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Senior Principal Materials Engineer

Annapolis, Maryland, United States
Full Time On-site
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No

CLEARANCE TYPE: Top Secret

TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time

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.

Join Northrop Grumman on our continued mission to push the boundaries of possible across land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace. Enjoy a culture where your voice is valued and start contributing to our team of passionate professionals providing real-life solutions to our world’s biggest challenges. We take pride in creating purposeful work and allowing our employees to grow and achieve their goals every day by Defining Possible. With our competitive pay and comprehensive benefits, we have the right opportunities to fit your life and launch your career today.

The Naval & Oceanic Systems business unit headquartered in Annapolis, MD is seeking dependable individuals willing to work in a collaborative environment and that are interested in expanding their horizons. The Mechanical Engineering Department is seeking a Senior Principal Materials Engineer with a background in subsea corrosion mitigation.

Essential Functions:

Apply chemistry, physics and materials‑science principles to diagnose material problems and devise solutions, while implementing corrosion‑mitigation strategies for complex systems. He/she researches and evaluates materials and their processing methods to support engineering designs, collaborates with teammates to conduct thorough technical reviews of drawings, specifications and manufacturing plans, and delivers proactive, high‑quality customer service by continually sourcing and sharing relevant information. In addition, the role oversees test activities and test‑article fabrication, documents results, and liaises with senior customer personnel on critical technical issues, often coordinating efforts across organizational boundaries. 

The candidate must be able to collaborate in a team environment, lead teams, prioritize and adjust tasks to accomplish the project result, prioritize multiple responsibilities and/or accomplishing them simultaneously, and comprehend and analyze complex problems and develop solutions. Excellent verbal and written communication skills are required.

Basic Qualifications for Senior Principal Materials Engineer:

  • Bachelor’s degree in STEM with 8 years of experience; OR a Master’s Degree in STEM with 6 years of experience; OR a PhD in STEM with 4 years of experience.

  • Basic understanding of the processes that produce corrosion (uniform, galvanic, crevice, etc) and the strategies that mitigate it.

  • Practical understanding of additive manufacturing modalities and alloys.

  • Basic knowledge of metallurgical practices (e.g., weld, metallurgy, metallographic evaluation, heat treatments, fracture mechanics, corrosion control, and failure analysis).

  • Basic knowledge of coating types and coating application methods used to prolong life of marine systems.

  • Basic understanding of principles related to cathodic protection.

  • US Citizen with the ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Familiarity with Navy / DoD processes and workflow.

  • Detailed knowledge of coating types and coating application methods used to prolong life of marine systems.

  • Familiarity with the properties of and design considerations pertaining to non-metallic materials such as urethanes, adhesives, and composites.

  • Detailed knowledge of principles related to cathodic protection and ability to specify cathodes of subsea systems.

  • Active Top Secret/SCI clearance.

NGFeaturedJobs

Primary Level Salary Range: $135,800.00 - $203,600.00

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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