2026 Associate Engineer Structural / Engineer Structural - Rancho Bernardo CA
About The Position
Northrop Grumman is seeking an Associate Structural Aeronautical / Engineer Structural. This position will be located on-site at our Aeronautics Systems Sector in Rancho Bernardo, CA (other locations may include Palmdale, CA or Redondo Beach/El Segundo, CA). The qualified candidate will become part of Northrop Grumman’s Vehicle Engineering group. In Vehicle Engineering, we develop manned and unmanned aircraft platforms for all programs in the Aeronautics Systems Sector. In this role, you will need to thrive in a fast-paced work environment with high expectations, significantly diverse assignments, and collaborative/team settings across all levels. You will be responsible for collaborating across a multi-disciplinary team of engineers responsible for developing, modifying, and maintaining aircraft design configurations using current engineering practices and standards. Some responsibilities you can expect include conceptual design, preliminary / layout, and detail design, drawing release, design review presentations, and support to fabrication. This requisition may be filled at either an Associate Engineer Structural (level 1) or Engineer Structural (level 2).
Requirements
- Be completing or has completed their Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution by August 2026.
- Be majoring in or having majored in: Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a similar STEM degree.
- Be able to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance (U.S. citizenship is a pre-requisite) as well as Program Special access within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the company to meet its business needs (U.S. citizenship is a pre-requisite). Final approved U.S. Government security clearance (U.S. citizenship is a pre-requisite) as well as Program Special Access may be required to start.
- Be completing or has completed their Master’s degree from an accredited institution by August 2026 or is completing their Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and 2 years of Aeronautical engineering experience (or similar engineering experience) by August 2026.
- Be majoring in or having majored in: Aerospace Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a similar STEM degree.
- Be able to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance (U.S. citizenship is a pre-requisite) as well as Program Special access within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the company to meet its business needs (U.S. citizenship is a pre-requisite). Final approved U.S. Government security clearance (U.S. citizenship is a pre-requisite) as well as Program Special Access may be required to start.
Nice To Haves
- Have an overall cumulative GPA of 3.25/4.0 or higher
- Previous internship/co-op or other work experience, leadership & teamwork capabilities, interpersonal communication skills, and activities (professional/community/extracurricular).
- Experience in bonded composite structural analysis of primary and secondary aircraft structures.
- Experience in metallic structural analysis of primary and secondary aircraft structures.
- Experience with structural analysis methods and documentation, including hand-sheet analysis and large Finite Element Model manipulation.
- Experience with CATIA.
- Familiarity with PATRAN or FEMAP.
Responsibilities
- Collaborate with team of engineers.
- Provide technical support to other disciplines as required.
- Participate in internal program, customer and/or supplier technical exchange meetings and/or formal program milestone reviews to provide and/or obtain progress status updates.
- Interface with relevant stakeholders, including cross-functional teams, customers, and suppliers, to ensure robust and maintainable configurations are produced.
- Works on design and integration of composite materials and their applications.
- Leverages knowledge of aircraft structure concepts including best practices for material selection of materials and metallic/composites trade analyses.
- Capture best practices in designing various aircraft systems including composites and/or metallic and their associated requirements for composites and/or metallic structures.
- Perform design related tasks utilizing the CATIA, and Teamcenter tool suite.
- Integrate subsystems components and structural configurations into various types of aircraft applications.
- Perform GD&T activities associated with producing and manufacturing of designs.
- Ability to design for affordability leveraging Agile methodology.
Benefits
- Relocation assistance may be available
- health insurance coverage
- life and disability insurance
- savings plan
- Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.
- overtime
- shift differential
- discretionary bonus
- Annual bonuses
- Long Term Incentives (for VP or Director positions)
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
