Senior Principal Engineer Mechanical

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes

CLEARANCE TYPE: Top Secret

TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the TimeDescription

At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.

Embark on a career putting innovative, reliable, and agile products and ideas into orbit, and beyond. Northrop Grumman has opportunities waiting for you that play a vital role in human space exploration, national defense, and scientific discovery, supporting multiple programs across the universe. With us, you’ll discover a culture of curiosity and collaboration that will have you Defining Possible from the day you start. Our space systems connect and protect millions of people on earth every day, now and for the future. Explore your future and launch your career today.

Space Systems is an industry-leading provider for prime satellite and payload capabilities and directed energy and electronics solutions for national security, military, and civil customers. We are built on a heritage of providing innovative, affordable and reliable aerospace and defense products that our customers rely on to achieve mission success. Join the Space revolution and make the impossible possible.

Northrop Grumman, Western Region Manufacturing and Operations, Mechanical & Environmental Test Engineering Dept, has an opening for a Senior Principal Engineer Mechanical to join our team of highly qualified and diverse individuals. This is an in-person position located in Redondo Beach, CA.

This is highly dynamic, interactive position. You will interact with numerous stakeholders including program management, systems engineering, flight hardware design engineers and logistical support services. Outstanding organizational and leadership skills are required to succeed in this role.

Qualified candidates are expected to understand space hardware, testing methods, floor operations, and tools.  Integration and Test Mechanical Engineers (ITME) plan and coordinate the operations required to build and test flight hardware at all levels - subassembly through complete systems.  The work is primarily at Space Park but can include periodic travel depending on the specific program requirements.  Daily tasks for test engineers include but are not limited to the following:

• Responsible for all aspects of procurement, manufacturing, integration, test and delivery for work package, inclusive of both cost/schedule responsibility and technical excellence in execution.

• Design tests to verify system requirements. Participates in the performing production teams in driving design for producibility principles in every phase of the work package, including participation in risk and opportunity management.

• Develop detailed mechanical integration and test procedures for technicians to execute 

• Provide technical oversight to junior test engineers, manufacturing engineers, and floor operations. Participates in mentoring, knowledge transfer and technical skill development for junior production engineers.

• Document and remedy test anomalies and hardware non-conformances 

• Coordinate across many technical disciplines to define operations and accomplish work efficiently 

• Operates within a multi-level, multi-customer highly complex restricted production environment, being a key stakeholder in and executor of end-to-end program protection

• Estimate task durations and budgets and execute according to schedules, is able to act as a deputy Cost Account Manager (CAM)

• Successful candidates in this role will have strong interpersonal, leadership, and organizational skills. 

As a full-time employee of Northrop Grumman Space Systems, you are eligible for our robust benefits package including:

• Medical, Dental & Vision coverage

• 401k

• Educational Assistance

• Life Insurance

• Employee Assistance Programs & Work/Life Solutions

• Paid Time Off

• Health & Wellness Resources

• Employee Discounts

 

This position’s standard work schedule is a 9/80. The 9/80 schedule allows employees who work a nine-hour day Monday through Thursday to take every other Friday off. 

Basic Qualifications: 

• Bachelors of Science Degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM) discipline plus 8 years of relevant experience OR Masters of Science Degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM) discipline plus 6 years of relevant experience.

• Experience working on multi-disciplinary teams within Integration, Test, and Launch (IT&L) or Manufacturing environment.

• Balance technical execution with a focus on skill development and team morale, especially in high-intensity work schedules or mission-critical program phases. 

• Familiarity/experience with CAM roles and responsibilities.

• Strong long-term planning—resource allocation and schedule execution.

• Extensive technical experience with space vehicle mechanical systems, architecture, testing and manufacturing procedures. 

• Excellent decision-making and conflict resolution skills. 

• Excellent written and oral communications skills and technical presentation experience.

• Must have active Top Secret (TS), Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) with in-scope SSBI and adjudicated Counter-Intelligence Polygraph exam at time of application.

• Willing and able to obtain and maintain SAP access.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Active SAP Access

• Minimum 2 years’ experience in a space systems rapid development, technology transition or Mission Class C aligned business area

• Direct experience leading teams through highly demanding test environments in Aerospace.

• Drive alignment across various program functions to meet ambitious deadlines while prioritizing first-time quality and organizational sustainability.

Primary Level Salary Range: $129,300.00 - $193,900.00

The 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.