Full-Time

Principal Manufacturing Engineer

Updated on 7/3/2025

Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman

10,001+ employees

Aerospace and defense technology solutions provider

Compensation Overview

$95.8k - $143.6k/yr

+ Overtime + Shift Differential + Discretionary Bonus

Senior

No H1B Sponsorship

Wayzata, MN, USA

In Person

Relocation assistance may be available.

US Citizenship, US Top Secret Clearance Required

Category
Manufacturing Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Required Skills
GD&T
Requirements
  • Bachelor’s degree plus 5 years of experience, a Master’s degree plus 3 years of experience, or a PhD plus 0 years of experience.
  • Engineering experience in both product development and supporting a fast-paced production line environment.
  • Experience working with customer engineering, vendors and subcontractors.
  • Proven partnership/collaboration skills and ability to partner with cross disciplines within a team.
  • Exceptional communication skills (verbal, written, presentation) across all levels of the organization.
  • Advanced knowledge of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T).
  • Ability to travel
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.
  • Must be U.S. Citizen.
Responsibilities
  • Providing technical leadership, engineering oversight and support on LCA production programs.
  • Development and oversight of production processes for production at Plymouth, other Northrop Grumman locations and subcontractors, focusing on 120mm and 105mm cartridges and ammunition propulsion systems.
  • Provide manufacturing engineering production line support.
  • Support and/or lead failure investigations, root cause determination, and corrective action implementation.
  • Communicating issues and status frequently and effectively both verbally and in writing.
  • Engineering oversight and interpretation of acceptance and qualification testing results of ammunition materials and components.
  • Contribute to completion of specific program and project milestones.
  • Represent Northrop Grumman to our customers and suppliers.
  • Travel (approximately 25%) domestic to customers and suppliers representing Northrop Grumman’s program and business interests.
  • Conceptualize and implement continuous improvement projects internally and with suppliers.
  • Implement and manage strong manufacturing engineering principals to ensure robust production process and high product quality.
Desired Qualifications
  • M.S. Engineering degree from an accredited university.
  • Experience with leading teams is highly desirable.
  • Supporting failure analysis within an 8D framework.
  • Experience with energetics and ballistic testing is highly desirable.
  • Experience with managing cost and schedule.
  • Prior experience working in the defense industry and/or with U.S. Government contracts.
  • Experience writing statements of work and estimating project scope.

Northrop Grumman provides advanced aerospace and defense technology solutions, focusing on areas such as autonomous systems, cybersecurity, and space. The company develops and integrates complex systems for government clients, including the U.S. Department of Defense and international allies. Its products work by combining cutting-edge technology with extensive research and development to create comprehensive solutions that meet specific defense and aerospace needs. Unlike many competitors, Northrop Grumman emphasizes long-term contracts, which offer a stable revenue stream and allow for sustained investment in innovation. The company's goal is to maintain its leadership position in the aerospace and defense market by continuously advancing its technological capabilities and delivering effective solutions to its clients.

Company Size

10,001+

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

Falls Church, Virginia

Founded

1939

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Growing demand for autonomous systems boosts Northrop Grumman's market opportunities.
  • Increased investments in space technologies align with Northrop Grumman's capabilities.
  • Rising cyber threats create opportunities for expanding cybersecurity offerings.

What critics are saying

  • Emerging defense tech companies pose competitive threats to market share.
  • Geopolitical tensions may shift defense spending priorities unpredictably.
  • Global supply chain volatility could lead to production delays and cost increases.

What makes Northrop Grumman unique

  • Northrop Grumman excels in autonomous systems, cyber, and space technologies.
  • The company has a strong track record with government contracts and defense solutions.
  • Its diversified revenue streams across multiple segments ensure financial stability.

Help us improve and share your feedback! Did you find this helpful?

Benefits

Health Insurance

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Relocation Assistance

Performance Bonus

Company News

Defence Today
Jul 2nd, 2025
Northrop Grumman offers ground-based radar solution to Romanian Air Force

Northrop Grumman Corporation has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with ROMARM, a leading state-owned defence company in Romania, to work together in providing a ground-based radar solution for the Romanian Air Force.

Ecomagazine
Jun 27th, 2025
Stantec and Northrop Grumman Partner on Technology Solutions for Environmental Conservation and Protection

Stantec, a global leader in environmental conservation design and engineering, has partnered with Northrop Grumman, a global leader in aerospace and defense technology, to develop and apply innovative monitoring, data capture, and analysis solutions to address urgent environmental conservation issues.

Defense Here
Jun 24th, 2025
Northrop Grumman expands ground systems capability with new facility

Northrop Grumman has inaugurated a new 100,000-square-foot integration facility in Englewood, Colorado, expanding its manufacturing footprint to support the growing demand for advanced space ground systems.

Forbes
Jun 16th, 2025
Why Tackling Iranian Drones Is A Job For Israel’S Helicopter Gunships

An Israeli AH-64 Apache engages and shoots down an Iranian suicide drone in footage released by the. More IDF IDFDramatic videos are emerging of Israeli AH-64 Apache helicopters shooting down Iranian attack drones. The advanced U.S.-supplied helicopters are pursuing and destroying propeller-driven drones with bursts from their 30mm cannon. But the encounters illustrate an interesting point: the drones are getting past Israel’s world-class interceptor missiles and have to be stopped at close range. In a long war, helicopters vs drones could become a crucial factor in protecting civilians.Iron Dome Protection Comes At A CostIsrael has a layered air defence missile system, comprising the long-range Arrow, the medium-range David’s Sling and THAAD and the short range Iron Dome. Between them, these are capable of tackling everything from ballistic missiles launched from Iran to home-made Qassem rockets fired from Gaza.Israel's Iron Dome air defence system shooting down incoming Hezbollah rockets in August 2024 AFP via Getty ImagesThis system is supported by a complex network of radar and other sensors and has proven extremely effective at swatting down missile attacks mid-air

The Defense Post
Jun 10th, 2025
Northrop Grumman, Marshall Propose Next-Gen UK Ground-Based Air Defense

Northrop Grumman has partnered with Marshall to develop a proposal for the British Army's next-generation Ground-Based Air Defense (GBAD) program.