Sr Principal Engineer

0887 DS - Armament Systems; United States; On-site; USD 123,000 - 185,000; Full time

Job summary

Northrop Grumman is seeking an experienced Senior Principal Engineer to provide manufacturing and process‑engineering expertise for medium‑caliber ammunition programs in Plymouth, MN. You will deliver end‑to‑end manufacturing support for electromechanical fuzes, covering design support, DFA/DFM, process development, automation, production planning, and continuous improvement.

You will collaborate across functions to ensure safe, high‑quality, producible, and cost‑effective solutions, leveraging

Qualifications

• Bachelor/Master/PhD in mechanical engineering or related field with 4–8+ years of experience for relevant levels.
• Experience interfacing with customers, program management, and engineering management.
• Strong background in mechanical/electromechanical systems and manufacturing processes.
• Proficiency with MS Project and Microsoft Office suite.
• Ability to obtain DoD security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate DFM/DFA and automation opportunities for new product development and existing products.
• Leverage robotics, torque tools, vision/inspection systems, and data analytics for quality and cost control.
• Aid in production solution design including automation cells, fixtures, and test stations.
• Develop and execute plans to support increased production volumes and ramp-up strategies.
• Provide on-site troubleshooting, maintenance, and upgrades for automation equipment.
• Develop manufacturing processes and documentation to meet requirements.
• Coordinate builds of electromechanical assemblies for programs in development and production.
• Interface with design engineering to optimize producibility and manage discrepancies.

Education

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering

PhD in Mechanical Engineering

Customer communication

Program management

Engineering management

Mechanical/electromechanical systems

Manufacturing processes

Metal fabrication

Assembly processes

MS Project

Microsoft Suite

DoD security clearance eligibility

Tools

Kepware

Thingworx

Power BI

Creo

Teamcenter

ERP systems

MES systems

Allen-Bradley

Epson/Fanuc robots

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret 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.

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.

Position Overview

Northrop Grumman is currently seeking an experienced Senior Principal (Level 4) Engineer to provide manufacturing and process‑engineering technical expertise, project management, and support for our fast‑growing medium‑caliber ammunition production programs in our Plymouth, MN offices. Reporting to the Engineering Manager, Production Engineering, this role is responsible for delivering end‑to‑end manufacturing engineering support for electromechanical fuzes for our proximity, guided, and advanced ammunition technology programs. The engineer will provide flexible manufacturing and process-engineering support across the full product lifecycle, from early conceptual development through production. Specific responsibilities will vary based on program priorities and the needs of the team being supported and may include design support, DFM/DFA, process development, automation, production planning, production support, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement. The engineer will collaborate across functions to deliver safe, high-quality, producible, and cost‑effective solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Work with project teams to coordinate design‑for‑manufacturability (DFM), design‑for‑assembly (DFA), and automation opportunities for new product development efforts and existing products.
• Leverage the latest technologies including robotics, torque tools, vision / inspection systems, advanced testing, and data analytics to ensure high-quality, cost-effective products are released to market as quickly as possible.
• Aid in the design of production solutions, including automation cells, fixtures, and test stations, to achieve optimal, safe production output and quality.
• Develop and execute plans to support increased production volumes, including capacity analysis, line balancing, equipment selection, and production‑rate ramp‑up strategies.
• Provide on‑site troubleshooting, maintenance, repairs, and upgrades for automation cells and associated equipment as needed.
• Develop manufacturing processes and documentation that ensure hardware and test articles meet engineering and configuration requirements.
• Coordinate builds of electromechanical assemblies to support programs that are in engineering and manufacturing development as well as production.
• Contribute to completion of specific program and project milestones.
• Interface with design engineering to create products that are optimized for assembly and long‑term producibility.
• Disposition discrepant hardware; support and/or lead failure investigations, root‑cause determination, and corrective‑action implementation.
• Communicate manufacturing plans and processes to internal and external customers through Manufacturing Readiness reviews.
• Conceptualize and implement continuous‑improvement projects internally and with suppliers, focusing on yield, throughput, and cost reduction.
• Communicate project status and issues to internal management.
• Coordinate manufacturing efforts between internal functional disciplines including Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, Manufacturing, and Test.
• Communicate product requirements and collaborate with key suppliers to manage delivery of high‑quality components and assemblies to be utilized in assembly of final product.
• Implement and manage strong manufacturing‑engineering principles to ensure robust manufacturing processes and high product quality.
• Examples include SPC, P‑FMEA, mistake proofing, gage R&R, equipment and gage qualifications, design for assembly, and First Article Inspections.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering or related engineering discipline & 8+years of related experience, OR a masters degree in mechanical engineering or related & 6+ years of related experience, or a PhD in mechanical engineering discipline or related & 4 years of experience
• Some experience working and communicating with customers, program management, and engineering management.
• Technical understanding of mechanical mechanisms, electromechanical mechanisms, manufacturing processes, metal fabrication, and standard assembly processes.
• Applies knowledge of engineering and scientific methods, theories, and research techniques in the disciplined investigation and solution of technical problems.
• Strong computer skills in Microsoft Suite, including MS Project.
• Ability to obtain & maintain a DoD security clearance (US Citizenship required)

Desired Qualifications

• Experience integrating cutting‑edge technologies such as robotics, advanced inspection, vision systems, and data‑analytics tools (Kepware, Thingworx, Power BI) into manufacturing environments.
• Demonstrated experience in DFM/DFA and production‑rate ramp‑up, including capacity planning and line optimization.
• Experience in managing key suppliers to deliver quality components to be used in the assembly of final product.
• Experience working in the defense industry and/or with U.S. Government contracts.
• Ability to work with a wide variety of multi‑discipline people, including in remote settings, building strong, trusting relationships.
• Experience and proficiency in working with multiple projects simultaneously.
• Self‑motivated to start and complete quality work.
• Strong communication skills, written and verbal.
• Experience in Creo (3D CAD) and Teamcenter.
• Proficiency in developing and utilizing electronic work instructions for manufacturing processes, with experience in ERP and MES systems.
• Experience with automation and controls, including robotics and controls platforms (Allen‑Bradley, Epson / Fanuc robots, LabVIEW, vision systems, etc.).
• Experience in the production of electronic assemblies, including Circuit Card Assemblies (CCAs) using Surface Mount Technology (SMT) lines, adhering to industry best practices.

Primary Level Salary Range

Primary Level Salary Range: $123,400.00 - $185,000.00 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.

Equal Opportunity Employer

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.

Citizenship Requirement

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