Mechanical Engineer - Level 5 - Space Vehicle SE/AI&T Lead - Linthicum

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available
CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No
CLEARANCE TYPE: Top Secret
TRAVEL: Yes, 25% 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.

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—from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean to stealth bombers and landing on the moon. We look for people with bold ideas, courage, and a pioneering spirit to join us in inventing the future and having fun along the way.

Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, diverse perspectives, and bringing your whole self to work. We have an insatiable drive to accomplish what others believe is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history—they are making history.

Northrop Grumman Space Systems continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in space technology. Join a collaborative team of engineers, technicians, and manufacturing professionals responsible for assembling, integrating, and testing mission-critical space vehicle hardware. This role provides an opportunity to work directly with flight hardware and to lead mechanical activities that enable successful mission execution.

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced Staff Mechanical Engineer (T5) to serve as the Mechanical Engineering Lead for Space Vehicle Systems Engineering and Assembly, Integration & Test (SE/AI&T).

The selected candidate will provide technical leadership for the planning and execution of mechanical assembly, integration, and test activities for space vehicle hardware. This individual will serve as the primary mechanical focal point on the integration floor, providing real-time technical direction to mechanical engineers, technicians, and manufacturing personnel while coordinating closely with systems engineering, test engineering, manufacturing, quality, facilities, and logistics organizations.

The successful candidate will own mechanical integration decisions and help ensure that all mechanical aspects of assembly and test are performed safely, correctly, efficiently, and in accordance with approved requirements and configuration baselines. This role is well suited for a technically accomplished engineer who is comfortable leading small teams, making sound decisions in a dynamic floor environment, and resolving complex interfaces between design intent, producibility, hardware configuration, and test requirements.

This position may require approximately 25% travel and requires the ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility and CI polygraph.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary mechanical lead for space vehicle assembly, integration, and test activities, providing technical direction to engineers, technicians, and manufacturing personnel.
• Develop and maintain mechanical build plans, integration flows, tooling requirements, ground support equipment plans, and activity schedules.
• Interpret mechanical design data, including CAD models, drawings, specifications, tolerances, and Interface Control Documents; own mechanical interfaces and support resolution of fit, form, function, and producibility issues.
• Lead the creation and review of mechanical assembly, integration, and test procedures, including work instructions, travelers, configuration records, and as-built documentation.
• Lead floor operations such as mating, fastener installation, structural assembly, deployment testing, mechanical hookups, and other space vehicle integration activities.
• Plan and support mechanical configurations for functional and environmental testing, including vibration, acoustic, shock, deployment, and thermal vacuum testing; support Test Readiness Reviews and related formal reviews.
• Provide real-time troubleshooting and decision-making during assembly and test while ensuring activities are executed safely, correctly, and in accordance with approved requirements and configuration baselines.
• Enforce safe handling practices and lead hazard identification and mitigation for flight hardware, including lifting, moving, rotating, access, contamination, pinch-point, and dropped-hardware risks.
• Lead mechanical investigations of nonconformances and test anomalies; coordinate root-cause analysis, corrective actions, dispositions, waivers, deviations, and rework with engineering, quality, manufacturing, and systems teams.
• Maintain mechanical as-built configuration, including installed hardware, fastener torque status, shims, spacers, stack-ups, alignment data, and approved changes.
• Coordinate with systems, electrical, test, manufacturing, quality, facilities, logistics, and program management organizations to synchronize mechanical activities and communicate status, risks, and resource needs.
• Mentor engineers and technicians, capture lessons learned, and implement improvements that reduce integration risk, cycle time, rework, and safety exposure.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline with at least 12 years of relevant experience; master’s degree with at least 10 years of relevant experience; or PhD with at least 8 years of relevant experience.
• U.S. citizenship is required.
• No clearance is required to start; the selected candidate must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility and CI polygraph.
• Demonstrated experience supporting mechanical assembly, integration, and test of space, aerospace, or other complex flight hardware.
• Experience interpreting and applying mechanical drawings, CAD models, specifications, tolerances, interface requirements, and configuration documentation.
• Experience developing or executing mechanical build plans, integration flows, work instructions, test procedures, or ground support equipment plans.
• Experience supporting mechanical testing or test setups, such as vibration, acoustic, shock, deployment, thermal vacuum, or functional testing.
• Experience identifying and resolving mechanical integration issues involving fit, form, function, alignment, interfaces, fasteners, tooling, or hardware configuration.
• Experience with CAD software and Microsoft Office applications.
• Demonstrated ability to lead small teams or provide technical direction to engineers, technicians, or manufacturing personnel.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present technical status, risks, and recommendations.
• Ability to work effectively in a hands-on integration and test environment and to make sound technical decisions with limited direction.

Preferred Qualifications

• Active Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility and CI polygraph.
• Experience leading space vehicle mechanical assembly, integration, and test activities.
• Experience serving as a mechanical lead or focal point on the integration floor.
• Experience with flight hardware handling, lifting, rotation, mating, deployment testing, or structural assembly.
• Experience defining or using mechanical tooling, fixtures, lifting devices, alignment tools, and other ground support equipment.
• Experience supporting Test Readiness Reviews, Operations Readiness Reviews, Configuration Control Boards, anomaly boards, or formal program reviews.
• Experience with Jira, Confluence, Bitbucket, or comparable engineering collaboration and configuration-management tools.
• Experience with Interface Control Documents, as-built configuration records, travelers, redlines, nonconformances, waivers, deviations, and corrective-action documentation.
• Experience with fastener installation and verification, torque control, shimming, alignment measurement, contamination control, and hardware handling requirements.
• Familiarity with environmental, safety, and health requirements applicable to aerospace assembly, integration, and test operations.
• Experience implementing process improvements that reduce integration risk, cycle time, rework, or safety exposure.
• Experience mentoring mechanical engineers, technicians, or manufacturing personnel.

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.

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Primary Level Salary Range: $169,000.00 - $253,600.00
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.
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.