
- Manage and track multiple priorities while maintaining a focus towards common project goals of the program team, matrix organization, and customers.
- Clearly report design status, progress and escalations at regular program meetings
- Generate and maintain part and assembly drawings, source‑control drawings, interface‑control drawings, and installation drawings.
- Support program milestone reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, IDR, etc.) and gate or lien closures
- Provide I&T sustaining support.
- Strong communication skills, oral and written.
- Ability to work independently as well as in a team environment.
- Ability to multitask and organize/prioritize job assignments in a fast-paced and gated-release engineering development environment.
This position can be filled as either a Principal Mechanical Engineer or Sr. Principal Mechanical Engineer level based on the qualifications listed below:
Basic Qualifications – Principal Mechanical Engineer (Level 3):
- Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline with 8+ years of engineering experience OR Master’s degree in a STEM discipline with 6+ years of relevant engineering experience OR Ph.D. in a STEM discipline with 4+ year of relevant engineering experience
- Prior work experience in aerospace subsystem design or mechanical‑design integration
- Proficiency with a CAD system (Siemens NX, CATIA V5, Creo, or 3DX)
Basic Qualifications – Sr. Principal Mechanical Engineer (Level 4):
- Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline with 8+ years of engineering experience OR Master’s degree in a STEM discipline with 6+ years of relevant engineering experience OR Ph.D. in a STEM discipline with 4+ year of relevant engineering experience
- Prior work experience in aerospace subsystem design or mechanical‑design integration
- Proficiency with a CAD system (Siemens NX, CATIA V5, Creo, or 3DX)
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in spacecraft photovoltaic design
- Prior work experience in aerospace subsystem design or mechanical‑design integration
- mechanical design and closed-form analysis with some understanding of finite element analysis software (ANSYS)
- Practical understanding of GD&T (ASME Y14.5-2009)
- Detailed mechanical design knowledge of structures, mechanisms, release and drive actuators, and material selection.
- Spacecraft/aerospace materials experience in metals, adhesives, thermoplastics, etc.
- Working knowledge of applicable manufacturing processes such as machining, finishing, and rapid prototyping.
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Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in a STEM discipline with 8 or more years of engineering experience
- Master's degree in a STEM discipline with 6 or more years of relevant engineering experience
- Ph.D. in a STEM discipline with 4 or more years of relevant engineering experience
- Prior experience in aerospace subsystem design or mechanical-design integration
- Proficiency with a CAD system such as Siemens NX, CATIA V5, Creo, or 3DX
- Experience in spacecraft photovoltaic design
- Mechanical design and closed-form analysis experience with understanding of finite element analysis software such as ANSYS
- Practical understanding of GD&T and ASME Y14.5-2009
- Knowledge of structures, mechanisms, release and drive actuators, and material selection
- Spacecraft or aerospace materials experience, including metals, adhesives, and thermoplastics
- Working knowledge of machining, finishing, and rapid prototyping processes
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
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.





