Skip to main contentA logo with &quat;the muse&quat; in dark blue text.
Northrop Grumman

Principal Composites Manufacturing Engineer - Space Components

San Diego, CA

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 are making history.

Want more jobs like this?

Get jobs in San Diego, CA delivered to your inbox every week.

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Service & Privacy Policy.


Northrop Grumman Space Systems Division designs, builds and delivers space, defense and aviation-related systems to customers around the world. Our main products include launch vehicles and related propulsion systems; missile products, subsystems and defense electronics; precision weapons, armament systems and ammunition; satellites and associated space components and services; and advanced aerospace structures.

The Space Systems Group is seeking a Principal Composites 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 is located in San Diego, CA.

Responsibilities:
  • Plans, directs, and coordinates manufacturing processes on factory (manufacturing) floor
  • Develops, evaluates, and improves manufacturing methods, utilizing knowledge of spacecraft design, 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.
  • Authors detailed manufacturing work instructions that define the specific processes to manufacture hardware.
  • Creates complete and accurate bill of materials (BOM) for manufactured hardware
  • Communicates with design staff regarding product design and tooling to ensure efficient production methods.
  • 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.


Qualifications:

Basic Qualifications:

Bachelor's Degree in STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering, Math or related area (Degrees in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering highly preferred) and 5+ years of experience, Master's Degree and 3+ years of experience.
  • Experience must include lay-up, machining, assembly and inspection of composite flight materials and hardware.
  • Capable of representing an organization as a technical contact and interact with program teams and leadership as the technical expert for the manufacturing process.
  • Knowledge and application of continuous improvement philosophy, methodology, and tools.
  • Skilled at technical problem solving, including formal root cause and corrective action identification and implementation.
  • Ability to read, interpret and create 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.
  • Effective communication within teams, cross-functional collaboration, and leadership skills.
  • Proficient in MS Office - (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project)
  • Applicants must be U.S. citizens as defined by ITAR (22 CFR •120.15).
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 CSI clearance.
Northrop Grumman is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action 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/AA and Pay Transparency statement, please visit www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for most positions.

Job ID: NorthropGrumman-20012730
Employment Type: Other

Perks and Benefits

  • Health and Wellness

    • Health Insurance
    • Dental Insurance
    • Vision Insurance
    • Life Insurance
    • Short-Term Disability
    • Long-Term Disability
    • HSA
    • HSA With Employer Contribution
    • On-Site Gym
    • Pet Insurance
    • Mental Health Benefits
    • Virtual Fitness Classes
  • Parental Benefits

    • Birth Parent or Maternity Leave
    • Non-Birth Parent or Paternity Leave
    • Fertility Benefits
    • Adoption Assistance Program
    • Family Support Resources
    • Adoption Leave
  • Work Flexibility

    • Flexible Work Hours
    • Remote Work Opportunities
    • Hybrid Work Opportunities
    • Four-Day Work Week
  • Office Life and Perks

    • Commuter Benefits Program
    • Company Outings
    • On-Site Cafeteria
    • Holiday Events
  • Vacation and Time Off

    • Paid Vacation
    • Paid Holidays
    • Sabbatical
    • Leave of Absence
  • Financial and Retirement

    • 401(K)
    • 401(K) With Company Matching
    • Performance Bonus
    • Relocation Assistance
    • Financial Counseling
    • Profit Sharing
  • Professional Development

    • Tuition Reimbursement
    • Promote From Within
    • Mentor Program
    • Shadowing Opportunities
    • Access to Online Courses
    • Lunch and Learns
    • Internship Program
    • Leadership Training Program
    • Associate or Rotational Training Program
  • Diversity and Inclusion

    • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Program
    • Employee Resource Groups (ERG)
    • Woman founded/led

Company Videos

Hear directly from employees about what it is like to work at Northrop Grumman.

This job is no longer available.

Search all jobs