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United States-Florida-Kennedy Space Center, United States of America
Onsite
Northrop Grumman’s Space Sector is seeking a Principal Energetics MFG Engineer / Sr. Principal Energetics MFG Engineer – Level 3 or Level 4 to join our team in Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, FL. This position is 100% onsite and cannot accommodate telecommute work.
The successful candidate will own the definition, implementation, and continuous improvement of mechanical, thermal, pyrotechnic, coating, and inspection processes used by operations to verify hardware performance, while ensuring strict compliance, quality, and efficiency throughout the production flow.
This position will work a 4/10 schedule, with every Friday off.
As demand grows, we can anticipate scheduled Friday workdays, the possibility of rotating shifts, and the need for overtime.
This position description does not represent a current opening but may be used to identify candidates with skills and experience for positions within Northrop Grumman that frequently become available. Candidates who express an interest may be considered for future positions at Northrop Grumman.
In this job, you will:
Create, maintain, and evolve electronic process‑planning documentation for structural hardware.
Lead corrective‑action investigations for hardware non‑conformances, driving root‑cause resolution and closure.
Provide expert interpretation of complex drawings, specifications, and interface‑control documents, translating them into clear, actionable process guidance.
Serve as the technical liaison for operators, clarifying work‑instruction intent and answering detailed technical questions.
Verify readiness of work instructions, flight‑critical parts, and materials for new or revised processes.
Participate in, and often chair, pre‑build and post‑build reviews, delivering data‑driven improvement recommendations.
Conduct audits of manufacturing steps to identify efficiency gains, waste reduction, and safety‑improvement opportunities.
Evaluate tool and fixture usage, flagging any potential impacts on flight hardware and recommending corrective measures.
Mentor junior engineers (Level 1/2), delegate tasks, and prioritize work to meet critical program milestones.
Other duties as assigned
This position is contingent upon the candidate obtaining final clearances and program access(es) within a reasonable period of time as determined by the company.
This position can be filled at either a Level 3 or Level 4.
Basic Qualifications for Level 3:
Approved STEM Bachelor’s degree with 5 years of professional/relevant experience – OR – Approved STEM Master’s degree with 3 years of professional/relevant experience – OR – Approved STEM PhD with 1 year of professional/relevant experience.
Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Secret security clearance
5+ years of progressive engineering experience in aerospace or high‑precision manufacturing.
Proven expertise with reading, interpreting, and applying complex engineering drawings and specifications.
Hands‑on experience with any of the following: mechanical assembly & fastening, bonding/coating/paint processes, safety‑critical handling & inspection (e.g., pyrotechnics, NDE).
Proficiency with Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint) for documentation, data tracking, and collaboration.
Strong teamwork and communication skills; proven ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary groups, operators, and senior leadership.
Ability to stand and sit for long periods of time, walk up and down stairs, climb up ladders, reach into tight spaces, and lift up to 49 pounds.
Basic Qualifications for Level 4:
Approved STEM Bachelor’s degree with 8 years of professional/relevant experience – OR – Approved STEM Master’s degree with 6 years of professional/relevant experience – OR – Approved STEM PhD with 3 year of professional/relevant experience.
Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Secret security clearance
8+ years of progressive engineering experience in aerospace or high‑precision manufacturing.
Proven expertise with reading, interpreting, and applying complex engineering drawings and specifications.
Hands‑on experience with any of the following: mechanical assembly & fastening, bonding/coating/paint processes, safety‑critical handling & inspection (e.g., pyrotechnics, NDE).
Proficiency with Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint) for documentation, data tracking, and collaboration.
Strong teamwork and communication skills; proven ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary groups, operators, and senior leadership.
Ability to stand and sit for long periods of time, walk up and down stairs, climb up ladders, reach into tight spaces, and lift up to 49 pounds.
Preferred Qualifications:
5 + years of professional engineering experience in aerospace, defense, or high‑precision manufacturing environments, with demonstrated success delivering process‑focused projects that support flight‑critical hardware.
Proven hands‑on expertise in a production environment (e.g., leading build‑line improvements, implementing process changes) rather than solely academic or internship work.
Strong written and verbal communication abilities; experience creating concise technical documentation, work instructions, and delivering presentations to cross‑functional audiences.
Excellent attention to detail and a quality‑first mindset, with a proven track record of identifying discrepancies and driving corrective actions.
Advanced problem‑solving skills, including data analysis, root‑cause investigation, and development of practical, safety‑oriented solutions.
Experience leading or contributing to small‑team or multi‑disciplinary projects, managing scope, schedule, and resources from inception through implementation.
Familiarity with Lean, Six‑Sigma or other continuous‑improvement methodologies.
Demonstrated ability to work autonomously on complex, schedule‑driven projects and adapt quickly to shifting production priorities, including occasional overtime or weekend support.
Strong interpersonal skills and a history of effective collaboration with engineering, operations, quality, supply‑chain, and external vendors.
Curious about all the exciting developments with the Northrop Grumman Space Sector? Click the link below:
https://www.northropgrumman.com/space
Working at Northrop Grumman is more than just a paycheck. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards and benefits package designed to help you thrive at work and in life. For more information on our Total Rewards package, please visit our Total Rewards site.
Primary Level Salary Range: $98,400.00 - $184,200.00Secondary Level Salary Range: $0.00 - $0.00The 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.