Principal Engineer Packaging (Level 3)

Space Systems sector is seeking for a Principal Engineer Packaging (Level 3) to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals. This position is in Redondo Beach, CA. 

• Designs, develops, and tests a wide variety of containers used for the protection, display, and handling of products.

• Determines packaging specifications according to the nature of the product, cost limitations, legal requirements, and the type of protection required, considering need for resistance to such external variables as moisture, corrosive chemicals, temperature variations, light, heat, rough handling, and tampering.

• Designs package exteriors considering such factors as product identification, sales appeal, aesthetic quality, printing, and production techniques. Responsibilities may include documentation management and an understanding of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs).

• Review contract requirements to meet packaging requirements, design packaging handling, storage, and transportability (PHS&T) devices, and create packaging instructions based on military (MIL-STD-2073) and commercial (ASTM) standards. 

• Perform moderate to complex and applied engineering analyses, adapt and modify standard techniques, and procedures as required.

• Participates in packaging design reviews to ensure packaging, handling, storage, and transportability engineering concepts are customer compliant and support capability constraints.

• Provides Program hardware moves and logistics support, locally and out-of-state (as required), as the operational lead/move captain, and is responsible for establishing the move line of command, assessing the move, preparing communication plans and other move preparation prerequisites, move execution, and provides follow-up for logistics operations.

• Complex logistics operation planning as it pertains to determining required personnel, transportation and material handling equipment, timeline of significant events, oversize load/overweight permit requests, and any other key requirements to make operations successful.  This includes hardware movement by land, air, and ocean.

• Participate in Pre-ship Readiness Reviews, led by Mission Assurance, to ensure packaging and logistics completeness and readiness of each item of hardware, prior to release for shipment to another facility.

• Create, revise, and maintain drawings and specifications for container/pallet packaging requirements.

• Leads point of operation training and proficiency evaluation training role for transportability personnel with respect to powered industrial equipment (ex. Forklifts, Tugs, Overhead Cranes).

• Lead and focal point for developing, writing, and reviewing Program proposals, including proposal management as required for packaging engineering material requirements, labor staffing, and material cost efforts.

• Create Basis of Estimates (BOE) for packaging labor, container costs, logistics support, for complex projects based on information from contract requirements and leveraging historical Program data. 

• Offsite Roles and responsibilities:

  • Travel offsite and support as required.

  • Support the coordination and execution of the transportation of equipment, and supplies between on‑site and off‑site locations using aircraft, ground vehicles, and sea vessels, ensuring all movements comply with safety, security, and regulatory standards.

  • Support the logistics of loading, unloading, and securing cargo on various transport modes, including the preparation of manifest documentation, weight‑and‑balance calculations for aircraft, and compliance with customs and import/export regulations for maritime shipments.

  • Conduct site assessments and briefings to identify any special handling, environmental, or operational considerations that may affect the movement of equipment or personnel.

  • Ensure all personnel involved in off‑site support are briefed on emergency response protocols, health and safety guidelines, and any site‑specific policies before tasks.

As a full-time employee of Northrop Grumman Space Systems, you are eligible for our robust benefits package including:

• Medical, Dental & Vision coverage

• 401k

• Educational Assistance

• Life Insurance

• Employee Assistance Programs & Work/Life Solutions

• Paid Time Off

• Health & Wellness Resources

• Employee Discounts

This position’s standard work schedule is a 9/80. The 9/80 schedule allows employees who work a nine-hour day Monday through Thursday to take every other Friday off.

Basic Qualifications (Level 3): 

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) field

• 5 Years of relevant experience with Bachelor of Science; 3 Years with Masters; 0 Years with PhD.

• At least 3 years of packaging product development and material handling design experience is required.

• Familiarity with military and commercial packaging standards such as MILD-STD-2073-1E, Military Packaging and MIL-HDBK-304, Package Cushioning Design

• 2 years of Computer-Aided Design (CAD) modeling experience using CATIA, NX, Solidworks or similar programs.

• Experience with and providing technical guidance with packaging and shipping hazardous materials in accordance with 49 CFR, DOT, and IATA Regulations.

• Transportability experience as it pertains to creating load layouts and configurations for transport trailers and military aircraft.

• Candidates should be a motivated self-starter, disciplined and willing to work both independently and well with others.

• Strong time management skills and maintaining attention to detail and accuracy. 

• High degree of creativity and ability to solve a wide range of problems.

• Basic computer skills, including MS Office (Word, Excel, Power Point, Project)

• Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S Government security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Packaging Science/Engineering

• Master of Business Administration (MBA) or Master of Science in Supply Chain Management

• Familiarity with MIL-STD-1366, Transportability Analysis

• Familiarity with MIL-STD-1791C, Designing for Internal Aerial Delivery in Fixed Wing Aircraft

• Active DOD Secret Clearance w/SCI with a refresh/reinvestigation within the last 5 years