Skip to content

NRE Operator

Radford, Virginia, United States
Full Time On-site
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No

CLEARANCE TYPE: None

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.

    This full-time position is the entry level production position across New River Energetics (NRE) in Radford, VA.  Once an employee has completed new hire training. Operators take direction from leaders and supervisors in order to safely produce quality products following work procedures and operating a variety of machinery.

    Essential Functions
    • Follow all safety, environmental, and production rules and procedures.
    • Stop operations and notify Supervision of any abnormal conditions, including any potential safety hazards or unsafe conditions.
    • Perform job so that product quality is assured.
    • Inspect operating equipment on a daily basis.
    • Call Maintenance for equipment repairs, or report to Leader or Supervisor.
    • Detect and inform Leader or Supervisor of any problems with equipment or materials.
    • Support NRE’s Performance Enterprise System (PES) initiatives.
    • Perform all activities outlines in operating procedures for assigned work area.
    • Set up and operate various types of production machinery.
    • Maintain work are and equipment in a clean and orderly condition.
    • Maintain production and operation records, including online record keeping and product identification tools.

    Physical requirements to perform essential functions

    • Lift of to 50 pounds repetitively

    • Gripping and fine manipulation
    • Push carts weighing up to 750 pounds
    • Bend and stoop repetitively
    • Stand, walk, and climb steps repetitively
    • Ability to safely operate a motor vehicle

    Work environment
    • Must be able to work in all weather extremes
    • Must be able to work overtime when needed, per the guidelines outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement

    Key abilities required to perform essential functions
    • Read and understand written and verbal procedures and work instructions
    • Effective verbal communication skills
    • Basic math skills
    • Ability to function in a team environment
    • Ability to carry out job assignment without direct supervision
    • Ability to clearly write and record information
    • Ability to access and accurately record time worked in electronic timekeeping system
    • Ability to use a computer for production record keeping
    • Ability to drive various vehicles including, but not limited to, powder van, passenger van, sedan, and pickup, as well as forklift as required by work assignment
    • Commitment to operating safely, with environmental awareness, and with a focus on producing a quality product

    Pay Information

    • $24.98/hr., then after 120 days, it increases to $26.80/hr.

    Schedule

    • Rotating Shifts, 10 - 12 hour days.

    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.

    Go to company profile