Propulsion Engineer / Design Engineer

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be availableCLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: NoCLEARANCE TYPE: NoneTRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time

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.

Expand your horizons, advance your career, and contribute to a secure future for generations. Northrop Grumman’s Space Sector invites you to bring your pioneering spirit to our collaborative teams. As a Sr. Principal Propulsion Engineers or Design Engineer – Level 4 located in Promontory, UT, you’ll be a linchpin in missions of paramount importance, defining the art of the possible from day one. The preferred location for this role is Promontory, UT. May consider one of the following major Space sector locations: Promontory, UT or Magna, UT.

Northrop Grumman’s Space Sector invites you to bring your pioneering spirit to our collaborative teams. This multi-discipline requisition is intended to hire engineers for the Design and Analysis department Engineers across several groups. As a Design & Analysis Engineer located in Promontory, UT and Magna, UT, you will be a linchpin in missions of paramount importance, helping define the art of the possible from day one.

Selected candidates may be matched to one of several teams based on skills, interests, and business need, including:

• Solid Rocket Motor Nozzle Design
• NASA SLS Integration Design & Analysis
• Loaded Motor Design & Structural Analysis (bonded, non‑metallic structures)
• Propulsion / Cast Propellant Design
• Composite Rocket Motor Case Design & Structural Analysis

Engineers in these roles develop innovative solutions that effectively balance technical performance, cost, and schedule requirements for government and commercial programs.

This position will work a 9/80 schedule, with every other Friday off.

Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

The Design and Analysis Engineering department is seeking engineers to specialize in different areas of component design and analysis for solid rocket motors, depending on team assignment (design, structural, or propulsion). Depending on assignment responsibilities may include:

• Support the design, analysis, test, and production of solid rocket motor hardware (nozzles, cases, propellant, integration hardware, bonded structures, and metal components).
• Provide accurate, on-time 3D models, engineering drawings, and specifications for rocket motor components.
• Participate in trade studies and facilitate design changes that balance technical performance, cost, and schedule.
• Develop engineering documentation (drawings, specifications, design/analysis reports, test plans, test reports).
• Perform structural analysis (closed-form and finite element) and evaluate test data to draw conclusions and refine models.
• Plan and support development, qualification, and production testing of flight hardware and test articles.
• Provide production and floor support, including problem solving, anomaly resolution, and disposition of non‑conformances.
• Interact with multi-discipline development teams (Manufacturing, Quality, Safety, Thermal, Structural, Materials, and Test) to ensure requirements are met.
• Develop and present technical content for design reviews and briefings to internal and external customers.
• Learn and help maintain standard design and analysis processes and improve methods and tools using test data and advanced analysis techniques.
• undefined
• Other duties as assigned

Why you? You’re the candidate we’re searching for if you are ready to achieve the impossible alongside like-minded innovators.

Basic Qualifications for Level 4:

• Bachelor’s degree in a classical engineering/STEM discipline with 8 years of professional experience – OR – Master’s degree in a classical engineering/STEM discipline with 6 years of professional experience – OR – PhD in a classical engineering/STEM discipline with 4 years of professional experience.   
• Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government DoD Secret security clearance
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government DoD Secret security clearance.
• Ability to pass a background check for the Federal Safe Explosives Act (SEA).
• Strong understanding of solid mechanics and classical mechanics principles.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent time management and organizational skills
• Detail oriented yet able to understand the big picture.
• Strong problem-solving skills; self-starter and highly self-motivated.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams.
• Basic knowledge of or strong interest in solid rocket motors and their structural/propellant makeup.
• One or both of the following:
  • Experience or strong aptitude with 3D CAD modeling and mechanical drawings (preferably Siemens NX)
  • Familiarity and proficiency with finite element/structural analysis tools (e.g., Abaqus, ANSYS)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong written and oral communication skills with the ability to clearly present technical content in email, reports, and design reviews.
• Able to manage multiple tasks and maintain accurate technical documentation
• Experience using modern engineering tools such as Siemens NX or equivalent CAD and/or commercial FEA software (e.g., Abaqus, ANSYS)
• Familiarity with statistics and statistical methods (for analysis‑focused roles)
  • Knowledge of GD&T and tolerance analysis (for design-focused roles)
  • Experience supporting manufacturing or production
  • Experience with solid rocket motors
  • Knowledgeable of NG Propulsion Systems engineering drafting process
  • Previous fabrication or inspection experience, rocket motor design, or aerospace design experience

Team-Specific Preferred Qualifications

Candidates will be aligned to teams based on specific skills and interests. Each team’s additional preferred qualifications are expressed below.

• Nozzle Design and Analyst
  • Experience with design or manufacture of solid rocket motor nozzle hardware
  • Familiarity with basic structural/thermal behavior of nozzle materials
  • Participation in or support of post-fire hardware evaluations.
• NASA SLS Integration
  • Experience with design or manufacture of rocket motor integration hardware and large booster assemblies
• Loaded Motor / Bonded Structures (Structural Engineer – Loaded Motor Design & Analysis)
  • Experience evaluating bonded and non-metallic components on solid rocket motors (e.g., propellant, liners, insulation, TPS, raceway bracket-to-case bonds)
  • Familiarity with viscoelastic material behavior and structural analysis of bonded structures
• Propellant / Cast Motor Design (Propulsion – Cast Motor)
  • Experience supporting design of cast-propellant regions and related rocket motor components
  • Familiarity with propellant cast processes and general structural behavior of propellant/insulation systems
• Composite Case Structures (Structural Engineer – Composite Cases)
  • Experience with design or manufacture of composite rocket motor case hardware
  • Familiarity with composite structural analysis (laminate/CLT concepts and general structural FEA in ABAQUS/CAE)
• Metal Structures (Structural Engineer – Metal Structures)
  • Experience with design or manufacture of metal components, forgings, and bolted joints
  • Familiarity with general structural analysis of metallic structures

Curious about all the exciting developments with the Northrop Grumman Space Sector? Click the link below: https://www.northropgrumman.com/space

Working at Northrop Grumman is more than just a paycheck. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards and benefits package designed to help you thrive at work and in life. For more information on our Total Rewards package, please visit our Total Rewards site. Northrop Grumman Total Rewards 

Primary Level Salary Range: $122,800.00 - $184,200.00The 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.