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Principal Manufacturing Engineer

San Diego, CA

Job Description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be availableCLEARANCE TYPE: NoneTRAVEL: No 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.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.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.

An organization within Northrop Grumman's Payload and Ground Systems (PGS) division, Mission Enabling Products (MEP) is a leading designer, producer, and supplier of spacecraft components that power and enable satellites of all classes. Products include spacecraft panels, bus structures, precision optical structures, deployable structural systems and mechanisms, solar arrays, and antenna reflectors. Our products are on virtually every U.S. satellite built in the last 20 years.
Learn more about MEP at our website: [https://www.northropgrumman.com/space/spacecraft-components/](https://www.northropgrumman.com/space/spacecraft-components/).
The Mission Enabling Products organization is seeking a Principal Composite Manufacturing Engineer to assist an experienced team of engineers to perform manufacturing and design engineering on one or more spacecraft systems or subsystems.
This position will be located in the San Diego, CA.
Responsibilities:

• Plans, directs, and coordinates composites manufacturing processes on factory (manufacturing) floor
• Develops, evaluates, and improves all composites manufacturing methods, utilizing knowledge of spacecraft design, complex composite materials, composite fabrication and processes, tooling and production equipment capabilities, composite assembly methods, and quality control standards.
• Designs manufacturing workflow, layout of equipment and workspace for maximum efficiency by utilizing LEAN manufacturing principles.  
• Create detailed manufacturing work instructions in MES (Manufacturing Execution System) that define the specific processes to manufacture complex composites hardware to specific customer requirements. 
• Creates complete and accurate bill of materials (BOM) for manufactured composite space components. 
• Communicates with design staff regarding product design and tooling to ensure efficient production methods that support our composite manufacturing. 
• Creates purchase requests and partners with vendors to determine product specifications of equipment, materials, or parts, and evaluates products according to specifications and quality standards.
• Support proposal effort by estimating production times and related costs to provide information for management decisions.
• Effectively communicates with management, engineering, and other staff regarding manufacturing capabilities, and other considerations to facilitate and improve production processes.
• Applies statistical methods to estimate future manufacturing requirements and potential improvements.
Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering and 5+ years of experience, Master's Degree and 3+ years of experience
• In-depth knowledge of MES/Solumina Electronic Work Instruction platform  
• In-depth knowledge in composite lay-up, machining, assembly of composite flight materials and complex space components
• In-depth knowledge of MRP systems - Costpoint and SAP
• Capable of representing an organization as a technical contact and interact with program teams and leadership as the technical expert for the composites manufacturing process
• Knowledge and application of continuous improvement philosophy, methodology, and tools. A complete understand of how to apply LEAN manufacturing in a environment.
• Highly skilled at technical problem solving, including formal root cause and corrective action identification and implementation with composite spacecraft
• Ability to read, interpret highly complex engineering drawings with proper application of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T)
• Strong organizational and time management skills to successfully engage in multiple programs simultaneously over a extended period of time.
• Effective communication within teams, cross-functional collaboration, and leadership skills
• Proficient in MS Office - (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project)
• US Citizenship
Preferred Qualifications:

• Prefer CAD experience (NX-10/Team-center or other CAD experience)
• Active DoD and Top-Secret CSI clearance highly preferred OR must have the ability to obtain a DoD and Top Secret SCI clearance
• Certified/Certification in advance composite materials and manufacturing   
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.




Salary Range: $100,300.00 - $150,500.00The 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.PDN-9f306160-167d-4cdd-b226-216283519be2
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be availableCLEARANCE TYPE: NoneTRAVEL: No 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.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.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.

An organization within Northrop Grumman's Payload and Ground Systems (PGS) division, Mission Enabling Products (MEP) is a leading designer, producer, and supplier of spacecraft components that power and enable satellites of all classes. Products include spacecraft panels, bus structures, precision optical structures, deployable structural systems and mechanisms, solar arrays, and antenna reflectors. Our products are on virtually every U.S. satellite built in the last 20 years.
Learn more about MEP at our website: [https://www.northropgrumman.com/space/spacecraft-components/](https://www.northropgrumman.com/space/spacecraft-components/).
The Mission Enabling Products organization is seeking a Principal Composite Manufacturing Engineer to assist an experienced team of engineers to perform manufacturing and design engineering on one or more spacecraft systems or subsystems.
This position will be located in the San Diego, CA.
Responsibilities:

• Plans, directs, and coordinates composites manufacturing processes on factory (manufacturing) floor
• Develops, evaluates, and improves all composites manufacturing methods, utilizing knowledge of spacecraft design, complex composite materials, composite fabrication and processes, tooling and production equipment capabilities, composite assembly methods, and quality control standards.
• Designs manufacturing workflow, layout of equipment and workspace for maximum efficiency by utilizing LEAN manufacturing principles.  
• Create detailed manufacturing work instructions in MES (Manufacturing Execution System) that define the specific processes to manufacture complex composites hardware to specific customer requirements. 
• Creates complete and accurate bill of materials (BOM) for manufactured composite space components. 
• Communicates with design staff regarding product design and tooling to ensure efficient production methods that support our composite manufacturing. 
• Creates purchase requests and partners with vendors to determine product specifications of equipment, materials, or parts, and evaluates products according to specifications and quality standards.
• Support proposal effort by estimating production times and related costs to provide information for management decisions.
• Effectively communicates with management, engineering, and other staff regarding manufacturing capabilities, and other considerations to facilitate and improve production processes.
• Applies statistical methods to estimate future manufacturing requirements and potential improvements.
Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering and 5+ years of experience, Master's Degree and 3+ years of experience
• In-depth knowledge of MES/Solumina Electronic Work Instruction platform  
• In-depth knowledge in composite lay-up, machining, assembly of composite flight materials and complex space components
• In-depth knowledge of MRP systems - Costpoint and SAP
• Capable of representing an organization as a technical contact and interact with program teams and leadership as the technical expert for the composites manufacturing process
• Knowledge and application of continuous improvement philosophy, methodology, and tools. A complete understand of how to apply LEAN manufacturing in a environment.
• Highly skilled at technical problem solving, including formal root cause and corrective action identification and implementation with composite spacecraft
• Ability to read, interpret highly complex engineering drawings with proper application of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T)
• Strong organizational and time management skills to successfully engage in multiple programs simultaneously over a extended period of time.
• Effective communication within teams, cross-functional collaboration, and leadership skills
• Proficient in MS Office - (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project)
• US Citizenship
Preferred Qualifications:

• Prefer CAD experience (NX-10/Team-center or other CAD experience)
• Active DoD and Top-Secret CSI clearance highly preferred OR must have the ability to obtain a DoD and Top Secret SCI clearance
• Certified/Certification in advance composite materials and manufacturing   
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.




Salary Range: $100,300.00 - $150,500.00The 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.PDN-9f306160-167d-4cdd-b226-216283519be2

About Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman is a leading global aerospace and defense technology company. Our pioneering solutions equip out customers with the capabilities they need to connect and protect the world and push the boundaries of human exploration across the universe. Driven by a shared purpose to solve our customers’ toughest problems, our nearly 100,000 employees contribute to launching the technology of tomorrow, today.

© 2025 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.

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Principal Manufacturing Engineer
Northrop Grumman
San Diego, CA
Jun 19, 2025
$100,300 - $150,500 a year
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