Northrop Grumman Propulsion Systems and Controls (PS&C) facility in Elkton, Maryland began solid-propellant rocket motor (SRM) operations in 1948. Today, the Elkton PS&C facility designs, develops, and produces solid-propellant propulsion, ordnance and motion controls 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
Northrop Grumman is seeking a Staff Propulsion Engineer (level 5) to own and lead SRM engineering design efforts at its Elkton, Maryland facility.
Job Responsibilities:
· Perform architecture-level trade studies and lead multidisciplinary design, optimization, and analysis of solid rocket motors to meet mission requirements.
· Take ownership of the product development process and delegate work.
· Define, plan, and oversee testing activities required to validate designs.
· Conduct independent reviews of milestones and technical work products.
· Support technical business development activities such as proposals and white-paper preparation.
Basic Qualifications:
· Must have a bachelors degree in STEM and at least 12 years of experience OR a Masters degree and 10 years of experience OR a PhD and 8 year of experience.
· Experience working with cross-functional teams
· Ability to obtain a DoD Secret Clearance which requires US Citizenship as a prerequisite
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience with:
· Rocketry, Solid Rocket Motors, Aerospace Propulsion Systems, Missiles, Flight Vehicles, and/or Energetics
· Siemens NX and Teamcenter, Computer Aided Design (CAD), Product Lifecycle Management (PLM)
· Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, and/or Aeronautical Engineering
· Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T), Design for Assembly / Manufacturing (DFA/DFM), Engineering Design Principles
· Microsoft Office Suite of products (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, etc.)
· Active DoD Secret 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: $169,000.00 - $253,600.00The 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 STEM and at least 12 years of experience, or a master's degree and at least 10 years of experience, or a PhD and at least 8 years of experience
- Experience working with cross-functional teams
- Ability to obtain a DoD Secret clearance
- U.S. citizenship
- Experience with rocketry, solid rocket motors, aerospace propulsion systems, missiles, flight vehicles, and/or energetics
- Experience with Siemens NX and Teamcenter, CAD, and PLM
- Mechanical, aerospace, and/or aeronautical engineering experience
- Experience with GD&T, DFA/DFM, and engineering design principles
- Experience with Microsoft Office Suite
- Active DoD Secret clearance
- ATF Employee Possessor Questionnaire approval
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.







