Engineer - Survivability (El Segundo CA)

Northrop Grumman; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 101,000 - 151,400; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Life and disability insurance

Company-paid holidays

Paid time off

Job summary

Northrop Grumman is seeking an Engineer - Survivability to enhance defense systems through advanced materials in El Segundo, California. The role involves applying chemistry, physics, and material science principles to address survivability challenges and develop optimal solutions.

Candidates should have a relevant STEM degree and experience with Low Observable Materials. Responsibilities include analyzing and developing materials, interfacing with military customers, and collaborating in multidisciplinary teams.

This position offers a competitive salary range of $101,000 - $151,400, along with various benefits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a STEM discipline with 2 years of related experience; or Master’s degree.
• Experience in Low Observable Materials and Processes.
• Familiar with military specifications and standards.
• Proficiency in materials testing methods and interpreting lab results.
• Ability to maintain a U.S. Government Secret Security Clearance.

Responsibilities

• Analyze and develop materials for optimized performance.
• Integrate survivability features into new designs and existing systems.
• Collaborate in an Integrated Product Team (IPT) environment.
• Offer solutions to production issues based on previous experience.

Skills

Low Observable Materials and Processes

Materials Testing Methods

Fabrication and Application Processes

Technical Writing and Presentation Skills

Cross-discipline Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in a STEM discipline

Master's degree in relevant field

Tools

Proprietary analysis codes

Technical Drawing Software

Job description

Relocation Assistance: Relocation assistance may be available.

Clearance Required for Start: Yes.

Clearance Type: Secret.

Travel: Yes, 10% of the time.

About the Role

We have an opening for an Engineer - Survivability to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals located in El Segundo, California. The Survivability Engineer will help enhance the survivability of defense systems through advanced materials and processes. The candidate will apply principles of chemistry, physics, and material science to investigate material issues and provide solutions within the Survivability discipline.

Responsibilities

The responsibilities include analyzing, researching, and developing materials and their related application processes that optimize performance in structures, systems, and subsystems. The selected candidate will leverage principles of chemistry, physics, and material science to investigate material issues, ensuring the integration of survivability features into both new designs and existing systems.

Core Competencies

• Leverage Advanced Technology: Utilize the latest classified technology to minimize detectability across electromagnetic, infrared, visual, and acoustic spectrums.
• Predict and Verify Performance: Use proprietary analysis codes to forecast design performance and validate predictions through physical model testing.
• Optimize Stealth Design: Balance optimization of stealth properties with requirements from other engineering disciplines and ensure compliance with survivability requirements during the design process.
• Collaborate Effectively: Work collaboratively in an Integrated Product Team (IPT) environment to achieve customer goals in a fast‑paced and diverse setting.
• Adapt and Innovate: Offer real‑time solutions to production issues based on previous aircraft systems and Low Observable experience.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a STEM discipline with 2 years of related experience; or Master’s degree with 0 years of related experience.
• Experience in Low Observable Materials and Processes.
• Comprehension of materials selection for electromagnetic performance.
• Proficiency in materials testing methods (mechanical, thermal, environmental, EM properties) and interpreting lab results.
• Knowledge of fabrication and application processes for specialty materials, including coatings, adhesives, and composite structures used in aircraft.
• Familiarity with military specifications and standards, and experience interfacing with military customers regarding survivability requirements.
• Skilled in creating process specifications, test plans, technical reports, and presenting findings to stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience working on projects requiring cross‑collaboration with other disciplines.
• Comfortable working with design, manufacturing, quality, and production teams to ensure material/process compliance.
• Ability to transfer and maintain a final adjudicated U.S. Government Secret Security Clearance (must be in‑scope or enrolled in Continuous Evaluation) within a reasonable period of time.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working on military aircraft, specifically in survivability engineering and LO materials.
• Advanced degree (M.S./Ph.D.) preferred, particularly with focus on polymers, composites, or coatings.
• Excellent communication skills for preparing and presenting detailed technical reports.
• Experience with material obsolescence, qualifying and selecting replacement materials.
• Experience working with material suppliers and troubleshooting site issues.
• Experience reading and reviewing technical drawings, specifications, and manufacturing plans.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze materials issues, conduct root‑cause analysis of failures, and provide effective solutions for material performance in aerospace applications.
• Understanding of Aircraft Survivability including susceptibility and vulnerability.
• Experience in modeling and simulation.
• Preferred competence in a high‑level coding language (e.g., Python, C#, MATLAB).
• Experience with proprietary computational electromagnetic analysis codes used by Northrop Grumman or industry.
• Knowledge of Applied Electromagnetics/ Aircraft Survivability and comprehensive understanding of electromagnetic energy transmission through space and materials.
• Hands‑on experience with material characterization methods (e.g., dielectric properties, mechanical testing, environmental durability).
• Knowledge of electromagnetic performance testing for LO materials and correlation with processing/chemistry.
• Understanding of manufacturing processes: composite layup, coating application, adhesive bonding, curing, and repair techniques.

Work Environment

This position involves collaborative work with cross‑disciplinary engineering teams and may require travel for site visits, testing, or customer engagements.

Salary Range

Primary Level Salary Range: $101,000.00 - $151,400.00. The above range is a guideline; actual offer may vary based on scope, responsibilities, candidate experience, education, skills, and market conditions. Eligible employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, discretionary bonuses, and possibly long‑term incentives. A variety of benefits including health insurance, life and disability insurance, savings plan, company‑paid holidays, and PTO for vacation and personal business are provided.

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 https://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.

#AS-FA3