Northrop Grumman Mission Systems is a trusted provider of mission-enabling solutions for global security. Our Engineering and Sciences (E&S) organization pushes the boundaries of innovation, redefines engineering capabilities, and drives advances in various sciences. Our team is chartered with providing the skills, innovative technologies to develop, design, produce and sustain optimized product lines across the sector while providing a decisive advantage to the warfighter. Come be a part of our mission!
We are looking for you to join our team as a Mechanical Engineer based out of Woodland Hills, CA. As a Mechanical Engineer at Northrop Grumman, you will have a challenging and rewarding opportunity to be a part of our Enterprise-wide digital transformation. Through the use of model-based engineering we continue to evolve how we deliver critical national defense products and capabilities for the warfighter. Our success is grounded in our ability to embrace change, move quickly and continuously drive innovation.
Based in our Woodland Hills, CA office, this position will support senior mechanical engineers in the design of military avionics including inertial navigation and measurement systems for various defense platforms. This position is for an individual contributor with technical leadership responsibilities. Experience with mechanical engineering design, development, testing, production support, and lifecycle sustainment preferred. Candidate would be expected to provide technical leadership across product development, manufacturing, testing, and qualification to ensure high-performance, robust inertial sensors for navigation and guidance applications.
This position is not eligible for remote work. This position will be 100% on-site. This role may offer a competitive relocation assistance package.
Roles & Responsibilities:
- Support design and development for inertial navigation systems, including support for existing product lines
- Perform and review precision-mechanical design work: GD&T, fit/finish, assembly drawings, BOMs, and manufacturing work instructions
- Develop and execute mechanical testing and qualification plans (vibration, thermal, shock, vacuum, life testing) to meet system requirements
- Work closely with senior engineers including the chief engineer and program management to drive hardware design, working within challenging schedules
- Derive system level requirements into mechanical designs
- Support for root cause analysis and quick resolution of manufacturing line stops and other critical production activities
- Collaborative work with other engineering organizations, program management, factory operations, global supply chain and mission assurance
- Mentor junior engineers, conduct design reviews, and maintain engineering best practices for high-reliability inertial products
This position is contingent on the successful transfer of a US Secret Security clearance.
Basic Qualifications for a Staff Mechanical Engineer:
- Bachelor's degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) discipline with 12 or more years applicable experience; OR a Master’s degree in a STEM discipline with 10 or more years applicable experience; OR a PhD in a STEM discipline with 8 years of applicable experience
- Expertise with mechanical CAD software (Siemens NX preferred)
- Experience with Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T), drawing creation, tolerance stack-up analysis, etc.
- Good presentation and writing/communication skills
- Experience mentoring junior level engineers
- Active Secret Security Clearance and US Citizenship required
Preferred Qualifications for a Staff Mechanical Engineer:
- Demonstrated proficiency with Siemens NX CAD software and Teamcenter Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) software
- Expert-level proficiency with GD&T per ASME Y14.5
- Experience with DOD, Military, and/or Space specifications including ASME
- Advanced knowledge of HRG resonator assemblies and isolators
- Extensive practical and theoretical experience with vibration testing, analysis and design for vibration isolation
- Advanced skills in mechanical testing and qualification plans (vibration, thermal, shock) to meet system requirements
- Familiarity with test fixtures including design and development
- Experience with failure-mode analysis and root-cause investigations for performance degradation, drift, or mechanical anomalies
- Demonstrated high degree of creativity and ability to solve a wide range of difficult problems
- Competence and confidence working under pressure on requests with short turn-around times
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present complex technical information clearly
- Proven ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a focus on continuous improvement
- Must be proactive and results-oriented, with a strong sense of ownership
Skills Required
- Bachelor's in STEM with 12+ years OR Master's in STEM with 10+ years OR PhD in STEM with 8+ years
- Expertise with mechanical CAD software (Siemens NX preferred)
- Experience with Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T), drawing creation, tolerance stack-up analysis
- Good presentation and written communication skills
- Experience mentoring junior engineers
- Active Secret Security Clearance and US Citizenship required
- Position is 100% on-site (Woodland Hills, CA) and not eligible for remote work
- Willingness/ability to travel ~10% of the time
- Experience with mechanical engineering design, development, testing, production support, and lifecycle sustainment
- Demonstrated proficiency with Teamcenter Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) software
- Expert-level proficiency with GD&T per ASME Y14.5
- Advanced knowledge of HRG resonator assemblies and isolators
- Extensive practical and theoretical experience with vibration testing, analysis, and vibration isolation design
- Advanced skills in mechanical testing and qualification plans (vibration, thermal, shock) and familiarity with vacuum and life testing
- Experience with test fixture design and development
- Experience with failure-mode analysis and root-cause investigations
- Ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams and work under pressure with short turn-around times
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.







