Energetic Technician 2/3

Northrop Grumman • Elkton, MD

3d • Onsite

About The Position

Northrop Grumman is hiring an Energetic Technician 2 or 3 at its Propulsion Systems and Controls facility in Elkton, Maryland. The facility designs, develops, and produces solid-propellant propulsion and ordnance systems for government and commercial customers.

Under supervision, the technician supports the processing, management, and handling of energetic materials and electromechanical systems while following strict energetics safety protocols and maintaining awareness of electrostatic energy to prevent unintended discharge. The role supports DCMA oversight and coordination for final hardware buy-off and functional-area audits, including required documentation and traceability. It also supports safety programs such as HOPS reviews, PPCB activities, and hazard analysis.

The technician assists with engineering designs, tests, fabrication, modifications, assemblies, and components; performs routine testing, checkout, troubleshooting, prototype building, environmental testing, and simple developmental engineering tasks; and analyzes data to recommend changes to components, process documentation, or test procedures. Work involves explosives and chemicals and requires consistently meeting safety and performance requirements for energetic systems.

Requirements

• High school diploma.
• For Technician 2: 2 years of overall work experience in a manufacturing environment, additional related education, or a combination.
• For Technician 3: 5 years of overall work experience in a manufacturing environment, additional related education, or a combination.
• Hands-on manufacturing experience rather than automation experience.
• Ability to multitask and work on more than one task at a time.
• Good reading and math skills.
• Exposure to chemistry and vocational training in areas such as soldering, woodworking, metalworking, electrical work, automotive assembly and finishing, welding, or mechanical training.
• Ability to be certified for respirator use and competence to be trained in forklift and hoist operation.
• Ability to work modified shifts, overtime, and weekends as needed, with some flexible working hours to staff production needs.
• Fundamentals of blueprint reading or aptitude to learn blueprint reading.
• Ability to read and follow written manufacturing instructions.
• Candidates hired into the role must complete and submit an Employee Possessor Questionnaire to ATF for approval as a possessor under the Federal Explosives License for the location.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in a manufacturing, assembly, or mechanics position.
• Defense industry experience.
• Computer knowledge in Microsoft Office applications such as Excel and Word.
• Familiarity with Continuous Improvement, Lean Manufacturing, and 5S principles.
• Working knowledge of MS Office tools.

Responsibilities

• Follow supervisors’ and lead technicians’ directions while fabricating rocket motors.
• Work with explosives and chemicals during the processing of propellant and rocket motor components.
• Read and follow written manufacturing instructions and coordinate closely with non-manufacturing personnel to meet build requirements and schedules.
• Handle hazardous materials safely in accordance with OSHA requirements and company policies.
• Operate production equipment, including mixers, presses, lathes, scales, hoists, forklifts, ovens, and paint booths.
• Operate instruments such as verniers, durometers, height gages, leak detectors, torque wrenches, and resistance meters.
• Support manufacturing areas including Ordnance, Casting, Insulation, Final Assembly, and Lining as workload requires.
• Perform daily standard work and revise work as necessary.
• Identify discrepancies in design, planning, or manufacturing non-conformance involving hardware or material.
• Ensure operations are completed within allowed inspection times and contact management when inspection times cannot be met.
• Stop operations immediately and report safety near misses or incidents involving personnel or equipment.
• Report defective equipment to supervisors or leads and tag out equipment as required.
• Maintain work areas in compliance with FOD, ESD, and 5S standards.
• Support DCMA oversight and coordination for final hardware buy-off and functional-area audits by providing required energetics documentation and traceability.
• Support HOPS reviews, PPCB activities, hazard analysis, and other safety-based programs governing energetics operations.
• Assist engineers with mechanical, electrical, and electromechanical designs, tests, fabrication, modifications, assemblies, and components.
• Ground systems and bond components during assembly, fabrication, and transportation in the presence of energetic materials.
• Work from schematics, diagrams, written and verbal descriptions, layouts, or defined plans to perform testing, checkout, troubleshooting, prototype building, environmental testing, and simple developmental engineering tasks.
• Analyze data and recommend modifications to components, process documentation, or test procedures.

Benefits

• Health insurance coverage.
• Life and disability insurance.
• Savings plan.
• Company-paid holidays.
• Paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.
• Potential eligibility for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus, depending on the position.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED