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Tool Engineer / Principal Tool Engineer

Palmdale, California, United States
Full Time On-site

Summary

Job Description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance 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 Aeronautics Systems (NGAS) has an opening for a Tool Engineer or Principal Tool Engineer to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals. This position will be located in Palmdale, CA.

Bring your experience as a Tool Designer to support our Armament Business unit.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Plan, design, document and oversee the build of complex tools and assemblies

  • Design tools, mechanisms, special machine tools using NX and Mastercam

  • Create designs and drawings to be sent out for build

  • Requires knowledge of mechanics and application of mechanical movements

  • Adapt standard equipment to special purposes

  • Work independently to solve problems and create new designs, generally with little guidance

  • Select materials to be used to meet design and usage requirements

  • Supervise test and assembly of new design if necessary

  • Familiar with ergonomics and with applicable OSHA safety standards relative to pneumatics and hydraulics

  • Collaborates with engineering, technicians and management throughout the design and build process

  • Organize and maintain new and existing drawing records

COMPETENCIES

  • Customer Service

  • Advanced computer skills (Microsoft office suite + CAD)

  • Works well under pressure

  • Strong time management skills

  • Attention to detail

  • Effective communication skills

  • Continuous improvement

  • Mechanical aptitude

  • Works with ambiguity

**This role may be filled at the Tool Engineer or Principal Tool Engineer level based on the qualifications listed, below**

Basic Qualifications Tool Engineer:

  • Bachelor’s degree with 1 year of manufacturing or tool design experience OR Master’s Degree with 0 years of experience

  • Experience creating drawings to be used in manufacturing following industry and corporate drafting standards

  • Experience in machine shop practices

  • Knowledge of the physical properties of materials and how to harden, temper and stress relieve materials to achieve required properties

  • Must be knowledgeable in the following design areas: Dies, Molds, Gaging, cutting tools, fixtures, Machine design

  • Design and assemble precise tools and fixtures to work with energetic materials

  • Experience in press tooling, both hydraulic and pneumatic presses

  • Experience using CAD software such as NX, Mastercam, Solidworks

  • Able to work weekly Monday – Thursday 3:00 PM - 1:30 AM; Occasional Fridays and overtime required

  • Considerable amount of time standing and walking, up to 50% of time

Basic Qualifications Principal Tool Engineer:

  • Bachelor’s degree with 4 years of manufacturing or tool design experience OR Master’s Degree with 3 years of manufacturing or tool design experience OR PhD with 0 years of experience

  • Experience creating drawings to be used in manufacturing following industry and corporate drafting standards

  • Experience in machine shop practices

  • Knowledge of the physical properties of materials and how to harden, temper and stress relieve materials to achieve required properties

  • Must be knowledgeable in the following design areas: Dies, Molds, Gaging, cutting tools, fixtures, Machine design

  • Design and assemble precise tools and fixtures to work with energetic materials

  • Experience in press tooling, both hydraulic and pneumatic presses

  • Experience using CAD software such as NX, Mastercam, Solidworks

  • Ability to work weekly Monday – Thursday 3:00 PM - 1:30 AM; Occasional Fridays and overtime required

  • Considerable amount of time standing and walking, up to 50% of time

Preferred Qualifications: 

  • Possess an understanding of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T)

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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