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Northrop Grumman

Defense contractor for aerospace, space, cybersecurity

Senior Staff Propulsion Engineer

Full-TimeUpdated on 10/4/2026
$166.5k - $249.7k+ Overtime + Shift differential + Discretionary bonus
Expert
Bachelor's, Master's, PhD
Clearfield, UT, USA
In PersonTravel to other manufacturing sites is required approximately 10% of the time.
No H1B Sponsorship
US Citizenship Required

About the job

Requirements
  • Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering with 14 years of professional experience, or a Master’s degree with 12 years of professional experience, or a PhD with 10 years of professional experience.
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance.
  • Strong understanding of solid rocket motor case design, manufacturing, and testing.
  • Demonstrated success leading high-performance, cross-functional technical teams.
  • Ability to motivate and guide teams and activities with staff who do not formally report to the role.
  • Demonstrated ability to act as the technical point of contact to executive leadership and/or customer stakeholders, addressing technical requests and translating them into actionable deliverables.
  • Demonstrated experience supporting multiple programs and sites.
  • Skilled at steering multiple initiatives simultaneously from conception to delivery.
Responsibilities
  • Establish, foster, and maintain a culture of safety first.
  • Provide technical authority and oversight for the Case Manufacturing Process Engineering organization, establishing strategy, standards, and best practices.
  • Act as the go-to authority for Case Manufacturing across Propulsion Systems.
  • Act as the technical point of contact to customers, representing Process Engineering in meetings, addressing technical inquiries, and translating customer needs into actionable deliverables.
  • Lead and mentor the Case Manufacturing Process Engineering organization, fostering collaboration and high performance.
  • Conduct peer reviews of all planning changes, process failure mode and effects analyses, concepts of operations, manufacturing bills of material, and other Process Engineering deliverables as the Case Manufacturing senior subject matter expert.
  • Interface with cross-functional departments and other campuses as needed as the technical point of contact.
  • Attend design, tooling, and facility drawing reviews and provide advice as necessary.
  • Drive and/or actively participate in capital expenditure plans and execution.
  • Drive and/or actively participate in independent research and development plans and execution.
  • Create and review facility/equipment design criteria for new or modified facilities, equipment, and manufacturing buildings.
  • Lead or facilitate failure investigations to determine direct/root causes and develop robust corrective actions.
  • Lead the team through development and implementation of error-proofing projects.
  • Drive process improvements across the Case Manufacturing Process team.
  • Support on-site at Clearfield, Copper Crossing, Promontory, or Bacchus when needed.
Desired Qualifications
  • An advanced degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Management, or another related field is preferred.
  • An active or current Secret or Top Secret security clearance.
  • Deep knowledge of and hands-on experience with case manufacturing processes, including molding, wound elastomer insulation, composite winding and cure, composite machining, hand operations/bracketry, hydro and structural testing, non-destructive testing, and case handling/shipping.
  • Experience with new manufacturing building designs, including evaluating and selecting facilities to meet customer design and rate demands.
  • Experience leading or serving as a lead investigator in a failure investigation, driving to determine root cause and implementing effective corrective actions to prevent future failures.
  • Experience evaluating capital expenditure needs and developing business justification plans.
  • Deep understanding of command media, including developing, writing, and updating command media as needed.
  • Experience with design of experiments, statistical process control, and Six Sigma concepts for process development and control.
  • Strong knowledge of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing tolerance analysis.
  • Strong written and oral communication, time management, and organizational abilities.

About the company

Northrop Grumman is a defense and space contractor that designs, builds, and integrates advanced military aircraft, spacecraft, and related technologies. Its products range from stealth aircraft and space telescopes to autonomous systems and cybersecurity solutions, delivered as end-to-end platforms across air, land, sea, and space. The company differentiates itself through its history of combining aerospace engineering with software and sensors, a scale-built by merging Northrop and Grumman and later adding defense and space acquisitions. Its goal is to secure national defense and enable scientific exploration by providing trusted, integrated systems at scale.

Company Size

10,001+

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

Falls Church, Virginia

Founded

1939

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • July 21, 2026 backlog hit $104.7 billion, with $20 billion net awards.
  • September 30, 2026 Army awarded $18.8 million for XRC ramjet propulsion development.
  • September 23, 2026 GHOST-R awards place Northrop on Space Force GEO reconnaissance prototypes.

What critics are saying

  • July 21, 2026 margins fell to 10.1%, pressured by Defense Systems and Space programs.
  • May 2026 Baltimore layoffs showed program volatility already hits Mission Systems headcount.
  • Sentinel restructuring and B-21 production ramp concentrate existential execution risk through 2030.

What makes Northrop Grumman unique

  • Northrop Grumman owns B-21, Sentinel, and CIRCM, spanning stealth, missiles, and survivability.
  • October 2026 FORTITUDE gallium nitride chips compress spectrum processing onto grain-of-rice hardware.
  • October 2026 Gilbert and Layton expansions deepen aerospace manufacturing around Arizona and Utah.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Relocation Assistance

Performance Bonus

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

↓ -1%

1 year growth

↓ -1%

2 year growth

↓ -1%
Associated Press
Oct 8th, 2026
SRC develops Gryphon R1810 radar for Northrop Grumman's Raid Hunter drone defence system

SRC has developed its new Gryphon R1810 radar for Northrop Grumman's Raid Hunter air defence system, designed to protect military bases and critical infrastructure from aerial threats including drone swarms. The radar tracks incoming threats and intercepting munitions, supporting precision fire control throughout engagements. SRC scaled its existing Gryphon radar architecture to create the R1810, progressing from inception to functional prototype in six months. The system can detect Group 1 unmanned aircraft at up to 21.6 kilometres and Group 3 systems at 49.4 kilometres, significantly exceeding the capabilities of its R1540 predecessor. The R1810 uses the same core electronics as SRC's Gryphon R1540 but features eight subarrays per panel instead of four, providing greater detection range and accuracy.

