2026 Associate Engineer Propulsion - Rocket Center WV

ngc; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 66,000 - 119,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary bonus

Health insurance

Life and disability insurance

Savings plan

Paid time off

Company holidays

Job summary

Northrop Grumman is seeking an Associate Propulsion Engineer to join the Defense Systems Sector in Rocket Center, WV. The role focuses on propulsion analysis, design, and testing for complex materials and systems.

Candidates should be ready to work under senior engineers and pursue a security clearance. Responsibilities include designing, analyzing, and testing components, documenting results, and contributing to iterative design improvements.

Qualifications

• Be completing or has completed their bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• Be majoring in or having majored in a Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering
• Be able to obtain a U.S. Government security clearance (U.S. citizenship is a pre-requisite)
• Be completing or has completed their master’s degree from an accredited institution.
• Be majoring in or having majored in a STEM degree
• Be able to obtain a U.S. Government security clearance (U.S. citizenship is a pre-requisite)
• Coursework or experience in statics, dynamics, fluids, thermodynamics, rocket propulsion, computer skills/programming (MATLAB, FORTRAN, Solid Modeling, Excel)
• Coursework in Leadership & teamwork
• Coursework or experience working on business or engineering full life-cycle projects from project inception through launch

Responsibilities

• 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.

Skills

U.S. security clearance eligibility

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering

Master's degree in STEM

Tools

MATLAB

FORTRAN

Solid Modeling

Excel

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 Associate 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 Weapon Systems Division.

The Propulsion Engineer will work in the exciting and challenging world of tactical propulsion. Responsibilities center on the use of various technical principles to perform analysis, design, or test portions of complex materials, structural components, and functional systems.

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.

This requisition may be filled at either a Level 1 or Level 2.

Basic Qualifications for an Associate Engineer (P01):

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

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

Basic Qualifications for an Engineer (P02):

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

• Be completing or has completed their master’s degree from an accredited institution.
• Be majoring in or having majored in a STEM degree
• 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 3.70/4.0 or higher
• Coursework or experience in statics, dynamics, fluids, thermodynamics, rocket propulsion, computer skills/programming (MATLAB, FORTRAN, Solid Modeling, Excel)
• Coursework in Leadership & teamwork
• Coursework or experience in developing and delivering presentations and leading small groups
• Coursework or 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

Benefits

• 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.

U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.

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.