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2026 Associate Propulsion Engineer – Rocket Center WV

Rocket Center, West Virginia, United States
Full Time On-site

Summary

Job Description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No

CLEARANCE TYPE: 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.

Northrop Grumman is seeking Propulsion Engineers. This position will be located at our Defense Systems Sector in Rocket Center, WV.

The qualified candidate will become part of Northrop Grumman’s Missile Products team within the Weapon Systems Division.

Specific responsibilities include:

  • Support project objectives by performing design, analysis, fabrication, and/or test activities with the support, guidance and direction of senior engineers.
  • Select applicable analytical data from previous products, determine the technical principles involved, mathematically define the problem and compute the engineering characteristics consistent with the specifications, design needs and requirements of other portions of the product.
  • Evaluate design with other technical groups and make modifications to achieve the ideal design.
  • Document results of analysis, test, and design activities.
  • Develop original ideas and elaborate on preliminary design concepts.
  • Make thoughtful and valuable suggestions and recommendations for improvements.
  • Establish requirements and procedures to evaluate, purchased equipment or materials.
  • Provide guidance to ensure the project/program assignments meet established technical objectives.

Basic Qualifications: 

This requisition may be filled at either a level 1 or a level 2.  Basic qualifications for a Propulsion Engineer 1 are a Bachelor’s Degree. Basic qualifications for a Propulsion Engineer 2 are a Master’s Degree.

A candidate must meet ALL of the below criteria. The candidate must:

  • Be completing or has completed their degree (Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD) from an accredited institution by July 2026
  • Be majoring in or having majored in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering
  • Be able to obtain a U.S. Government security clearance (U.S. citizenship is a pre-requisite)

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Have an overall cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0 or higher
  • Experience or coursework related to statics, dynamics, fluids, thermodynamics, rocket propulsion, computer skills/programming (MATLAB, FORTRAN, Solid Modeling, Excel)
  • Experience or coursework developing and delivering presentations and leading small groups 
  • Experience or coursework with Siemens NX
  • Self-motivated, willing to learn, and interested in working in a team environment 
  • Able to work in an autonomous work environment on complex projects 
  • Experience working on business or engineering full life-cycle projects from project inception through launch 

This position falls under a Federal Explosives License issued by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) for this location.  Candidates hired into this role will be required to complete and submit an Employee Possessor Questionnaire to ATF for approval to be a possessor.

Salary Range:

Level 1: $65,800 - $98,800

Level 2: $79,300 - $118,900

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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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