Principal/Sr. Principal Mechanical Engineer

Northrop Grumman; United States; On-site; USD 104,000 - 194,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Life and disability insurance

Savings plan

Paid holidays

Paid time off

Job summary

Northrop Grumman Goleta, CA, seeks a Principal/Sr. Principal Mechanical Engineer to design deployable structures and mechanisms at the cutting edge of space technology. You’ll own concepts through design and integration, contributing to solar arrays, booms, and satellite subsystems.

Lead design reviews, perform detailed CAD work, hand calculations and FEA, and collaborate across teams while ensuring performance and reliability in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline with 8+ years of engineering experience or Master’s with 6+ years, or Ph.D. with 4+ years.
• Prior work in aerospace subsystem design or mechanical‑design integration.
• Proficiency with CAD systems: Siemens NX, CATIA V5, Creo or 3DX.

Responsibilities

• Create, prototype, design and analyze structures and mechanisms for satellite subsystems.
• Develop components using hand calculations and finite element analysis as needed.
• Generate 3D designs and CAD drawings; support manufacturing and assembly.

Skills

Aerospace design

CAD proficiency

Mechanical design

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM

Master's degree in STEM

Ph.D. in STEM

Tools

Siemens NX

CATIA V5

Creo

3DX

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No CLEARANCE TYPE: None TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time

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 Mission Enabling Products (MEP) Business Unit designs, builds, and delivers space, defense and aviation-related systems to customers around the world. Our main products include satellites and associated space components and services, launch vehicles and related propulsion systems, missile products, subsystems and defense electronics, precision weapons, armament systems, and advanced aerospace structures. Learn more about Mission Enabling Products at our website: Mission Enabling Products | Northrop Grumman

As a Principal/Sr. Principal Mechanical Engineer in Goleta, CA you will be responsible for creating and implementing deployable structures and mechanical mechanisms at the cutting edge of space technology. You will have ownership of your work from the concept creation through the design and analysis phases and may also participate in the manufacturing, testing, and integration of the systems.

Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Create, prototype, design, and analyze structures and mechanisms for moving mechanical assemblies such as solar arrays, booms, and other support structures and mechanisms for satellite subsystems.
• Develop and refine components and subsystems utilizing design skills, hand calculations, and finite element analysis or other modeling tools as needed.
• Perform detailed 3D designs, generate CAD drawings and related documents, and support manufacturing and assembly of components.
• Document test plans and procedures requirements.
• Participate and present in internal and external (customer) design reviews.
• Strive for the highest possible structural performance that is also cost effective and assures complete reliability.
• Manage and track multiple priorities while maintaining a focus towards common project goals of the program team, matrix organization, and customers.
• Clearly report design status, progress and escalations at regular program meetings.
• Generate and maintain part and assembly drawings, source‑control drawings, interface‑control drawings, and installation drawings.
• Support program milestone reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, IDR, etc.) and gate or lien closures.
• Provide I&T sustaining support.
• Strong communication skills, oral and written.
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team environment.
• Ability to multitask and organize/prioritize job assignments in a fast-paced and gated-release engineering development environment.

This position can be filled as either a Principal Mechanical Engineer or Sr. Principal Mechanical Engineer level based on the qualifications listed below:

Basic Qualifications – Principal Mechanical Engineer (Level 3):

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline with 8+ years of engineering experience OR Master’s degree in a STEM discipline with 6+ years of relevant engineering experience OR Ph.D. in a STEM discipline with 4+ year of relevant engineering experience
• Prior work experience in aerospace subsystem design or mechanical‑design integration
• Proficiency with a CAD system (SiemensNX, CATIAV5, Creo, or 3DX)

Basic Qualifications – Sr. Principal Mechanical Engineer (Level 4):

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline with 8+ years of engineering experience OR Master’s degree in a STEM discipline with 6+ years of relevant engineering experience OR Ph.D. in a STEM discipline with 4+ year of relevant engineering experience
• Prior work experience in aerospace subsystem design or mechanical‑design integration
• Proficiency with a CAD system (SiemensNX, CATIAV5, Creo, or 3DX)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in spacecraft photovoltaic design
• Prior work experience in aerospace subsystem design or mechanical‑design integration
• Mechanical design and closed-form analysis with some understanding of finite element analysis software (ANSYS)
• Practical understanding of GD&T (ASME Y14.5-2009)
• Detailed mechanical design knowledge of structures, mechanisms, release and drive actuators, and material selection.
• Spacecraft/aerospace materials experience in metals, adhesives, thermoplastics, etc.
• Working knowledge of applicable manufacturing processes such as machining, finishing, and rapid prototyping.

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Primary Level Salary Range: $103,600.00 - $155,400.00 Secondary Level Salary Range: $129,300.00 - $193,900.00 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.

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We are a pioneering company. With careers across all areas: air, cyber, land, sea and space – our 90,000 employees work as one to defend and define the future. Northrop Grumman careers and internships are as varied as your interests, with a lifetime of potential that will give you every opportunity to do your best work. Working together with people from many backgrounds, personal passions and disciplines, we share a drive to push the boundaries of science, technology and engineering to meet the ever evolving needs of our customers worldwide.