Manufacturing Engineer - Level 3

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available
CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No
CLEARANCE TYPE: None
TRAVEL: 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.

Northrop Grumman Mission Enabling Products (MEP) Business Unit designs, manufactures and operates small and medium-class spacecraft for communications, imaging, scientific, exploration and national security space applications. MEP is the leading supplier of space components that power and enable satellites of all classes, provides technical engineering services to government agencies and laboratories, and is developing exciting new satellite servicing and advanced space flight technologies.

Our Propulsion team in Commerce, CA is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer Level 3 to join our 1st shift team.

The Propulsion team within the Mission Enabling Products Business Unit is the leading supplier of pressure vessels and tank hardware to the aerospace industry. You will work on assigned programs on non-recurring work as well as provide technical support on the shop floor.

The initial focus for this role is the modernization of our vacuum pump room, which supports onsite vacuum weld chambers through multiple vacuum pump types and associated cooling systems.

Responsibilities:

Lead Pump Room Modernization

• Map current-state pump room layouts, utilities, and material/people flow using appropriate tools (e.g., CAD, Visio, or similar).
• Identify safety, reliability, and capacity constraints in existing pump room configurations.
• Develop and propose future-state layouts and modernization plans that improve reliability, maintainability, and throughput.
• Coordinate with Facilities, EHS, Operations, and Programs to plan and execute pump room upgrades with minimal disruption to production.
• Research and recommend modernization equipment for the pump room and throughout the shop

Site Modernization & CI Projects

• Own medium-to-large scale site modernization projects from concept through implementation, including scope definition, requirements gathering, and stakeholder alignment.
• Apply Lean, 5S, and CI methodologies to optimize equipment layout, material flow, ergonomics, and space utilization across the site.
• Develop and maintain value stream maps and process flow diagrams to identify waste and improvement opportunities.
• Build and execute project plans, including schedules, risk assessments, and coordination of internal/external resources.

Process & Systems Improvement

• Evaluate existing manufacturing and support processes and recommend changes that improve safety, quality, delivery, and cost at the system level (rather than individual job level).
• Partner with Operations, Quality, EH&S, and Engineering to define and implement standards for upgraded utilities, equipment, and infrastructure.
• Support justification of capital investments (business cases, ROI, cost-benefit analysis) related to pump room and site modernization initiatives.

Stakeholder Communication & Change Management

• Lead and facilitate cross-functional working sessions focused on modernization and CI.
• Prepare and present Manufacturing Readiness / Modernization Reviews and recommendations and status updates to stakeholders and leadership.
• Develop clear documentation, visual standards, and training materials to support adoption of new layouts, processes, and equipment.

Data-Driven Problem Solving

• Use data (throughput, downtime, maintenance history, quality trends, EHS observations) to prioritize modernization and CI projects.
• Conduct root-cause analysis (e.g., 5 Whys, Ishikawa/fishbone) and implement corrective / preventive actions that address systemic issues.

Basic Qualifications for a Manufacturing Engineer Level 3:

• 5 years of relevant experience with a Bachelor's degree; 3 years of relevant experience with a Masters' degree; an additional 4 years of experience may be considered in lieu of degree
• Demonstrated experience applying and implementing lean methodologies in manufacturing/production environments including root-cause and Ishikawa analysis
• Practical application of AS9100, ISO 9001-2008, AS9145 or similar quality systems
• Proficiency with Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software
• Proficient in reading engineering drawings and interpretation of GD&T
• Working knowledge of machining processes; lathe, milling, CNC programming
• Working knowledge of welding and heat treating processes

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in an aerospace manufacturing environment or other related industry.
• Experience with utilities-intensive areas such as pump rooms, compressed gas systems, vacuum systems, cooling water, or similar infrastructure.
• Hands-on experience with developing and leading CI projects
• Experience developing or improving facility layouts to support new products, capacity increases, or modernization efforts.
• Familiarity with Siemens NX or other CAD platforms.
• Proficiency with data and database tools (e.g., MS Access, Excel, Power BI, or similar) to analyze performance and support project justification.
• Working knowledge of machining, welding, heat treating, or composite processes to understand infrastructure and utility requirements.

Primary Level Salary Range: $103,600.00 - $155,400.00
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.