Staff Mechanical Engineer

Northrop Grumman; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 161,000 - 241,400; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off (PTO)

Relocation assistance

Annual bonuses

Job summary

Northrop Grumman in Los Angeles, CA seeks a Mechanical Engineer for a challenging role focused on designing military avionics and inertial navigation systems. Applicants should have extensive experience in mechanical engineering, particularly in CAD software, GD&T, and testing methodologies.

This position will be on-site and offers a broad range of benefits including relocation assistance. Candidates must possess an active Secret Security Clearance and be U.S. citizens. Join us in making history!

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline with 12+ years experience or equivalent.
• Expertise with GD&T and mechanical design.
• Active Secret Security Clearance and US Citizenship required.

Responsibilities

• Support design and development for inertial navigation systems.
• Perform precision-mechanical design work, including GD&T and drawings.
• Develop mechanical testing and qualification plans.

Skills

Mechanical engineering design

Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T)

CAD Software (Siemens NX)

Mechanical testing and qualification plans

Mentoring junior engineers

Education

Bachelor’s degree in STEM

Master’s degree in STEM

PhD in STEM

Tools

Siemens NX CAD

Teamcenter Product Lifecycle Management

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available. CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes. 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 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 and 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!

We are looking for you to join our team as a Mechanical Engineer based out of Woodland Hills, CA. As a Mechanical Engineer at Northrop Grumman, you will have a challenging and rewarding opportunity to be a part of our Enterprise‑wide digital transformation. Through the use of model‑based engineering we continue to evolve how we deliver critical national defense products and capabilities for the warfighter. Our success is grounded in our ability to embrace change, move quickly, and continuously drive innovation.

Based in our Woodland Hills, CA office, this position will support senior mechanical engineers in the design of military avionics—including inertial navigation and measurement systems for various defense platforms. This position is for an individual contributor with technical leadership responsibilities. Experience with mechanical engineering design, development, testing, production support, and lifecycle sustainment is preferred. The candidate will be expected to provide technical leadership across product development, manufacturing, testing, and qualification to ensure high‑performance, robust inertial sensors for navigation and guidance applications.

This position is not eligible for remote work. It will be 100% on‑site. This role may offer a competitive relocation assistance package.

Roles & Responsibilities

• Support design and development for inertial navigation systems, including support for existing product lines
• Perform and review precision‑mechanical design work: GD&T, fit/finish, assembly drawings, BOMs, and manufacturing work instructions
• Develop and execute mechanical testing and qualification plans (vibration, thermal, shock, vacuum, life testing) to meet system requirements
• Work closely with senior engineers, including the chief engineer and program management, to drive hardware design within challenging schedules
• Derive system level requirements into mechanical designs
• Support root‑cause analysis and quick resolution of manufacturing line stops and other critical production activities
• Collaborate with other engineering organizations, program management, factory operations, global supply chain, and mission assurance
• Mentor junior engineers, conduct design reviews, and maintain engineering best practices for high‑reliability inertial products

This position is contingent on the successful transfer of a US Secret Security clearance.

Basic Qualifications For a Staff Mechanical Engineer

• Bachelor’s degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) discipline with 12 or more years applicable experience; OR a Master’s degree in a STEM discipline with 10 or more years applicable experience; OR a PhD in a STEM discipline with 8 years of applicable experience
• Expertise with mechanical CAD software (Siemens NX preferred)
• Experience with Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T), drawing creation, tolerance stack‑up analysis, etc.
• Good presentation and writing/communication skills
• Experience mentoring junior level engineers
• Active Secret Security Clearance and US Citizenship required

Preferred Qualifications For a Staff Mechanical Engineer

• Demonstrated proficiency with Siemens NX CAD software and Teamcenter Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) software
• Expert‑level proficiency with GD&T per ASME Y14.5
• Experience with DOD, Military, and/or Space specifications including ASME
• Advanced knowledge of HRG resonator assemblies and isolators
• Extensive practical and theoretical experience with vibration testing, analysis and design for vibration isolation
• Advanced skills in mechanical testing and qualification plans (vibration, thermal, shock) to meet system requirements
• Familiarity with test fixtures including design and development
• Experience with failure‑mode analysis and root‑cause investigations for performance degradation, drift, or mechanical anomalies
• Demonstrated high degree of creativity and ability to solve a wide range of difficult problems
• Competence and confidence working under pressure on requests with short turn‑around times
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present complex technical information clearly
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with cross‑functional teams
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with a focus on continuous improvement
• Must be proactive and results‑oriented, with a strong sense of ownership

Primary Level Salary Range: $161,000.00 - $241,400.00

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 reward individual contributions and allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. Northrop Grumman also provides health insurance, life and disability insurance, a savings plan, company‑paid holidays, and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and personal business.

The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date; it may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and 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.