Energetics Manufacturing Engineer - level 3/4

Northrop Grumman Corp.; Elkton (KY); On-site; USD 109,000 - 204,000; Full time

Job summary

Northrop Grumman Corp. in Elkton, MD is seeking a Principal or Sr. Principal Industrial Engineer to lead process mapping, line balancing, and layout optimization in a high‑stakes propulsion systems environment.

You will drive data‑driven improvements using Tableau and simulation tools, mentor engineers, and coordinate cross‑functional teams while navigating security requirements. This role requires the ability to obtain a secret clearance, offers relocation assistance where available, and may

Qualifications

• Must have a bachelors degree in STEM and several years of industrial engineering experience.
• Experience leading process mapping and optimization efforts.
• Exposure to lean or six-sigma initiatives and standard work.

Responsibilities

• Analyze and design sequences of operations to improve efficiency and remove bottlenecks.
• Lead cross-functional workshops to standardize improvements across functions.
• Use data tools to create visual metrics and drive data-based decisions.
• Develop and implement operating method changes and safety improvements.

Skills

Industrial engineering

Process mapping

Line balancing

Simulation

Forecasting

Lean Six Sigma

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM

Master's degree in STEM

Tools

Tableau

FlexSim

CORE

MES data

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 in need of a Principal or Sr. Principal Industrial Engineer to work at its Elkton, Maryland facility. Northrop Grumman Propulsion Systems and Controls (PS&C) facility in Elkton, Maryland began solid-propellant rocket operations in 1948. Today, the Elkton PS&C facility designs, develops, and produces solid-propellant propulsion and ordnance systems in programs professionally managed for a wide variety of Government and commercial customers. The facility also serves as the hub for offsite engineering and test facilities in Ronkonkoma, NY and Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Elkton, Maryland is located on the Upper Chesapeake Bay, midway between Philadelphia and Baltimore. Discover charming small towns, parks with miles of trails, specialty and antique shops, award winning restaurants, and inns. You can hike, bike, camp, bird watch, ride horseback, or drop a fishing line. Five rivers, Chesapeake Bay and the C&D Canal can be explored by boat or by land. Experience panoramic views from Turkey Point Lighthouse on a bluff overlooking the Bay, or from the banks of the C&D Canal where ships from around the globe cruise. https://www.ccgov.org/government/tourism

Core Responsibilities

• Analyze and design sequences of operations, workflows, and equipment layouts (using VSM, line balancing, capacity/utilization analysis) to improve efficiency, throughput, and remove bottlenecks.
• Establish methods and standards to maximize utilization of production facilities, equipment, and personnel, including manpower planning, skill matrices, recovery scheduling, and TPM/L2L maintenance concepts.
• Conduct studies related to cost control, cost reduction, inventory control, quality improvement, and production record systems, and translate findings into practical, implementable solutions.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives (Kaizen/AIW, 5S/POU, standard work, TPM, RCCA/defect analysis) to improve safety, plan vs. actual performance, schedule adherence, quality yield, rework, and backlog.
• Use CORE, Tableau, MES data, and simulation tools (e.g., FlexSim) to create visual shop metrics and drive data‑based decisions, forecasting, and improvement roadmaps.
• Develop and implement facility and operating method changes; support accident prevention and safety improvements.
• Lead cross‑functional workshops and training to standardize and sustain improvements across manufacturing, facilities, safety, quality, and supply chain.
• Understand manufacturing systems architectures, and recommend/drive improvement efforts to streamline to help drive data driven decisions.

What We’re Looking For

• Strong industrial engineering & operations background with demonstrated impact in manufacturing/production environments. (e.g., standards development, workflow analysis, line balancing, layout optimization, simulation, statistical analysis and forecasting).
• Regularly apply ingenuity and creativity to resolve novel or high impact issues in manufacturing, cost, and safety performance.
• Demonstrated ability to translate analytical results into practical, implementable improvements in production operations.
• Works under general direction with significant independence in determining and developing approaches to solutions.
• Ability to clearly communicate technical approaches and influence cross‑functional teams, prioritize high‑ROI improvements, and drive closure on actions.
• Represents the organization in providing solutions to challenging technical issues associated with specific projects and production operations.

Basic Qualifications for Principal (level 3)

• Must have a bachelors degree in STEM and at least 5 years of experience. Will consider those with a masters degree and at least 3 years of experience.
• The ability to obtain a secret clearance, US citizenship is a pre‑requisite.
• Experience leading process mapping and optimization efforts.
• Experience with work measurement and standard work methodologies.
• Execution of lean or six-sigma projects.

Basic Qualifications for Sr. Principal (level 4)

• Must have a bachelors degree in STEM and at least 8 years of experience. Will consider those with a masters degree and at least 6 years of experience.
• The ability to obtain a secret clearance, US citizenship is a pre‑requisite.
• Experience leading multi‑area or site‑level process mapping and optimization efforts.
• Leadership/mentorship of early career engineers.
• Strategic execution of work measurements, standard work, and lean or six‑sigma initiatives.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelors and/or masters degree in Industrial Engineering.
• Active secret or higher clearance.

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.

Primary Level Salary Range: $108,800.00 - $163,200.00

Secondary Level Salary Range: $135,800.00 - $203,600.00

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.