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 Staff Engineer Mechanical to join our team of highly qualified and diverse individuals. This is an in-person position will be 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.
- Develop detailed mechanical integration and test procedures for technicians to execute
- 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
- 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 12 years of related engineering experience OR Masters of Science Degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM) discipline plus 10 years of related engineering experience.
- Experience in 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.
- 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.
- Requires an active Top-Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) clearance with in-scope SSBI and an active Counterintelligence (CI) Polygraph 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
- Familiarity/experience with CAM roles and responsibilities
- 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.
Skills Required
- Bachelor of Science degree in a STEM discipline plus 12 years of related engineering experience, or Master of Science degree in a STEM discipline plus 10 years of related engineering experience
- Experience working on multidisciplinary teams within Integration, Test, and Launch or manufacturing environments
- Ability to balance technical execution with skill development and team morale during high-intensity or mission-critical phases
- Strong long-term planning, resource allocation, and schedule execution skills
- Extensive technical experience with space vehicle mechanical systems, architecture, testing, and manufacturing procedures
- Excellent decision-making and conflict resolution skills
- Excellent written and oral communication skills and technical presentation experience
- Active Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information clearance with in-scope SSBI and active Counterintelligence Polygraph at application
- Willingness and ability to obtain and maintain SAP access
- Active SAP access
- At least 2 years of experience in space systems rapid development, technology transition, or Mission Class C aligned business areas
- Familiarity or experience with CAM roles and responsibilities
- Direct experience leading teams through demanding aerospace test environments
- Ability to drive alignment across program functions while prioritizing first-time quality and organizational sustainability
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.









