Thermal Structural Engineer Level 3 /4 (AHT)

Northrop Grumman; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 142,000 - 213,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Northrop Grumman in Woodland Hills, CA is seeking a Thermal Structural Engineer (level 3 or 4) to lead thermal design, analysis, and validation of missile subsystems throughout the product life cycle. This on-site role requires collaboration with multidisciplinary teams and DoD standards compliance.

The ideal candidate has a strong background in heat transfer and experience with thermal-vacuum testing, reporting at design reviews; DoD Secret clearance eligibility is required, with some travel

Qualifications

• BS degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering with 5 years of thermal experience on aerospace/defense missile programs (MS with 3 years acceptable).
• Proficiency with thermal-analysis software such as FLUENT, FEMAP or SINDA, or equivalent tools.
• Hands-on experience with thermal-vacuum chambers, hot-fire rigs, high-temperature ovens, and thermocouples/RTDs/IR cameras.
• Familiarity with MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-461, and other defense thermal-safety standards; ability to prepare compliance documentation.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; ability to convey complex thermal concepts to multidisciplinary audiences.
• Strong heat-transfer fundamentals: conduction, convection, radiation, and phase-change processes.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a US DoD Secret security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Interpret statements of work and specs to define boundary conditions for all thermal analyses.
• Develop system-level thermal models of complete assemblies and detailed sub-assemblies.
• Build high-fidelity thermal models of circuit-card assemblies down to component junctions.
• Conduct steady-state and transient simulations to predict temperatures and heat-sink needs.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure manufacturability and program objectives.
• Prepare and support Technical Reviews (PDR/CDR) and document results.
• Execute hand-calculation checks to validate CFD/thermal models.
• Design and specify thermal environmental test plans to verify model predictions.
• Document and present results, recommendations, and risk assessments to peers and customers.
• Serve as technical liaison with suppliers and customers; mentoring the team.

Skills

Thermal engineering

Thermal analysis

MIL-STD familiarity

Education

BS in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

FLUENT

FEMAP

SINDA

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No

CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret

TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time

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 is seeking a Thermal Structural Engineer level 3 or 4 located in Woodland Hills, Ca, which is part of our Advanced Weapon Systems business unit in Northridge. We are a leading defense contractor specializing in advanced missile systems and aerospace technologies. Our mission‑critical programs demand innovative thermal solutions that ensure reliability, performance, and safety under extreme conditions. Join a high‑impact team that delivers cutting‑edge capabilities to our nation’s warfighters.

This position is required to be full‑time, on‑site in Woodland Hills, CA. No remote/telework arrangement is available for this position. Applicants must have ability to obtain and maintain a US Government DoD Secret security clearance.

The Thermal Structural Engineer is responsible for the thermal design, analysis, testing, and validation of missile subsystems throughout the product life‑cycle.

The ideal candidate will possess a comprehensive understanding of thermal‑engineering principles, theories, and concepts, and will be familiar with related engineering disciplines.

Key Thermal Structural Responsibilities

• Interpret customer statements of work and technical specifications to extract and define the boundary conditions for all thermal analyses.
• Develop comprehensive system‑level thermal models of complete assemblies, as well as detailed sub‑assembly and part‑level models.
• Build high‑fidelity thermal models of circuit‑card assemblies that extend down to individual component junctions.
• Conduct both steady‑state and transient thermal simulations to predict temperature fields, heat‑flow paths, and required heat‑sinking solutions.
• Collaborate closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams to ensure design concepts are manufacturable and meet program objectives.
• Prepare and support Technical Reviews, including Preliminary Design Review (PDR) and Critical Design Review (CDR).
• Execute hand‑calculation checks to validate and cross‑verify computational thermal models.
• Design and specify thermal environmental test plans that confirm model predictions and certify hardware performance.
• Compile, document, and present analysis results, recommendations, and risk assessments to internal peers and external customers.
• Serve as the technical liaison with suppliers and customers, providing clarification, data exchange, and support as required.
• Mentoring the team

This position may require occasional responsibilities associated with Structural Engineering and Mass Property functional analysis, timeline analysis, detailed trade studies, and mass property requirements. Additional duties could be to translate customer, product, or derived mass property requirements into hardware and software specification requirements. Analyze, research, and tests system hardware and conditions for optimal mass property system solutions. Tools utilized may include solid modeling tools, database tools and standard office applications.

Basic Qualifications Principal Thermal Structural Engineer 3

• BS degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Thermal Sciences, or a closely related field with 5 years of thermal engineering experience on aerospace or defense missile programs (design, analysis, or testing) or MS degree with 3 years of experience in the same.
• Proficiency with thermal‑analysis software such as FLUENT, FEMAP or SINDA, or equivalent tools.
• Hands‑on experience with thermal‑vacuum chambers, hot‑fire rigs, high‑temperature ovens, and temperature‑measurement instrumentation (thermocouples, RTDs, IR cameras).
• Familiarity with MIL‑STD‑810, MIL‑STD‑461, and other defense‑related thermal‑safety standards; ability to prepare compliance documentation.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to clearly convey complex thermal concepts to multidisciplinary audiences.
• Strong grasp of heat‑transfer fundamentals: conduction, convection, radiation, and phase‑change processes.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a US Government DoD Secret security clearance

Basic Qualifications Sr Principal Thermal Structural Engineer 4

• BS degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Thermal Sciences, or a closely related field with 8 years of thermal engineering experience on aerospace or defense missile programs (design, analysis, or testing) or MS degree with 6 years of experience in the same.
• Proficiency with thermal‑analysis software such as FLUENT, FEMAP or SINDA, or equivalent tools.
• Hands‑on experience with thermal‑vacuum chambers, hot‑fire rigs, high‑temperature ovens, and temperature‑measurement instrumentation (thermocouples, RTDs, IR cameras).
• Familiarity with MIL‑STD‑810, MIL‑STD‑461, and other defense‑related thermal‑safety standards; ability to prepare compliance documentation.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to clearly convey complex thermal concepts to multidisciplinary audiences.
• Strong grasp of heat‑transfer fundamentals: conduction, convection, radiation, and phase‑change processes.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a US Government DoD Secret security clearance

Preferred Qualifications

• Current US Government DoD Secret Security Clearance
• SINDA skill plus
• Knowledge of MINIVER or other aero heating codes a plus
• Missile Weight and Balance Certification
• Automated Weight and Balance System (AWBS) experience
• Experience with mass property and weight and balance analysis.

Primary Level Salary Range: $11,400.00 - $171,000.00

Secondary Level Salary Range: $142,200.00 - $213,400.00

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 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.