Sr Principal Engineer Propulsion
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Nov 1, 2026. First seen by Alion on Aug 27, 2026. Northrop Grumman scores B on the Alion truth index.
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.Northrop Grumman is currently seeking a Sr. Principal Propulsion Engineer to join our team at our Elkton, Maryland location to support the Propulsion Systems and Controls (PS&C) business unit.
Northrop Grumman Propulsion Systems and Controls (PS&C) facility in Elkton, Maryland began solid-propellant rocket operations in 1948. Today, the Elkton PS&C facility designs, develops, and produces solid-propellant propulsion and ordnance systems in programs professionally managed for a wide variety of Government and commercial customers. The facility also serves as the hub for offsite engineering and test facilities in Ronkonkoma, NY and Palm Beach Gardens, FL.
Elkton, Maryland is located on the Upper Chesapeake Bay, midway between Philadelphia and Baltimore. Discover charming small towns, parks with miles of trails, specialty and antique shops, award winning restaurants, and inns. You can hike, bike, camp, bird watch, ride horseback, or drop a fishing line. Five rivers, Chesapeake Bay and the C&D Canal can be explored by boat or by land. Experience panoramic views from Turkey Point Lighthouse on a bluff overlooking the Bay, or from the banks of the C&D Canal where ships from around the globe cruise. https://www.ccgov.org/government/tourism
The Northrop Grumman PS&C business unit is based in Elkton, Maryland and began solid-propellant rocket operations in 1948. Today, the Elkton PS&C facility designs, develops, and produces solid-propellant propulsion and ordnance systems in programs professionally managed for a wide variety of Government and commercial customers.
Job Responsibilities
- Perform mechanical design of moderately complex advanced propulsion components and functional systems with limited supervision
- Apply theoretical knowledge, engineering techniques, and test data to the solution of more complex components, structures, and sub-assemblies
- Develop original ideas on preliminary design concepts with other technical groups and make modifications necessary to optimize designs
- Establish requirements for materials, structural components, and functional systems
- Determine engineering tasks required for project planning and execution, communicate milestones and need dates to program leads
- Document results of design activities and release results after review from other engineers
- Make recommendations for improving own work and/or group’s work
- Support test program under project team direction for design, fabrication, integration, and verification
- Support generation and execution of presentation materials for various reviews required throughout the design process
- Work with procurement to ensure hardware and expendables are delivered to enable project execution
Basic Qualifications:
- Requires Bachelors in Engineering and 8 years of experience or Master’s Degree in Engineering and 6 years of experience or a PhD and 4 years of experience
- Ability to obtain a Secret Clearance which requires US Citizenship as a pre-requisite
- Ability and willingness to travel
Preferred Qualifications
- Ability to lead a multi-disciplinary team through various efforts required to design, fabricate and install multiple subsystems
- Experience with solid propellant propulsion systems
- Current active Security Clearance
- Proficiency with Siemens NX
- Proficiency with Siemens Teamcenter United Architecture
- Ability to interpret and apply Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T)
- Knowledgeable in systems engineering approach to ensure program requirements are met
- Experience as a Cost Account Manager (CAM) maintaining budgetary and schedule compliance, while ensuring technical quality
- Familiar with proactive risk management techniques, such as risk registers and failure modes, effects and criticality analysis (FMECA)
Primary Level Salary Range: $135,800.00 - $203,600.00The 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.