Manufacturing Engineer – Process Center Lead Harnessing & Soldering - Level 2

Northrop Grumman; Goleta (CA); On-site; USD 83,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Savings plan

Company paid holidays

PTO

Annual bonuses

Job summary

Northrop Grumman in Goleta, CA seeks a Manufacturing Engineer to lead harnessing and soldering processes, improving production layouts and workmanship." The role focuses on developing, implementing, and improving manufacturing methods while mentoring technicians in a high‑reliability environment.

The position requires IPC/J-STD-001 and NASA training credentials, strong leadership, and collaboration with design, quality, and operations teams. Goleta site offers growth and challenging programs.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent and 6 years of relevant experience.
• 2 years of relevant experience with a Bachelor’s degree in Science.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and mentor technicians in a high‑reliability, flight hardware environment.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills with the ability to interface effectively with engineering, quality, program management, and customers.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a fast‑paced, multi‑program environment and to balance near‑term production needs with long‑term process and capability development.

Responsibilities

• Review and develop design, manufacturing processes, procedures, and production layouts for flight harness assemblies.
• Partner with design engineering on harness concepts, specification requirements, design-for-manufacturability (DFM).
• Ensure manufacturing processes comply with regulations, customer requirements, and industry standards (IPC, NASA workmanship).
• Incorporate inspection and test requirements into production plans with test coverage and acceptance criteria.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

SPC

Process Improvement

Education

High School diploma or equivalent

Bachelor’s degree in Science

Tools

IPC-J-STD-001 Trainer

NASA 8739.4 Training

NASA 8739.1 Training

NASA 8739.3 (preferred)

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No

CLEARANCE TYPE: None

TRAVEL: Yes, 25% 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.

Join Northrop Grumman on our continued mission to push the boundaries of possible across land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace. Enjoy a culture where your voice is valued and start contributing to our team of passionate professionals providing real-life solutions to our world’s biggest challenges. We take pride in creating purposeful work and allowing our employees to grow and achieve their goals every day by Defining Possible. With our competitive pay and comprehensive benefits, we have the right opportunities to fit your life and launch your career today.

The Deployables operating Unit of Northrop Grumman's Intelligence Systems Division is currently seeking a Manufacturing Engineer to work with our production team in our Goleta/Oxnard facilities.

The Manufacturing Engineer / Process Center Lead for Harnessing & Soldering is the technical owner and subject-matter expert for flight harness assemblies and associated soldering processes. This role is responsible for developing, implementing, and continuously improving manufacturing processes, owning workmanship standards for the harnessing cell, and leading a common work center that supports multiple programs. The Process Center Lead directs a team of harnessing technicians to meet safety, quality, cost, and schedule objectives in a high-reliability flight hardware environment.

This position will be located in Goleta, CA.

Responsibilities

Manufacturing Process & Design Support

• Review and develop design, manufacturing processes, procedures, and production layouts for flight harness assemblies.
• Partner with design engineering on harness concepts, specification requirements,design-for-manufacturability (DFM), and optimal use of equipment and manufacturing techniques.
• Ensure manufacturing processes and procedures comply with applicable regulations, customer requirements, and industry standards (e.g., IPC, NASA workmanship standards).
• Incorporate inspection and test requirements into production plans as needed, including test coverage, verification methods and acceptance criteria.

Work Center Layout, Ownership & Optimization

• Own the layout and configurationof the harnessing work center. Design and optimize the arrangement of personnel, machines, tools, and processes within the harnessing work center to maximize efficiency, throughput, and product quality.
• Inspect performance of employee processes, equipment, and tools to verify efficiency and conformance to standards.
• Investigate root causes and implement corrective actions for process problems and deficiencies.
• Champion 5S, standard work, and visual controlswithin the harnessing cell.

Workmanship Standards & Training

• Serve as a certified instructor in IPC-J-STD-001 Joint Industry Standard for soldering.
• Serve as a certified instructor in NASA 8739.4 Workmanship Standard for Crimping, Interconnecting Cables, Harnesses, and Wiring; capable of training technicians and quality personnel for certification.
• Serve as a certified instructor in NASA 8739.1 Polymeric Application on Electronic Assemblies.
• Provide training, coaching, and certification support to technicians and quality personnel to maintain high workmanship standards across programs.

Continuous Improvement & Data Driven Process Control

• Develop manufacturing processes that are applicable to statistical process control (SPC). Develop and implement SPC techniques and control plans for critical harnessing processes.
• Analyze process, yield, and test data; recommend modifications to components, tooling, or test procedures to meet desired specifications and industry standards.
• Support prototype and development activities, including devising, fabricating, and assembling new or modified electrical components or assemblies, and setting up and testing prototype units and subassemblies under operational conditions.
• Identify and drive continuous improvement opportunities (cycle time, first-pass yield, scrap/rework reduction, ergonomics)

Technical Hands-On Duties & Team Leadership

• Perform more than one of the following duties as required: mechanical technician, engineering technician, electronic technician, flight test technician, and/or general technician duties.
• Lead a team of approximately 5–10 harnessing technicians;set priorities, assign work, and ensure adherence to safety, quality, and schedule commitments. Model best practices on the shop floor.
• Provide technical direction and day‑to‑day guidance to lower‑level employees (non‑exempt and exempt) with minimal supervision.
• Support staffing, skills development, and cross-training plans for the harnessing cell.

Job Characteristics

Knowledge: Advanced technical knowledge in specialized harnessing and soldering functions. Demonstrated broad and deep understanding of both general and specific aspects of manufacturing engineering and their practical application to complex problems.

Problem Solving: Provides technical solutions to a wide range of harnessing and soldering issues. Serves as a key resource to others in resolving complex problems and issues. Solutions are imaginative, thorough, practicable, and aligned with organizational objectives.

Supervision: Works under minimal supervision. Provides direction and guidance to lower‑level employees and acts as a technical leader within the work center.

Discretion/Latitude: Works under general direction, independently determining and developing approaches to solutions. Work is reviewed upon completion for adequacy in meeting objectives.

Impact: Contributes directly to the successful completion of specific programs and projects. Failure to obtain results or erroneous decisions/recommendations would typically result in serious program delays and significant expenditure of resources.

Liaison: Maintains frequent inter‑organizational and external customer contacts. Represents the organization in providing solutions to difficult technical issues associated with specific projects.

Basic Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent and 6 years of relevant experience;
• 2 years of relevant experience with a Bachelor’s degree in Science
• Demonstrated ability to perform more than one of the following duties: mechanical technician, engineering technician, electronic technician, flight test technician, and/or general technician duties.
• Proven ability to lead and mentor technicians in a high‑reliability, flight hardware environment.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills with the ability to interface effectively with engineering, quality, program management, and customers.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a fast‑paced, multi‑program environment and to balance near‑term production needs with long‑term process and capability development.

Required & Preferred Certifications

• Certified IPC Trainer (CIT/MIT) in IPC-J-STD-001 Joint Industry Standard for soldering.

Preferred Qualifications

• IPC J-STD-001 Space Addendum Certification
• IPC/WHMA-A-620 CIS/CIT IPC Certification
• WHMA-A-620ES CIS/CIT Space Addendum IPC Certification
• Certified Level B instructor in NASA 8739.1 Polymeric Application on Electronic Assemblies.
• Certified Level B instructor in NASA 8739.4 Workmanship Standard for Crimping, Interconnecting Cables, Harnesses, and Wiring.
• Experience or certification with NASA 8739.3 (preferred).

Primary Level Salary Range: $83,400.00 - $125,200.00

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.