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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Principal/Sr. Principal Mfg Systems Eng Level 3/4 - **Company:** Northrop Grumman - **Location:** Melbourne, FL, United States - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** $98,400.0 - $171,000.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Systems Engineering, SC Clearance - **Published:** June 11, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.clearancejobs.com/jobs/8970476/principalsr-principal-mfg-systems-eng-level-34 ## About the Role As a member of the Advanced Manufacturing Technology team, you will define, develop, implement, and transition new technology solutions to manufacturing to increase efficiency, reduce cost, and improve quality. Manufacturing concept and process solutions for production applications cover advanced technologies including but not limited to composites fabrication, assembly, automation, inspection, direct part manufacturing, LO technologies, as well as digital capabilities. The role requires strong interpersonal skills, ability to digest diverse complex technical information quickly, disposition of risk analysis, strong business acumen, and the capability to analyze situations from a systems level, birds eye view. In addition, the role will require the ability to handle multiple projects concurrently in a dynamic/fast-paced work environment. Budgeting and Project Management skills will be critical foundational elements to properly scope and execute assigned work and manage project efforts., Principal Manufacturing Systems Engineer Level 3: * Bachelor's STEM with 4 years of relevant experience OR Master's STEM with 3 years of relevant experience OR PhD in STEM with 0 year of experience. * Ability to obtain a DoD Secret clearance and Special Program Access Sr. Principal Manufacturing Systems Engineer Level 4: * Bachelor's STEM with 8 years of relevant experience OR Master's STEM with 6 years of relevant experience OR Doctorate's in STEM with 4 year of relevant experience. * Ability to obtain a DoD Secret clearance and Special Program Access, * A current and active DoD Secret level security clearance with a periodic re-investigation OR an original adjudication date completed within the last 5 years * Demonstrated technical leadership skills, decisiveness, and ability to make sound technical judgments with limited information * Well-versed, skilled, and disciplined in system engineering processes * Proposal and technical writing experience * CAM Experience and Project / Program Management skills (proposal creation, scheduling, budget tracking) * Ability to travel 15-35% of the time * Working with DoD consortiums, Manufacturing Innovation Institutes, OTA's, cost share agreements, or similar ## Description * Execution of Contractual Research & Development (CRAD) activities. * Work with a team of engineers in the ideation, development and deployment of manufacturing concept and process solutions for production applications and advanced technologies. * Work with Global Supply Chain, Contracts, Pricing, and Small Business to act with speed to evolve and replace baseline technologies. * Identify and initiate corrective action of problems and deficiencies to ensure R&D contractual obligations (technical, schedule, and cost) are met and product quality is maintained. * Use TRL/MRL maturity to help inform areas of investment * Interface with internal and external customers, program offices, engineering disciplines, and executive management. * Support strategy and growth of the manufacturing CRAD portfolio to grow contractual awards, industry research, and present proposal pitches and/or findings to leadership and stakeholders. This will include: * + Working with DoD consortiums, Manufacturing Innovation Institutes, OTA's, cost share agreements, or similar + Oversight of Small Business Innovation Research grants, Mentor Protégé Programs, or other similar small business initiatives + Working with Air Force Research Laboratory, Office of Naval Research, Army Research Laboratory, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or Office of Secretary of Defense We are looking for candidates who thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, possess excellent communication skills, can distill unusually complex technical solutions into digestible easy-to-understand formats, and have a passion for innovation and teamwork. We offer flexible work arrangements, 9/80 work schedule with every other Friday off, phenomenal learning opportunities, exposure to a wide variety of projects and customers, and a very friendly team environment. We are looking for self-motivated, proactive, and goal-oriented people to help us grow our services and become even better at what we do. Our Leaders at Northrop Grumman live our values daily and encourage our teams to do the same., * Oversight of Small Business Innovation Research grants, Mentor Protégé Programs, or other similar small business initiative * Working with Air Force Research Laboratory, Office of Naval Research, Army Research Laboratory, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or Office of Secretary of Defense * Working in a Research and Development environment. * Development, integration, and deployment of hardware/software of manufacturing systems * Generating requirements, specifically, the ability to turn vague customer needs or stakeholder inputs into requirements. * Early phases of program lifecycle, EMD, prototyping, and pilot programs * Operating in a dynamic environment of increasing production schedules and high delivery rates ## Related Videos - [Model Based Systems Engineering in an Agile Product Development Process](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/68-model-based-systems-engineering-in-an-agile-product-development-process) - [More efficient software for more efficient microchips](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1164-more-efficient-software-for-more-efficient-microchips) - [Breaking the Hardware Mindset: Overcoming Barriers to System-Level Innovation](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1635-breaking-the-hardware-mindset-overcoming-barriers-to-system-level-innovation) - [Automated Driving - Why is it so hard to introduce](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/628-automated-driving-why-is-it-so-hard-to-introduce) - [Strange New Worlds: shaping the future of the digital age](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/677-strange-new-worlds-shaping-the-future-of-the-digital-age) - [Engineering/Manager Pendulum: Generating compound interest on your career](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100348-engineering-manager-pendulum-generating-compound-interest-on-your-career) ## Related Articles - [What’s the Difference between a Junior, Mid, and Senior Developer?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/238-what-s-the-difference-between-a-junior-mid-and-senior-developer) - [A Guide to Green Tech and Green IT Careers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/374-a-guide-to-green-tech-and-green-it-careers) - [From developer to manager – what does it take to become an engineering manager?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/42-from-developer-to-manager-what-does-it-take-to-become-an-engineering-manager) - [6 Emerging Technologies We’ll Learn About in 2025](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/381-6-emerging-technologies-we-ll-learn-about-in-2025) - [Is Software Engineering Over-Saturated?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/418-is-software-engineering-over-saturated) - [Highest Paying Tech Companies for Developers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/220-highest-paying-tech-companies-for-developers)