Flight Systems Futures Sr Principal Mechanical Engineer (Top Sec

• Define and maintain the overall mechanical layout for the vehicle and major subsystems (structures, TPS hardware, mechanisms, payload, avionics packaging).
• Coordinate mass properties, interfaces, access, and maintainability across the configuration.
• Oversee creation and release of mechanical designs, 3D models, and drawings in collaboration with the design/drafting team.
• Ensure interfaces between subsystems are clearly defined, controlled, and compatible (mechanical, thermal, alignment, envelope).
• Resolve mechanical integration issues between aerothermal, TPS, structures, GNC, propulsion, and avionics.
• Flow down system requirements into clear mechanical requirements, constraints, and design criteria (environments, loads, clearances, margins, materials).
• Work with systems engineering to maintain requirements traceability and define mechanical verification methods (analysis, inspection, test).
• Collaborate with manufacturing and operations to ensure designs are producible, testable, and supportable.
• Support build and integration on the factory floor (build issues, nonconformance disposition, redlines).
• Provide technical direction to mechanical suppliers (requirements, reviews, deviations, acceptance).
• Plan and coordinate mechanical engineering work across a small team (tasking, priorities, schedules).
• Review and approve design work products, ensuring consistency with program standards and best practices.
• Mentor junior engineers and foster strong communication across disciplines and IPTs.

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related STEM field with
• Minimum of 8 years of relevant experience
• Must be a US Citizen
• Active Top Secret clearance at time of application, current and within scope, renewed or initiated within the last 6 years.
• Must be able to be successfully screened for Enhanced Security Clearances, within a reasonable amount of time as determined by the company to meet its business needs
• 5+ years of relevant structural analysis or design experience
• 3+ years experience performing finite element analysis (FEA) of metallic and/or composite structures using industry tools (e.g., NASTRAN, Abaqus, ANSYS, or similar)
• 3+ years experience generating and checking stress reports, margins of safety, and load paths for primary and secondary structures
• 3+ years experience of classical hand calculations (beam/plate theory, bolted and bonded joints, stability, fatigue/fracture basics) to complement FEA
• 3+ years experience interpreting loads and environments (aero/thermal/pressure/inertial) and applying them appropriately in structural models
• 3+ years experience performing air vehicle dynamic structural assessments (Shock and Vibe)
• 3+ years experience with systems packaging, sizing, and weight tradeoffs and analysis
• 5+ years experience with CAD and pre/post-processing tools (e.g., NX, CATIA, Creo, HyperMesh, Femap, or similar)
• Demonstrated ability to document technical work clearly and present results to a cross-functional team (structures, aero, TPS, systems)

• Willing to travel up to 25% of the time

• Experience on hypersonic, high-speed, or reentry vehicle programs, or similarly demanding environments (missiles, launch vehicles, spacecraft)
• Experience with:
• Thermal-structural coupling (applying aerothermal/TPS temperatures in structural models, assessing thermal stresses)
• Nonlinear analysis (geometric and/or material nonlinearity, contact, large deflection)
• Fatigue and fracture mechanics for mission profiles with significant thermal or dynamic loading
• Familiarity with high-temperature materials and TPS-support structures (e.g., CMCs, high-temperature alloys, advanced composites)
• Experience supporting structural test (component, subassembly, or system level): test planning, instrumentation input, predicting test response, and correlating models to data
• Experience with requirements and verification: writing structural requirements, defining verification methods, and maintaining traceability
• Scripting or automation skills (e.g., Python, MATLAB, or similar) for model setup, post-processing, and data reduction
• Experience working in a configuration-controlled environment with formal design reviews (PDR/CDR) and change management
• Knowledge of Hypersonic Reentry Vehicle systems, environments, and typical structural tests and assessments
• Knowledge of Launch Vehicle interfaces and environments
• Knowledge of advanced materials and manufacturing processes

Primary Level Salary Range: $111,700.00 - $167,500.00

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.

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 is contingent upon contract award

The Flight Systems Futures operating unit within Strategic Deterrent Systems is seeking highly motivated talent to join a team at the forefront of next-generation hypersonic capabilities. Our team focuses on the design, development, and demonstration of hypersonic re-entry vehicles and advanced payloads, with an emphasis on rapid development and prototyping aligned to specific customer missions. We operate in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment where innovative concepts are matured quickly into credible, testable solutions that address our nation’s most demanding strategic deterrence needs.