Principal or Senior Principal Aeronautical Engineer (Landing Gear)

Northrop Grumman; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 114,000 - 213,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Health insurance

Savings plan

Paid time off

Job summary

Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems is seeking a Principal or Senior Principal Aeronautical Engineer (Landing Gear) for on-site roles in El Segundo, CA or Rancho Bernardo, CA. The role focuses on identifying landing gear solutions, 3D modeling, and integration across aircraft configurations.

Responsibilities include system requirements, supplier interaction, and coordination with IPTs; travel up to 25% is required. Roles may be at Principal or Senior Principal level depending on qualifications.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in STEM with 5+ years of related experience; or Master’s with 3 years; or PhD with 1 year.
• Prior experience with aircraft landing gear systems and design.
• Proficiency in 3D CAD software applications.
• Familiarity with MS Office Suite and Adobe Acrobat.
• Ability to obtain and maintain US Secret clearance and SAP.

Responsibilities

• Identify existing and conceptual landing gear systems; create 3D models and layouts; perform trade studies.
• Support landing gear design, hardware selection, placement, sizing, and integration.
• Create system requirements, specifications, and supplier SOWs; develop functional architecture with other disciplines.
• Serve as technical interface between NGAS and landing gear suppliers.
• Participate in program and supplier meetings; provide progress updates.
• Coordinate with multiple engineering teams for concept to detail design.

Skills

Landing gear design

3D CAD

Microsoft Office

Adobe Acrobat

Education

Bachelor’s degree in STEM

Master’s degree (preferred)

PhD (relevant STEM)

Tools

Siemens NX

NX Actions/Motion

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes

CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret

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.

Northrop Grumman’s Aeronautics Systems – Research & Advanced Design (R&AD) transforms breakthrough ideas into mission-ready capabilities through intelligent anticipation. We’re the front-end design engine, defining what comes next. From developing cutting-edge next-generation future aircraft to trailblazing collaborative autonomous platforms, we push the boundaries of technology and forge industry-leading partnerships that set new standards for what’s possible.

Our team owns the full lifecycle of advanced concept creation, from visionary early-stage designs and rapid prototyping to high-impact demonstrations and solving the toughest technical challenges in survivability, autonomy, and battle management. We seek curious, adaptable people who thrive on turning intuition into breakthrough solutions. If you’re driven to invent the future, build what’s next, and shape the landscape of national security, this is where you belong.

Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems is looking to add a Principal or Senior Principal Aeronautical Engineer (Landing Gear) to our team in El Segundo, CA or Rancho Bernardo, CA.

Duties And Responsibilities Include, But Are Not Limited To

• Identify existing and/or conceptual landing gear systems to meet requirements, creating 3D models and layouts, and performing trade studies to analyze the impact of integrating proposed mechanisms systems onto aircraft, as well as identify main driver variables that most significantly impact top level program requirements.
• Support advanced aircraft design efforts with landing gear system design, hardware selection, placement, preliminary sizing, and initial integration into different aircraft configurations. Secondary role is to provide mechanisms design support to other aircraft sub-systems, such as drive systems and door uplocks for in-flight door operation.
• Develop landing gear system requirements and create the associated system specifications, supplier procurement specifications, and supplier SOWs. This will include, but is not limited to, creating functional architecture and activity diagrams, in collaboration with other sub-system engineering disciplines to understand power, cooling, signal, and structural interfaces for the landing gear system.
• Support the supplier management team by being the primary technical interface between NGAS and landing gear supplier subject matter experts.
• Participate in internal program, customer, and supplier technical exchange meetings and formal program milestone reviews to provide and/or obtain progress status updates.
• Provide technical guidance to, and coordinate with, multiple engineering design teams, including the aircraft configuration team, the structures team, sub-systems team, and supplier management teams supporting the conceptual, preliminary, and detail design and development of the aircraft.

The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site at our facility.

This position requires the ability to travel up to 25% of the time.

This position can be filled at either the Principal Aeronautical Engineer OR Senior Principal Aeronautical Engineer level, depending upon the qualifications below.

Basic Qualifications For Principal Aeronautical Engineer

• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics) discipline with 5 years of related experience; OR a Master’s Degree in a relevant STEM discipline with 3 years of related experience; OR a PhD in a relevant STEM discipline with 1 year of related experience.
• Prior experience with aircraft landing gear systems and landing gear design
• Prior experience with 3D Computer Aided Design (CAD) software applications
• Familiarity with industry standard software application tools such as Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Acrobat, etc.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a US Government Secret clearance within a reasonable amount of time as determined by the company to meet its business needs.
• Ability to obtain and maintain Special Program Access (SAP).

Basic Qualifications For Senior Principal Aeronautical Engineer

• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics) discipline with 8 years of related experience; OR a Master’s Degree in a relevant STEM discipline with 6 years of related experience; OR a PhD in a relevant STEM discipline with 4 years of related experience.
• Prior experience with aircraft landing gear systems and landing gear design
• Prior experience with 3D Computer Aided Design (CAD) software applications
• Familiarity with industry standard software application tools such as Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Acrobat, etc.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a US Government Secret clearance within a reasonable amount of time as determined by the company to meet its business needs.
• Ability to obtain and maintain Special Program Access (SAP).

Preferred Qualifications For Both Levels

• Master’s Degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering or related discipline
• Expert knowledge of landing gear design including:
  • Landing gear placement (both deployed and retracted positions)
  • Landing gear loads and preliminary sizing
  • Shock struts
  • Wheel and tire selection
  • Braking systems
  • Retraction and locking systems
  • Landing gear door sequencing mechanisms
• Experience with Siemens NX CAD application, including NX Motion module
• Familiarity with development of landing gear doors, door actuation and door locks, as well as the development of in-flight door opening mechanisms
• Prior experience leading a team of engineers
• Prior experience in coordinating with multiple Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) within a dynamic program environment
• Experience with suppliers and supplier coordination

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Primary Level Salary Range: $114,000.00 - $171,000.00

Secondary Level Salary Range: $142,200.00 - $213,400.00

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.