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Advanced Automation Manufacturing Engineer/Principal Manufacturing Engineer

Palmdale, California, United States
Full Time On-site
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes

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 Aeronautics Systems (NGAS) has an opening for an Advanced Automation Manufacturing Engineer or Advanced Automation Principal Manufacturing Engineer to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals. This position will be located at Palmdale, CA Center of Excellence where technology and teamwork come together. The qualified applicant will become part of Northrop Grumman's Manufacturing Engineering Team working in a collaborative environment while promoting a positive and proactive teamwork environment.

Advanced Automation Manufacturing Engineering job duties involve the following:

  • Provide guidance to Engineering regarding design concepts to ensure the best manufacturing technique is being used to meet the Engineering design

  • Participate in tool design reviews to ensure tools are feasible and reduce build times and program costs during assembly

  • Define sequence of operations for product builds, investigate and initiate corrective actions and improvements that involve non-conforming product and identify improvement opportunities in areas that require producibility and affordability initiatives

As a member of the Automation Manufacturing Engineering team, you will define, develop, implement, and transition new technology solutions to manufacturing to increase efficiency, reduce cost, and improve quality. Manufacturing concept and process solutions for production applications cover advanced technologies including but not limited to composites fabrication, assembly, automation, inspection, direct part manufacturing, survivability technologies, as well as digital capabilities. The role requires incorporation of requirements into development plans and evaluation of performance of processes and tools to verify their efficiency. In addition, you will identify and initiate corrective action of problems and deficiencies to ensure technical, schedule, and cost objectives are met, and product quality is maintained.  In this role, you will provide guidance regarding design concepts, directly support, and ensure the successful implementation of new solution capabilities released to production, and specification requirements to best utilize resources and manufacturing techniques. This role involves interfacing with internal and external customers, program offices, engineering disciplines, executive management and requires the ability to handle multiple projects concurrently in a dynamic/fast-paced work environment.

Advanced Automation Manufacturing Engineers for Aeronautics Systems are expected to provide technical solutions to a wide range of complex and difficult problems. They are problem solvers who can provide results that are innovative, thorough, practical, and consistent with organization objectives.  We seek Manufacturing Engineers that use a unique skill set that includes a hands-on approach and support as the technical representative voice for the Manufacturing organization.

Basic Qualifications for Advanced Automation Manufacturing Engineer:

  • Bachelor’s Degree with 1 year or Master’s degree with 0 years of related experience in production assembly / fabrication including composites, machining, coatings application, or production manufacturing operations

  • Experience supporting manufacturing / production operations with an understanding of manufacturing processes and procedures

  • Experience in machining, robotics, or numerical control programming

  • Experience in composites, automation, heating systems or coatings application

  • Experience working or knowledge of Process Work Instructions (PWI)

  • Experience in creating work instructions, training materials & visual aids

  • Experience reviewing and interpreting Blueprints and 3-D models

  • Experience in system requirements development, acceptance testing and training

  • Experience working hands-on in a production assembly line environment

  • Experience in troubleshooting systems, and root cause and corrective action analysis

  • Proficient in Microsoft Office Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook

  • Ability to interface / communicate with multiple levels of leadership, engineering, production, customers, and suppliers

  • Active in-scope U.S. Government Secret / Top Secret security clearance that has been granted / renewed within the past 5 years

  • Must have the ability to obtain and maintain Special Program Access within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the company to meet its business needs

  • Ability to work 1st shift, or 2nd shift and any work schedule (times may vary)

Basic Qualifications for Advanced Automation Principal Manufacturing Engineer:

  • Bachelor’s Degree with 4 years or Master’s degree with 3 years or PhD degree with 0 years of related experience in production assembly / fabrication including composites, machining, coatings application, or production manufacturing operations

  • Experience supporting manufacturing / production operations with an understanding of manufacturing processes and procedures

  • Experience in machining, robotics, or numerical control programming

  • Experience in composites, automation, heating systems or coatings application

  • Experience working or knowledge of Process Work Instructions (PWI)

  • Experience in creating work instructions, training materials & visual aids

  • Experience reviewing and interpreting Blueprints and 3-D models

  • Experience in system requirements development, acceptance testing and training

  • Experience working hands-on in a production assembly line environment

  • Experience in troubleshooting systems, and root cause and corrective action analysis

  • Proficient in Microsoft Office Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook

  • Ability to interface / communicate with multiple levels of leadership, engineering, production, customers, and suppliers

  • Active in-scope U.S. Government Secret / Top Secret security clearance that has been granted / renewed within the past 5 years

  • Must have the ability to obtain and maintain Special Program Access within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the company to meet its business needs

  • Ability to work 1st shift, or 2nd shift and any work schedule (times may vary)

Preferred Qualifications

  • Degree in a STEM field (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math)

  • Experience in project management and execution (proposal creation, scheduling, budget tracking)

  • Experience in Manufacturing Execution System and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems

  • Experience in solid modeling design using NX Siemens, CATIA or Solid Works

  • Experience providing innovative techniques focused on improving product designs and tooling assemblies or equipment

  • Experience in using Microsoft Office Project, Visio, SharePoint

  • Experience in Transition to Production activities

  • Active in-scope Special Program Access clearance preferred

Primary Level Salary Range: $83,400.00 - $125,200.00

Secondary Level Salary Range: $103,600.00 - $155,400.00

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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