Propulsion Engineer - Level 3 Or 4

Propulsion Engineer – Level 3 or 4

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.

Northrop Grumman is currently seeking a Propulsion Engineer to join our team at our Palm Beach Gardens, Florida location to support the Propulsion Systems and Controls (PS&C) business unit. This position can also be located at our Elkton, Maryland or Ronkonkoma, New York locations.

Job Summary

Northrop Grumman Defense Systems is seeking a Propulsion Engineer who will support multidisciplinary teams by turning preliminary studies into clear project requirements and verification plans. Working with senior engineers, you will capture and document functional, performance and interface requirements, create verification matrices and test procedures, and track progress against those requirements. You will review feasibility studies, evaluate materials, structural components and functional subsystems, and translate findings into actionable work packages, schedules, resource estimates and cost forecasts. Coordination with procurement, manufacturing and quality‑assurance ensures engineering deliverables align with overall project timelines, while maintaining up‑to‑date requirement‑traceability and verification documentation. The role also includes providing technical assistance to junior engineers, participating in design reviews and continuous‑improvement activities.

Job Responsibilities

• Establish requirements for materials, structural components, and functional systems
• Oversee the end to end verification and validation lifecycle, guiding activities from requirements definition through test execution and final data certification
• Develop and execute test plans for moderately advanced propulsion systems
• Determine engineering tasks required for project planning and execution
• Identify risks and opportunities, propose mitigations, and track cost impacts
• Produce status reports, meeting minutes, and technical presentations for internal and external audiences
• Communicate technical concepts clearly to both technical and non‑technical audiences
• Make recommendations for improving own work and/or group's work

This position will be filled to the level of demonstrated experience, education, skills, and competency.

Basic Qualifications for Level 3 (Principal Engineer)

• Requires Bachelors in STEM and 5 years of engineering experience or Master's Degree in STEM and 3 years of engineering experience or a PhD in STEM and 1 year of engineering experience.
• Ability to obtain a Secret Clearance which requires US Citizenship as a pre-requisite
• Experience developing and managing system‑level requirements, interface control documents, and verification & validation plans
• Familiarity with the full systems engineering life‑cycle (concept, development, production, sustainment)
• Strong written/oral communication; self‑starter with minimal supervision
• Ability and willingness to travel 10-25%

Basic Qualifications for Level 4 (Sr. Principal Engineer)

• Requires Bachelors in STEM and 8 years of engineering experience or Master's Degree in STEM and 6 years of engineering experience or a PhD in STEM and 4 year of engineering experience.
• Ability to obtain a Secret Clearance which requires US Citizenship as a pre-requisite
• Experience developing and managing system‑level requirements, interface control documents, and verification & validation plans
• Familiarity with the full systems engineering life‑cycle (concept, development, production, sustainment)
• Strong written/oral communication; self‑starter with minimal supervision
• Ability and willingness to travel 10-25%

Preferred Qualifications for Both Levels

• Degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering
• Experience with mechanical design of propulsion components or fluid systems
• Current active Security Clearance
• Understanding of system‑level testing methodologies, including test planning, execution oversight, data certification, and post‑test analysis
• Demonstrated experience in Model‑Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) with proven proficiency in systems‑engineering tools such as IBM DOORS, Cameo (SysML), or comparable requirement‑management platforms
• Experience conducting System Safety Hazard Analyses (SSHA) and Failure Mode and Effects Analyses (FMEA)

Primary Level Salary Range: $103,600.00 - $163,200.00 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.

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.