Spacecraft Structural Design Engineer (Principal/Sr.)

Northrop Grumman; United States; On-site; USD 114,000 - 213,000; Full time

Job summary

Northrop Grumman Space Sector is seeking a Principal / Sr. Principal Structural Design Engineer (Level 3/4) to join the Vehicle Engineering Directorate in Redondo Beach, CA.

Lead spacecraft component design through conceptual, preliminary, and detailed phases with CAD deliverables and multidisciplinary collaboration. The role requires aerospace subsystem design experience, CAD proficiency, and an active Secret clearance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline with5+years of engineering experience or Master’s degree in STEM with3+years of engineering experience or Ph.D. in STEM with1+year of engineering experience.
• Prior work experience in aerospace subsystem design, mechanical‑design integration, or related engineering experience.
• Proficiency with a CAD system (SiemensNX, CATIAV5, or 3DX).
• Must have an active U.S. Government Secret clearance at the time of application.

Responsibilities

• Perform requirements definition, conceptual design, preliminary/layout work, detailed design, drawing release, design-review presentations, and support for fabrication/integration.
• Conduct bus‑equipment layout, payload layout, and preliminary cable‑and harness‑routing (DC, RF, waveguide).
• Collaborate closely with stress, manufacturing, M&P, and test teams to define design requirements, establish structural load paths, develop CAD models, and produce engineering drawings for flight and structural‑test articles.
• Generate and maintain part and assembly drawings, source‑control drawings, interface‑control drawings, and installation drawings.
• Participate in system‑level trades to ensure the vehicle meets all physical, mechanical, and environmental requirements while supporting payload, power, propulsion, thermal, communications, and attitude‑control system needs.
• Support program milestone reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, IDR, etc.) and gate or lien closures.
• Provide I&T sustaining support.

Skills

Aerospace subsystem design

Mechanical-design integration

Active security clearance

Education

STEM degree

Tools

Siemens NX

CATIA V5

Dassault 3DX

Job description

Northrop Grumman Space Sector is seeking a Principal / Sr. Principal Structural Design Engineer (Level 3/4) to join the Vehicle Engineering Directorate in Redondo Beach, CA.

Lead spacecraft component design through conceptual, preliminary, and detailed phases with CAD deliverables and multidisciplinary collaboration. The role requires aerospace subsystem design experience, CAD proficiency, and an active Secret clearance.