Principal Mechanical Engineer

0090 CORP-Corporate Office; United States; On-site; USD 114,000 - 171,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance coverage

Life and disability insurance

Company-paid holidays

Paid time off for vacation

Job summary

Northrop Grumman is seeking a Principal Mechanical Engineer in McClellan, CA. This role involves supporting the design of military electrical systems and providing technical leadership in product development.

The ideal candidate will have substantial experience with mechanical design, 3D modeling, and the ability to obtain a Secret Security Clearance. The position is on-site and offers competitive relocation assistance.

Qualifications

• 5+ years applicable experience or Master's with 2+ years.
• 3 years minimum experience with Mechanical 3D Modeling.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret Security Clearance.

Responsibilities

• Support design and development for 3U VPX chassis and systems.
• Perform and review precision-mechanical design work.
• Mentor junior engineers and maintain engineering best practices.

Skills

Mechanical 3D Modeling using PTC Creo CAD

Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T)

Bill of Materials (BOM)

Good presentation and communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline

Tools

PTC Creo

Siemens NX

PTC Windchill

Siemens Teamcenter

Job description

Principal Mechanical Engineer – McClellan, CA

Relocation assistance may be available. Clearance required for start: No. Clearance type: SCI. Travel: Yes, 10% of the time.

Northrop Grumman is a trusted provider of mission‑enabling solutions for global security. Our Engineering and Sciences organization strives to push the boundaries of innovation. The Principal Mechanical Engineer will support senior mechanical engineers in the design of military electrical systems across defense platforms. This individual contributor will provide technical design support and leadership across product development, manufacturing, testing, and qualification.

This role is not eligible for remote work and will be 100% on‑site. The position may offer a competitive relocation assistance package.

Roles & Responsibilities

• Support design and development for 3U VPX chassis and systems, including support for existing product lines.
• Perform and review precision‑mechanical design work: GD&T, fit/finish, assembly drawings, BOMs, and manufacturing work instructions.
• Develop and execute mechanical testing and qualification plans (vibration, thermal, shock, vacuum, life testing) to meet system requirements.
• Work closely with senior engineers, chief engineer, and program management to drive hardware design within challenging schedules.
• Derive system‑level requirements into mechanical designs.
• Support root cause analysis and quick resolution of manufacturing line stops and other critical production activities.
• Collaborate with other engineering organizations, program management, factory operations, global supply chain, and mission assurance.
• Mentor junior engineers, conduct design reviews, and maintain engineering best practices for high‑reliability inertial products.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline with 5+ years applicable experience, or a Master’s degree with 2+ years applicable experience.
• 3 years’ minimum experience with Mechanical 3D Modeling using PTC Creo CAD software or Siemens NX.
• 3 years minimum experience generating Drawings and Bill of Materials (BOM) (PTC Creo or Siemens NX preferred).
• Experience releasing Drawings and BOMs in a Product Lifecycle Management (PDM) system (PTC Windchill or Siemens Teamcenter preferred).
• Experience with Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) per ASME Y14.5 and tolerance stack‑up analysis.
• Good presentation and writing/communication skills.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret Security Clearance and U.S. Citizenship required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated proficiency with PTC Creo and Siemens NX CAD software and Teamcenter Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) software.
• Experience with VITA 3U or 6U VPX design standards.
• Experience with DOD, military, and/or space specifications including ASME.
• Experience with vibration testing, analysis and design for vibration isolation.
• Skills in mechanical testing and qualification plans (vibration, thermal, shock) to meet system requirements.
• Familiarity with test fixtures, including design and development.
• Demonstrated high degree of creativity and ability to solve a wide range of difficult problems.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present complex technical information clearly.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with cross‑functional teams.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with a focus on continuous improvement.
• Must be proactive and results‑oriented, with a strong sense of ownership.
• Active Secret Security Clearance.

Additional Information

Primary Level Salary Range: $114,000.00 – $171,000.00. The above salary range represents a general guideline; salary offers may vary based on scope, responsibilities, experience, education, and market conditions. Employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, discretionary bonuses, and, in certain positions, long‑term incentives.

Benefits include health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, company‑paid holidays, and paid time off for vacation and/or personal business.

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.

U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.