Sr. Principal Mechanical Drafting Design Engineer

Northrop Grumman; Palatine Township (IL); On-site; USD 123,000 - 185,000; Full time

Job summary

Northrop Grumman in Rolling Meadows, IL is seeking a Sr. Principal Mechanical Drafting Designer to design and document ruggedized electronic equipment for military applications. You will own CAD modeling, drawing creation, documentation updates, and library part creation within a collaborative hardware engineering team.

We value experience with NX, Creo, SolidWorks and ASME Y14.5 GD&T, plus a manufacturing‑driven mindset for high‑reliability applications. U.S.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with minimum 8 years of mechanical design experience.
• Hands-on CAD modeling and drafting across complex assemblies.
• Strong knowledge of ASME Y14.5 GD&T and Mil-specs.
• Experience with rugged, high-reliability hardware design.
• U.S. citizenship and DoD Secret clearance required.

Responsibilities

• Design and document ruggedized electronic equipment.
• Create drawings, update documentation, and manage library parts.
• Collaborate with electrical, mechanical, and systems engineering teams.
• Lead mechanical aspects across multiple programs.

Skills

Mechanical design

CAD drafting

GD&T

ASME standards

Machining knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree

MS degree

Tools

Siemens NX

Creo

SolidWorks

AutoCAD

Teamcenter

ProEngineer

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance availableCLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: YesCLEARANCE TYPE: SecretTRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the TimeDescriptionAt 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 Systems is a trusted provider of mission-enabling solutions for global security. Our Engineering and Sciences (E&S) organization pushes the boundaries of innovation, redefines engineering capabilities, and drives advances in various sciences. Our team is chartered with providing the skills, innovative technologies to develop, design, produce and sustain optimized product lines across the sector while providing a decisive advantage to the warfighter. Come be a part of our mission!Northrop Grumman Corporation is offering a challenging and rewarding career as a Sr. Principal Mechanical Drafting Designer within the Mission Systems Sector located at the Rolling Meadows - Illinois facility. This position will support the design and documentation of ruggedized electronic equipment for military applications. The candidate will have the opportunity to be exposed to multiple skill sets within the Mechanical Drafting discipline such as: CAD design, drawing creation, documentation updates, and library part creation. The individual will work within a team environment consisting not only of senior oversight, but also other functional disciplines such as electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and systems engineering.The candidate will work within the Hardware Engineering organization. It is a high performing organization that values its employees greatly and has a strong sense of purpose tied to the vision of Northrop Grumman: To be the most trusted provider of systems and technologies that ensure the security and the freedom of our nation and its allies. The candidate will be able to contribute within an ethical/inclusive environment and be able to grow personally and professionally while being an important part of something bigger and better than ourselves.#MSRMTAThis position will be full-time and on-site at our Rolling Meadows, IL. locationCandidates must have a current US Government active DoD Secret level security clearance (at a minimum) in order to be consideredBasic Qualifications:Bachelors’ degree with a minimum of 8 years or relevant experience or MS degree with minimum of 6 years of relevant experience or in lieu of degree an additional 4 years of experience required.Minimum of 7 years of experience in Mechanical design and draftingExtensive hands‑on CAD modeling, drafting, and tolerance stack‑up using NX, Creo, and SolidWorks, with ownership of complex assemblies across multiple programs.Deep working knowledge of ASME Y14.5 and related Mil‑specs for GD&T, part/assembly/drawing standards, and configuration control.Strong background in manufacturing‑driven design (machining, welding, sheet metal, casting, 3D printing) for rugged, high‑reliability applications.Experience designing parts for machining and extensive familiarity with ASME standards.U. S. citizenshipCandidates must have a current US Government active DoD Secret level security clearance (at a minimum) in order to be consideredPreferred Qualifications:Bachelors’ degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math with a minimum of 5 years of experience in Mechanical design and draftingActive DoD Secret Clearance or higherExperience working with manufacturing, quality, or inspection teamsExperience supporting aerospace or defense hardware developmentProficiency with ASME Y14.5 geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) and ASME Y14.100 engineering drawing practicesStrong communication and collaboration skills with the ability to support and mentor peersAbility to provide constructive feedback and support to peers to enhance their skills and performanceWorking knowledge of materials, specifications, manufacturing processes and design tools utilized for Mechanical Design of Electronic Assemblies:Siemens NXTeamcenterProEngineerAutoCadGood written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skillsPrimary Level Salary Range: $123,400.00 - $185,000.00The 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.