Advanced Automation Manufacturing Engineer/Principal Manufacturing Engineer

Northrop Grumman•Palmdale, CA

2d•$83,400 - $155,400•Onsite

About The Position

Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems is hiring an Advanced Automation Manufacturing Engineer or Advanced Automation Principal Manufacturing Engineer for its Manufacturing Engineering Team at the Palmdale, California Center of Excellence. The role works collaboratively with manufacturing and engineering teams to develop, implement, and transition technology solutions into production, improving efficiency, cost, and quality. Relevant technologies include composites fabrication, assembly, automation, inspection, direct part manufacturing, survivability technologies, and digital capabilities. The engineer provides manufacturing guidance on design concepts and manufacturing techniques, participates in tool design reviews, defines product-build sequences, and supports implementation of new capabilities and specification requirements. The role evaluates processes and tools, incorporates requirements into development plans, and initiates corrective actions for problems or deficiencies to meet technical, schedule, cost, and quality objectives. It involves hands-on support as a technical representative for Manufacturing, working across multiple concurrent projects and interfacing with customers, program offices, engineering disciplines, executive management, production, and suppliers. The position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Secret clearance and Program Special access within a reasonable period. The posting lists first- or second-shift work and other schedules as possible, with times varying, and travel of at least 10–15%. Relocation assistance may be available.

Requirements

For the Manufacturing Engineer level: Bachelor's degree with at least 1 year, or Master's degree with 0 years, of related experience in production assembly or fabrication, including composites, machining, coatings application, or production manufacturing operations.
For the Principal Manufacturing Engineer level: Bachelor's degree with at least 4 years, Master's degree with at least 3 years, or Ph.D. degree with 0 years, of related experience in production assembly or fabrication, including composites, machining, coatings application, or production manufacturing operations.
Experience supporting manufacturing or production operations and understanding manufacturing processes and procedures.
Experience in machining, robotics, or numerical control programming.
Experience in composites, automation, heating systems, or coatings application.
Experience working with or knowledge of Process Work Instructions (PWI).
Experience creating work instructions, training materials, and visual aids.
Experience reviewing and interpreting blueprints and 3-D models.
Experience in system requirements development, acceptance testing, and training.
Hands-on experience in a production assembly line environment.
Experience troubleshooting systems and performing root-cause and corrective-action analysis.
Proficiency with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook.
Ability to communicate and interface with multiple levels of leadership, engineering, production, customers, and suppliers.
Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Secret clearance and Program Special access within a reasonable period, as determined by the company.
Ability to work first or second shift and other work schedules; times may vary.
Ability to travel at least 10–15%.
U.S. citizenship is required for positions requiring a government clearance.

Nice To Haves

Degree in a STEM field (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math).
Experience in project management and execution, including proposal creation, scheduling, and budget tracking.
Experience with Manufacturing Execution Systems and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems.
Experience in solid-modeling design using NX Siemens, CATIA, or SolidWorks.
Experience providing innovative techniques focused on improving product designs, tooling assemblies, or equipment.
Experience using Microsoft Project, Visio, and SharePoint.
Experience in Transition to Production activities.
Active, in-scope U.S. Government Secret clearance and Special Program Access clearance.

Responsibilities

Provide engineering guidance on design concepts to ensure appropriate manufacturing techniques are used.
Participate in tool design reviews to assess feasibility and reduce assembly build times and program costs.
Define sequences of operations for product builds.
Investigate and initiate corrective actions and improvements involving non-conforming product.
Identify opportunities for producibility and affordability improvements.
Define, develop, implement, and transition technology solutions to manufacturing to increase efficiency, reduce cost, and improve quality.
Develop manufacturing concepts and process solutions for production applications, including advanced technologies such as composites fabrication, assembly, automation, inspection, direct part manufacturing, survivability technologies, and digital capabilities.
Incorporate requirements into development plans and evaluate process and tool performance and efficiency.
Identify and initiate corrective action for problems and deficiencies to meet technical, schedule, cost, and product-quality objectives.
Provide direct support for and ensure successful implementation of new solution capabilities released to production.
Interface with internal and external customers, program offices, engineering disciplines, executive management, production, and suppliers.
Manage multiple projects concurrently in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
Provide practical, innovative technical solutions to complex manufacturing problems and represent Manufacturing with a hands-on approach.