Northrop Grumman Defense Systems is seeking a Sr Principal Manufacturing Process Engineer. This position will be located in Huntsville, AL and will support the Sentinel Program.
What you’ll get to do:
Manufacturing Process Engineers (MPEs) play a critical role in driving consistency and efficiency across all production centers. Guided by the principle “Common processes + Common tools = Common results,” MPEs are responsible for standardizing consumable, perishable, and durable tools throughout the division. This standardization ensures that every production center operates with the same high-quality resources and methods, leading to reliable and repeatable outcomes.
In addition to tool standardization, MPEs are tasked with the creation and sustainment of Process Work Instructions (PWIs). PWIs serve as the essential “How-To” and “What-with” guides within the production environment, detailing step-by-step procedures and specifying the industrial supplies required for each process. By capturing and maintaining these instructions, MPEs help ensure that best practices and common supplies are consistently applied across all operations.
Position Benefits:
As a full-time employee of Northrop Grumman, 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 positions 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. This role may offer a competitive relocation assistance package.
Basic Qualifications:
• Bachelors Science degree with a minimum of 8 Years with BS; 6 Years with Masters; 4 Years with PhD; 4 years additional experience may be considered in lieu of a degree
• Must have an active U.S. Government DoD Secret security clearance at time of application, current and within scope, with an ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) approval within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the company to meet its business need
• Experience with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) tools including CPLM, SAP, MES or other related applications.
Preferred Qualifications:
• Familiarity with Lean Six Sigma methodologies.
• Ability to create and maintain an Approved Support Materials (ASM) list.
• Skilled in compiling and managing Non-Flyaway Manufacturing Consumables supply lists.
• Experience coordinating with Manufacturing Engineers (MEs) to identify Durable and Perishable Tool requirements.
• Proficient in identifying Durable tools for Production toolboxes and Tool Cribs, based on SOW.
• Capable of assessing and identifying Risk Inventory needs as well as Min/Max requirements.
• Expertise in identifying and managing Perishable Production tools.
• Experience in processing documentation and standard practices.
• Experience facilitating Stakeholder Review Boards.
• Skilled in developing and sustaining Durable tool models for Manufacturing Engineering (ME) producibility analysis. Proficient in Lean Manufacturing Principles.
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail.
• Effective analytical problem-solving abilities.
• Capable of critical thinking and innovative solutions.
• Knowledgeable in standardizing tools and processes for efficiency.
• Familiar with Production Line Operations and those dynamics.
Primary Level Salary Range: $123,400.00 - $185,000.00The 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 of Science degree (or equivalent experience): minimum 8 years with BS; 6 years with Masters; 4 years with PhD; 4 years additional experience may be considered in lieu of degree
- Active U.S. Government DoD Secret security clearance at time of application, current and within scope, with ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) approval
- U.S. Citizenship (required for positions with government clearance)
- Experience with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) tools including CPLM, SAP, MES or other related applications
- Familiarity with Lean Six Sigma methodologies
- Ability to create and maintain an Approved Support Materials (ASM) list
- Experience compiling and managing Non-Flyaway Manufacturing Consumables supply lists
- Experience coordinating with Manufacturing Engineers to identify Durable and Perishable Tool requirements
- Experience identifying Durable tools for production toolboxes and Tool Cribs based on SOW
- Ability to assess and identify Risk Inventory needs and Min/Max requirements
- Experience in processing documentation and standard practices and facilitating Stakeholder Review Boards
- Skilled in developing and sustaining Durable tool models for producibility analysis; knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles
- Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, analytical problem-solving and critical thinking
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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Retirement Support — 401(k) matching is considered strong, with additional defined-benefit coverage for certain cohorts and options like catch-up contributions. Retirement programs are repeatedly highlighted as a core strength of the total rewards.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — PTO, company-paid holidays, and compressed work schedules (such as 9/80) provide meaningful time away and flexibility. These scheduling options are cited as a major quality-of-life benefit across many locations.
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Parental & Family Support — Paid parental leave alongside caregiver leave, adoption assistance, and back-up care supports a range of family needs. These programs have been expanded recently, signaling continued investment in family support.
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.








