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Principal Mechanical Engineer

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
Full Time On-site

Summary

Job Description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No

CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret

TRAVEL: No

Description

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.

Our Defense Systems Sector is seeking a Principal Mechanical Engineer to join our growing team in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.  

  

You will become part of Northrop Grumman’s Systems and Software Solutions (S&SS). S&SS provides sustainment support for the US Air Force B-1, KC-135, and numerous other Government platforms. Our team members complete engineering, reverse engineering, and logistics solution efforts to solve complex obsolescence problems and ensure warfighter supportability. 

The ideal candidate will be required to apply engineering principles to act as the liaison between engineering definition and production areas. The individual will have broad knowledge of manufacturing techniques and problem solving to contribute to the timely planning and execution of mechanical production, integration and test of spacecraft. Typical tasking of this role may include: 

Responsibilities:

  • Analyze complex systems and precision electro-mechanical assemblies through simulation or analysis to recommend component substitutions or re-design solutions to ensure the integrity of the platform configuration, system safety, and performance specifications.
  • Access, interpret, and recommend changes to engineering drawings.
  • Establish design concepts, criteria and engineering efforts for product research, development, integration and test.
  • Establish milestones and monitor adherence to master plans and schedules.
  • Identify program problems and assist in the establishing of solutions, such as allocation of resources, improved processes, or changing contractual specifications.
  • Act independently to uncover and resolve issues associated with the development and implementation of programs.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

  • Must have at least one of the following:
    • A Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or related discipline with a minimum of 5 years of engineering experience
    • A Master’s degree in mechanical engineering or related discipline with a minimum of 3 years of engineering experience
    • A PhD degree in mechanical engineering or related discipline
  • Experience with CAD modeling (NX, CREO, SolidWorks, or equivalent)
  • Experience with design and development of precision mechanical components and assemblies
  • Experience in a technical leadership role on a cross-functional product development team
  • Ability to obtain a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) secret security clearance.
  • Ability to obtain/maintain base access to Tinker AFB

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience with aerospace systems
  • Experience with Air Force customers and aerospace industry and military standards
  • Active DoD Secret Security Clearance (or higher)
  • Experience with mechanical overhaul procedure development at the equipment and system level
  • Experience with RF systems 
  • Experience with thermal and structural analysis methodologies and software tools
  • Experience conducting analysis of mechanical components and structures within aircraft maintenance programs, determining effectiveness and creating written recommendations for increasing efficiency
  • Excellent communication skills

Primary Level Salary Range: $84,700.00 - $127,100.00

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.

About Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman is one of the largest aerospace and defense companies in the United States, building advanced systems across space, air, land, sea, and cyber domains. The company is known for some of the most complex defense programs in the world, including stealth aircraft, autonomous systems, missile defense technologies, satellites, and space-based intelligence platforms that support U.S. national security operations.

For job seekers, Northrop Grumman offers careers across a wide range of high-impact fields including aerospace engineering, software development, cybersecurity, systems engineering, manufacturing, program management, and intelligence support. The company is especially attractive to veterans, cleared professionals, and engineers who want to work on mission-critical systems that directly support the Department of Defense and intelligence community. Many roles involve long-term programs with significant technical depth and real-world operational impact.

Unlike smaller defense startups focused on narrow capabilities, Northrop Grumman operates across multiple major mission areas, giving employees exposure to highly advanced programs such as stealth platforms, space systems, autonomous vehicles, and next-generation command-and-control systems. The company is also a major leader in classified space and intelligence systems, where cutting-edge engineering and secure infrastructure play a critical role in national defense.

As global competition in space, cyber, and advanced military systems continues to intensify, Northrop Grumman remains one of the most strategically important employers in the defense industry. For professionals seeking stable, highly technical careers with long-term impact on national security, Northrop Grumman continues to stand out as a leading destination in aerospace and defense.

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