2026 Associate Thermal Mechanical Engineer - Dulles

0909 SP - Orbital Space Systems; United States; On-site; USD 79,000 - 138,000; Full time

Job summary

Northrop Grumman is seeking a thermal engineer to perform analysis, design, and testing for spacecraft components. You will evaluate requirements, select data, and define engineering principles for robust thermal solutions across major subsystems.

The role requires a STEM degree and experience with thermal tools; MATLAB experience is preferred. Expect collaboration across teams, strong problem-solving, and opportunities in a leading defense space program.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a STEM field required.
• No clearance required to start.
• Experience with thermal analysis tasks related to analysis, design, and testing of structures.
• Experience with at least one thermal analysis tool such as Thermal Desktop or SINDA.

Responsibilities

• Perform thermal analysis, design, or test of moderately complex materials, components, and systems.
• Analyze requirements for materials, components, or systems.
• Select applicable analytical data from prior products and determine the technical principles.
• Mathematically define problems and compute engineering characteristics per specifications.
• Release results as technical documents after review by senior team members.
• Develop innovative solutions and elaborate on design concepts.
• Evaluate designs with supervisors and other technical groups and modify as needed.
• Develop, coordinate, and conduct test programs to evaluate design work.

Skills

Thermal engineering

MATLAB

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM

Tools

Thermal Desktop

SINDA

MATLAB

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No CLEARANCE TYPE: None TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time Description

Job 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.

Job Responsibilities

• Perform thermal analysis, design, or test of one or more moderately complex or portions of complex materials, structural components, and functional systems of company products.
• Analyze requirements for materials, structural components, or functional systems.
• Select applicable analytical data from previous products and determine the technical principles involved.
• Mathematically define problems and compute the engineering characteristics consistent with the specifications, design needs and requirements of other portions of the products.
• Release results as “technical documents” after review by the senior members of the team.
• Develop innovative solutions and elaborate on design concepts.
• Evaluate completed designs with supervisor and other technical groups, and make modifications necessary to achieve the most ideal design.
• Develop, coordinate, and conduct test programs required to evaluate design work.
• Other duties as assigned

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field with 0 years of professional experience
• No clearance required to start
• Experience with thermal engineering tasks associated with analysis, design, and/or testing of structures.
• Experience with at least one of the following Thermal Analysis tools such as Thermal Desktop, SINDA or equivalent spacecraft thermal analysis tools.

Preferred Qualifications

• Current or Active Secret, Top Secret or higher level clearance.
• Experience with spacecraft or subsystem thermal testing.
• Experience utilizing MATLAB

Curious about all the exciting developments with the Northrop Grumman Space Sector?

Working at Northrop Grumman is more than just a paycheck. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards and benefits package designed to help you thrive at work and in life. For more information on our Total Rewards package, please visit our Total Rewards site. Northrop Grumman Total Rewards Primary Level Salary Range: $78,800.00 - $137,600.00 Secondary Level Salary Range: $0.00 - $0.00 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.

We are a pioneering company. With careers across all areas: air, cyber, land, sea and space – our 90,000 employees work as one to defend and define the future.

Northrop Grumman careers and internships are as varied as your interests, with a lifetime of potential that will give you every opportunity to do your best work.

Working together with people from many backgrounds, personal passions and disciplines, we share a drive to push the boundaries of science, technology and engineering to meet the ever evolving needs of our customers worldwide.