Engineer Propulsion Level 3/4
About The Position
Northrop Grumman’s Defense Systems sector is seeking an Engineer Propulsion (Level 3 or 4) to support its growing business at the Rocket Center, West Virginia location. This is an onsite position; remote work is not available. The role leads the technical direction, design, and execution of advanced propulsion systems for next-generation tactical programs, guiding innovation from concept through flight-ready hardware while mentoring a multidisciplinary engineering team. Travel is 10% of the time. Relocation assistance is not available. A Secret clearance is required, but is not required to start; the successful candidate must be able to obtain a Department of Defense Secret security clearance, and U.S. citizenship is a prerequisite.
Requirements
- Level 3: 5 years of related work experience with a bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering, or 3 years of related work experience with a master's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering.
- Level 4: 8 years of related work experience with a bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering, or 6 years of related work experience with a master's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering.
- Must be able to obtain a Department of Defense Secret security clearance; U.S. citizenship is required.
- Travel 10% of the time.
Nice To Haves
- Four or more years of tactical solid propulsion experience.
- Active Secret clearance.
- Skills in statics, dynamics, fluids, thermodynamics, rocket propulsion, computer skills and programming, MATLAB, FORTRAN, solid modeling, and Excel.
- Leadership and teamwork capabilities.
- Excellent interpersonal communication skills.
- Self-motivated, willing to learn, and interested in working in a team environment.
- Experience developing and delivering presentations and leading small groups.
- Ability to work autonomously on complex projects.
Responsibilities
- Oversee all phases of propulsion system development, including requirements capture, conceptual design, detailed analysis, prototyping, testing, and integration.
- Support and oversee computational fluid dynamics (CFD), finite-element analysis (FEA), and multidisciplinary optimization to meet thrust, efficiency, weight, and reliability targets.
- Manage hardware and software toolsets, such as ANSYS, MATLAB/Simulink, and NX.
- Partner with program managers to develop schedules, budgets, and risk mitigation plans for propulsion deliverables.
- Provide technical status updates, risk assessments, and corrective action plans to senior leadership and external stakeholders.
- Mentor junior engineers, junior scientists, and interns, fostering continuous learning and technical excellence.
- Lead technical reviews, including design reviews from concept through critical design, test readiness reviews, and flight test reviews, and ensure documentation is complete.
- Identify emerging technologies, including additive manufacturing, advanced ceramics, and AI-driven design, and evaluate their applicability to propulsion.
- Lead or contribute to patent filings, technical publications, and conference presentations.
- Liaise with OEM customers, government agencies, and key suppliers to translate requirements into actionable engineering solutions.
- Evaluate supplier proposals, conduct technical audits, and manage technical data exchange.
Benefits
- Health insurance coverage.
- Life and disability insurance.
- Savings plan.
- Company-paid holidays.
- Paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.
- Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
