Chief Engineer – Propulsion Tanks - Level 5

Northrop Grumman; California; On-site; USD 177,000 - 266,000; Full time

Job summary

Northrop Grumman in Commerce, CA, seeks a Chief Engineer for Propulsion Tanks to own the technical baseline, guide design and production, and mentor a growing engineering team. You will interface with customers and leadership, drive RCCA through complex issues, and push manufacturability improvements across the line.

The role requires deep propulsion tank expertise, metallurgy mastery, and a track record of leading cross-functional teams in aerospace, with a focus on schedule and cost control.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in STEM with 12+ years in aerospace propulsion/pressure vessels.
• Deep metallurgy and materials knowledge, including titanium and high-performance alloys.
• Experience with GD&T, precision machining, and production tooling for complex hardware.
• Experience leading RCCA/non-conformance resolution and cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Own the propulsion tank product line end-to-end from design to production.
• Interface with customers, site leadership, and partners for technical direction.
• Lead RCCA and nonconformance resolution to protect cost, schedule and performance.
• Develop roadmaps and evaluate additive manufacturing to address constraints.

Skills

Aerospace propulsion

Metallurgy

GD&T

Leadership

Cross-functional teamwork

Communication

Security clearance

Additive manufacturing

Education

Bachelor’s degree in STEM

Master’s degree in STEM (preferred)

Tools

Titanium forging

Precision machining

Production tooling

PMD/COPV tanks

GD&T tools

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be availableCLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: NoCLEARANCE TYPE: NoneTRAVEL: Yes, 25% of the TimeDescriptionAt 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’s Space Sector is seeking a Chief Engineer – Propulsion Tanks - Level 5 to join our team in Commerce, CA.This is a highly visible, hands-on role for a technical leader who wants to own a product line end-to-end—stabilizing performance, lifting team capability, and shaping the technology roadmap. You will have direct influence with customers, site leadership, and business leadership across the company, working on hardware that directly affects mission success.The ideal candidate is a seasoned technical leader with deep propulsion tank experience, strong metallurgy and manufacturing expertise, and a proven track record of building teams, navigating challenges, and positively influencing culture in demanding environments. We value diverse perspectives and inclusive leadership, and we’re looking for a chief engineer who can bring out the best in a broad range of engineers and partners.What You’ll Get to DoServe as Chief Engineer for the Commerce Propulsion Tank Product Line, owning the technical baseline and guiding design, development, integration, test, and production support.Act as the primary technical interface to customers, Commerce site leadership, and key functional and business partners.Lead root cause and corrective action (RCCA) and nonconformance resolution, driving closure of complex technical issues that impact performance, yield, and schedule.Apply deep expertise in metallurgy and materials, GD&T, precision machining, and production tooling to improve producibility and manufacturing robustness.Partner closely with Operations, Manufacturing Engineering, Tooling, and Quality to address manufacturability, variability, and cost drivers.Build and mentor a high performing engineering team in a small, growing organization: coach engineers, set clear technical standards, and raise the level of technical rigor.Take on a high impact build and transform charter: strengthen a small team, improve technical discipline, and help shape the culture of the Commerce propulsion tank organization.Champion a positive, inclusive culture by modeling Northrop Grumman’s leadership behaviors: setting a vision, taking ownership, leading with courage, responding with resilience, and acting with speed.Maintain strong awareness of the propulsion tank market and architectures, including PMD designs, COPV tanks, diaphragm tanks, and titanium forging constraints.Support new business and proposals with technical strategy, risk assessment, and requirements compliance, clearly articulating our technical value to customers.Lead development of technical roadmaps, including evaluating emerging technologies such as additive manufacturing and defining transitions away from forging constrained approaches to meet higher demand under tighter timelines.Work closely with site leadership, Operating Unit and Business Unit leaders, and enterprise functional leadership, providing a strong platform for future technical and organizational leadership opportunities.Basic Qualifications:Bachelor’s degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM) field with 12 years of technical experience in aerospace, space, or closely related propulsion/pressure vessel domains.Experience in propulsion tank design and manufacturing (e.g., pressure vessels, PMDs, COPVs, diaphragm tanks).Deep technical proficiency in metallurgy and materials (including titanium and high performance alloys).Experience with GD&T, precision machining, and production tooling for complex hardware.Demonstrated experience with additive manufacturing or other advanced manufacturing methods for structural/pressure vessel hardware, and the ability to incorporate these into technical and technology roadmap decisions.Demonstrated success leading RCCA/non-conformance resolution and closing persistent technical issues that impact cost, schedule, and performance.Experience leading and influencing cross-functional technical teams and effectively interfacing with customers and senior leadership.Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to explain complex technical topics to diverse stakeholders.Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance.Preferred QualificationsMaster’s degree in a STEM discipline (Aerospace, Mechanical, or Materials Engineering preferred).Broad familiarity with propulsion tank architectures, customer expectations, and market trends, including PMD designs, COPV and diaphragm tanks, and forging supply chain constraints.Experience developing technology transition plans that leverage additive and other advanced processes to mitigate forging/supply constraints and support higher demand.Prior experience as a Chief Engineer, IPT Lead, or equivalent senior technical leadership role on mission-critical hardware.Active TS and/or SCI clearancesCurious about all the exciting developments with the Northrop Grumman Space Sector? Click the link below:https://www.northropgrumman.com/spaceWorking 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#LosAngelesSpace#SpaceEngJobs#SpaceGNCJobsPrimary Level Salary Range: $177,000.00 - $265,600.00The 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.