Sr Staff Propulsion Engineer

Northrop Grumman Corp.; Town of Florida (NY); On-site; USD 175,000 - 263,000; Full time

Job summary

Northrop Grumman is seeking a Sr. Staff Propulsion Engineer to lead airbreathing propulsion programs at our Palm Beach Gardens, FL facility.

You will guide system-level design, performance, and testing across aerodynamics, combustor, inlet, and fluid systems, serving as chief technical authority. You will mentor engineers, manage risks, and maintain propulsion baselines from concept to flight test while collaborating with program management and customers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or STEM field with at least 14 years of relevant experience, or advanced degree with requirements.
• Demonstrated technical leadership on complex aerospace or weapon system programs.
• Experience with aerospace propulsion systems, especially high-speed airbreathing propulsion.
• Experience leading design, integration and/or production of complex systems across multiple disciplines.
• Proven ability to make sound technical judgments balancing performance, cost and schedule.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills across levels within program and customer teams.
• Experience mentoring junior or mid‑level engineers.

Responsibilities

• Provide cross-functional technical leadership to engineering teams across multiple disciplines on active programs.
• Own propulsion technical baseline including requirements, architecture, interfaces, performance and margins from concept through qualification.
• Plan and interpret analyses (cycle/performance, CFD/thermal, inlet/nozzle) to guide design trades and risk reduction.
• Oversee design to ensure propulsion and vehicle requirements are met (combustor, inlet, nozzle, fluids).
• Lead and resolve complex technical issues with timely, executable solutions.
• Plan, oversee and interpret tests from component to flight testing.
• Lead RCCA investigations for propulsion-related anomalies.
• Interface with program manager and customer on technical status, risks and opportunities.
• Maintain strong relationships with cross-functional disciplines to ensure timely execution.
• Ensure sound engineering processes, configuration management and quality standards.
• Review and approve engineering documents, reports and change packages.
• Lead propulsion risk and opportunity management and mitigation.
• Define tasks and resources for project planning and capture activities.

Skills

Technical leadership

Aerospace propulsion

Systems engineering

Technical judgment

Communication skills

Mentoring

Education

Engineering degree

Job description

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 Defense Systems (NGDS) is seeking a Sr. Staff Propulsion Engineer to serve as the technical engineering lead for one or more advanced propulsion system programs supporting the next generation of weapons and air vehicles. This role supports the Advanced Propulsion & Systems (AP&S) market area, which is primarily focused on scramjet and ramjet propulsion systems for high‑speed airbreathing applications, along with related testing and technology development. This position will be located at our Palm Beach Gardens, Florida location.

Ideal candidates will have an established history of technical leadership on highly integrated systems and a broad technical grasp across key disciplines such as system‑level vehicle performance, combustor and inlet design and performance, systems engineering and requirements management, risk and opportunity management, manufacturing (traditional and additive), and both system‑ and component‑level testing. You will function as the chief engineer or primary technical authority for airbreathing propulsion on your program, leading a multi‑disciplinary team from early concept trades through flight test and sustainment.

The Northrop Grumman PS&C business unit is based in Elkton, Maryland and began solid-propellant rocket operations in 1948. Today, the Elkton PS&C facility designs, develops, and produces solid-propellant propulsion and ordnance systems in programs professionally managed for a wide variety of Government and commercial customers. The Palm Beach Gardens location is the Air-breathing propulsion center of excellence specializing in the design, analysis and system integration of ramjets, scramjets and other advanced air-breathing propulsion systems.