SatNews
Oct 6th, 2026
Northrop Grumman selects ThinKom ThinAir SATCOM antennas for U.S. Navy E-130J Phoenix II TACAMO fleet.

Northrop Grumman selects ThinKom ThinAir SATCOM antennas for U.S. Navy E-130J Phoenix II TACAMO fleet. October 6, 2026 On October 6, 2026, satellite antenna manufacturer ThinKom Solutions, Inc. announced that Northrop Grumman has selected its ThinAir SATCOM antenna system to equip the U.S. Navy's E-130J Phoenix II aircraft. The airborne platform is under development to perform the military's Take Charge and Move Out (TACAMO) strategic communications mission, providing command-and-control connectivity during high-consequence operations. Technical specifications and platform architecture. ThinKom's ThinAir GT product line delivers multi-band Beyond-Line-of-Sight (BLOS) satellite communications for aircraft operating across diverse flight profiles. Utilizing ThinKom's Variable Inclination Continuous Transverse Stub (VICTS) phased-array architecture, the low-profile antenna system provides high-throughput connectivity compatible with both geostationary orbit (GSO) and non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellite constellations. The low-drag aerodynamic housing minimizes fuel and drag impact on airborne platforms while incorporating anti-jamming features and multi-orbit survivability capabilities engineered for executive transports, large cargo aircraft, and defense reconnaissance systems. Strategic role in TACAMO fleet modernization. The E-130J Phoenix II represents the U.S. Navy's next-generation TACAMO aircraft, replacing legacy operational platforms to maintain survivable communications between national decision-makers and nuclear deterrence forces. By integrating multi-orbit, multi-band satellite connectivity, the platform ensures continuous signal availability across contested electromagnetic environments. Executive perspective. "The TACAMO mission depends on communications systems that are resilient, available and ready in the most demanding operating environments," said Bill Milroy, Chief Technology Officer at ThinKom. "The selection of our ThinAir antenna reflects the growing importance of multi-orbit, high-throughput SATCOM capabilities for strategic airborne platforms, and we are proud to support Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Navy on this program."

Behind The Black
Oct 2nd, 2026
October 2, 2026 quick space links.

October 2, 2026 quick space links. Courtesy of BtB's stringer Jay plus the last from reader Gary. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below. * Space Force awards Northrop Grumman and True Anomaly separate contracts to develop high-orbit maneuverable inspector satellites True Anomaly will upgrade its Jackal spacecraft, already tested in orbit. Northrop will upgrade its MEV servicing satellite design, used to extend the life of several geosynchronous communication satellites. * SpaceX and Elon Musk have created 4,400 millionaires The tweet is in answer to a typically hateful leftist attack on evil billionaires On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman. The print edition can be purchased at Amazon or from any other book seller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for purchasing details. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner. The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible. "Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."-San Antonio Express-News

MarketScreener
Oct 2nd, 2026
Northrop Grumman corporation introduces FORTITUDE? Chip technology.

Northrop Grumman corporation introduces FORTITUDE? Chip technology. Published on 10/02/2026 at 11:35 am EDT S&P Capital IQ Northrop Grumman?s FORTITUDE? processed vast portions of the electromagnetic spectrum on a single, grain-of-rice?sized gallium nitride chip. The future-ready technology delivers three times more power and 20 times better signal quality, helping satellites, radar, GPS, electronic warfare and future 6G systems stay connected with clearer, more reliable performance. Previously known as the Super Lattice Castellated Field Effect Transistor, FORTITUDE? builds on the company?s focused research and development and substantial investment in microelectronics to replace dozens of components, cutting weight, and slashing power consumption while delivering greater value for the end system. Built in the U.S. for both commercial and defense markets, FORTITUDE? simplifies system architectures and opens new opportunities for faster, more dependable communications across next generation platforms. (C) S&P Capital IQ - 2026

Utah Business
Oct 2nd, 2026
Northrop Grumman continues in-space industry leadership with new facility opening in Arizona.

Northrop Grumman continues in-space industry leadership with new facility opening in Arizona. Company investment expands workforce capacity and further solidifies Gilbert as a critical hub for advanced space manufacturing and engineering. Northrop Grumman // Oct 1, 2026 GILBERT, Ariz. - Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) is deepening its long-term commitment to Arizona's advanced manufacturing and space engineering expertise with the opening of the new A1 building on the company's Gilbert campus. Northrop Grumman senior leaders joined local, state, and federal elected officials, community partners, and employees to celebrate the opening of the new A1 building on the company's Gilbert, Arizona, campus. The 120,000-square-foot facility adds substantial office, classified, integration and test, and mission support space to advance critical space missions for national security, civil and commercial customers. Northrop Grumman is deepening its long-term commitment to Arizona and the greater Phoenix metro area as a key hub for advanced manufacturing and space engineering, creating high-skilled jobs, bolstering the regional industrial base and helping shape the future of the U.S. space economy.