Sr Principal Mechanical Engineer

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available

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 – Medium Caliber Ammunition (MCA) Co‑Production Team

This opportunity is ideal for a self‑motivated, proactive engineer who will lead metal‑parts production projects for the MCA co‑production effort. Our engineers work in a high‑visibility, fast‑paced environment that demands hands‑on problem solving, cross‑functional collaboration, and clear communication. The role requires up to 50 % domestic and international travel and a strong attention to detail. If you enjoy varied technical challenges each day, this is the place for you.

Position Description

• Reports to the MCA Co‑Production Manager and interfaces with program and support functions.
• Leads a team of engineers to establish manufacturing capability for multiple MCA cartridges at overseas sites.
• Selects and procures metal‑manufacturing equipment (CNC machines, grinders, washers, heat‑treat systems, etc.).
• Develops and documents production processes, procedures, improvements, and customer‑training material.
• Assists with installation and commissioning of equipment at final facilities, often abroad.
• Contributes to engineering project proposals for future opportunities.
• Communicates issues and status to program and functional management on a regular cadence.
• Works closely with Systems Engineering and the Quality Management System (QMS) to ensure rigor throughout the engineering lifecycle.
• Serves as the primary technical interface with external customers and technical organizations.
• May step into additional roles as business needs dictate.
• Travels up to 50 % domestically and internationally; deployments during implementation can be up to 30 consecutive days.

Responsibilities

• Direct a metal‑parts team of five or more engineers in equipment selection and process development.
• Serves as Design‑to‑Production Transition (DTPT) reviewer for cartridges in development.
• Act as Cost Account Manager (CAM) to ensure schedule and budget compliance.
• Work closely with key vendors to design, produce, and qualify metal‑finish, paint, and heat‑treat equipment.
• Create or update manufacturing and assembly process documentation.
• Provide frequent status updates to all organizational levels.
• Maintain extensive contact with assigned internal and external project customers.
• Generate and track open‑issue lists to timely resolution.
• Trial new processes and technologies to improve quality and throughput.
• Apply solid mechanical‑systems and manufacturing‑process knowledge.

Basic Qualifications

This position emphasizes skills first

• Must have 12 years of experience in manufacturing/production of mechanical components or systems or the following education‑experience equivalents:
  • B.S. in an engineering discipline + 8 years of relevant experience
  • M.S. in an engineering discipline + 6 years of relevant experience
  • Ph.D. in an engineering discipline + 4 years of relevant experience
• U.S. citizenship (required)

Preferred Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in a metal‑parts manufacturing environment.
• Experience as a Cost Account Manager (CAM), familiarity with Earned Value Management System (EVMS) and Item Master Scheduling (IMS) strongly perfered.
• 10+ years of overall professional experience.
• 5+ years of experience leading a team of engineers.
• Working knowledge of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T).
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).

Primary Level Salary Range: $123,400.00 - $185,000.00

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.