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida is located a very short distance from the Atlantic Ocean. You would be close to many top beaches, fishing, inland eco‑tours, shopping, and restaurants. Palm Beach Gardens also has many top golf choices and is home to The Professional Golfers Association of America and PGA National Resort.

https://www.thepalmbeaches.com/explore-cities/palm-beach-gardens

Job Responsibilities

• Provide cross-functional technical leadership and direction to engineering teams across multiple disciplines (aerodynamics, combustion, thermal/structures, materials, controls, systems engineering) on active programs and pursuits.
• Own the propulsion technical baseline for airbreathing systems, including requirements, architecture, interfaces, performance, and margins from concept through qualification and sustainment.
• Plan, review, and interpret analysis and modeling (e.g., cycle/performance analyses, CFD/thermal, inlet/nozzle performance) to guide design trades and risk reduction.
• Provide design oversight to ensure propulsion and integrated vehicle requirements are met, including combustor, inlet, nozzle, and associated fluid systems.
• Lead and resolve complex technical issues, providing timely, technically sound, and programmatically executable solutions.
• Plan, oversee, and interpret test activities, including component and sub‑system testing, engine testing, wind‑tunnel testing, system‑level testing, and flight testing.
• Provide technical leadership for failure investigations, including root cause and corrective action (RCCA) for propulsion‑related anomalies.
• Serve as the primary propulsion technical interface to the program manager and customer, clearly articulating technical status, risks, and opportunities and their cost/schedule impacts.
• Establish and maintain strong working relationships with cross‑functional disciplines (program management, supply chain, manufacturing, quality, test) to ensure timely execution of engineering tasks.
• Ensure adherence to sound engineering processes and configuration management in development, test, and sustainment; ensure compliance with company procedures and quality standards.
• Facilitate technical support, review, and approval of engineering documents and drawings, including specifications, analysis reports, test plans/reports, and change packages.
• Lead propulsion risk and opportunity management, identifying, owning, and managing risks associated with system performance and defining/implementing mitigation plans.
• Determine engineering tasks and resource needs required for project planning and execution, and support proposal and capture activities, including technical volumes and basis‑of‑estimate (BOE) development.
• Mentor and coach lower‑level engineers on technical activities, processes, and best practices in airbreathing propulsion and systems engineering.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a STEM‑related discipline with at least 14 years of relevant experience, or master’s degree in engineering with at least 12 years of experience, or PhD in engineering with at least 10 years of experience.
• Demonstrated technical leadership (technical lead, IPT lead, deputy chief engineer, or equivalent) on complex aerospace or weapon system programs.
• Experience with aerospace propulsion systems, with strong emphasis on high‑speed airbreathing applications or closely related systems.
• Experience leading the design, integration, and/or production of complex systems or subsystems, including coordination across multiple engineering disciplines.
• Proven ability to make sound technical judgments with limited information, balancing technical performance risk, cost, and schedule.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with demonstrated ability to communicate effectively at multiple levels within the program, organization, and with customers.
• Prior experience guiding and mentoring junior or mid‑level engineers.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret clearance, which requires U.S. Citizenship as a pre‑requisite.
• Ability and willingness to travel 10–25% as program needs dictate.

Preferred Qualifications

• Significant experience in airbreathing propulsion for missiles or high‑speed air vehicles (e.g., ramjet, scramjet, dual‑mode ramjet, or related high‑Mach propulsion systems).
• Experience as a chief engineer or principal technical authority for a subsystem or program.
• Experience in ramjet and scramjet airbreathing propulsion systems, including design, analysis, and/or test of inlets, combustors, and nozzles for high‑Mach applications.
• Familiarity with relevant propulsion tools and methods (e.g., cycle/performance modeling, CFD, thermal‑structural coupling, high‑temperature materials and cooling strategies).
• Experience with mechanical design of propulsion components or fluid systems (valves, manifolds, ducts, thermal management hardware).
• Experience with manufacturing techniques, including traditional machining and additive manufacturing, and an understanding of design for assembly / design for manufacturing (DFA/DFM).
• Background in secondary propulsion technologies (e.g., solid rocket motors, ducted rockets, or hybrid solutions) supporting boost, transition, or multi‑mode concepts.
• Current active Secret (or higher) security clearance.

Primary Level Salary Range: $175,300.00 - $262,900.00

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.