Flight Systems Futures Sr Principal Mechanical Engineer (Top Secret Clearance) 19017

Northrop Grumman•Roy, UT

4d•$111,700 - $167,500•Onsite

About The Position

The Flight Systems Futures operating unit within Strategic Deterrent Systems is seeking highly motivated talent to join a team at the forefront of next-generation hypersonic capabilities. Our team focuses on the design, development, and demonstration of hypersonic re-entry vehicles and advanced payloads, with an emphasis on rapid development and prototyping aligned to specific customer missions. We operate in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment where innovative concepts are matured quickly into credible, testable solutions that address our nation’s most demanding strategic deterrence needs.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related STEM field
Minimum of 8 years of relevant experience
Must be a US Citizen
Active Top Secret clearance at time of application, current and within scope, renewed or initiated within the last 6 years.
Must be able to be successfully screened for Enhanced Security Clearances, within a reasonable amount of time as determined by the company to meet its business needs
5+ years of relevant structural analysis or design experience
3+ years experience performing finite element analysis (FEA) of metallic and/or composite structures using industry tools (e.g., NASTRAN, Abaqus, ANSYS, or similar)
3+ years experience generating and checking stress reports, margins of safety, and load paths for primary and secondary structures
3+ years experience of classical hand calculations (beam/plate theory, bolted and bonded joints, stability, fatigue/fracture basics) to complement FEA
3+ years experience interpreting loads and environments (aero/thermal/pressure/inertial) and applying them appropriately in structural models
3+ years experience performing air vehicle dynamic structural assessments (Shock and Vibe)
3+ years experience with systems packaging, sizing, and weight tradeoffs and analysis
5+ years experience with CAD and pre/post-processing tools (e.g., NX, CATIA, Creo, HyperMesh, Femap, or similar)
Demonstrated ability to document technical work clearly and present results to a cross-functional team (structures, aero, TPS, systems)
Willing to travel up to 25% of the time

Nice To Haves

Experience on hypersonic, high-speed, or reentry vehicle programs, or similarly demanding environments (missiles, launch vehicles, spacecraft)
Experience with: Thermal–structural coupling (applying aerothermal/TPS temperatures in structural models, assessing thermal stresses)
Nonlinear analysis (geometric and/or material nonlinearity, contact, large deflection)
Fatigue and fracture mechanics for mission profiles with significant thermal or dynamic loading
Familiarity with high-temperature materials and TPS-support structures (e.g., CMCs, high-temperature alloys, advanced composites)
Experience supporting structural test (component, subassembly, or system level): test planning, instrumentation input, predicting test response, and correlating models to data
Experience with requirements and verification: writing structural requirements, defining verification methods, and maintaining traceability
Scripting or automation skills (e.g., Python, MATLAB, or similar) for model setup, post-processing, and data reduction
Experience working in a configuration-controlled environment with formal design reviews (PDR/CDR) and change management
Knowledge of Hypersonic Reentry Vehicle systems, environments, and typical structural tests and assessments
Knowledge of Launch Vehicle interfaces and environments
Knowledge of advanced materials and manufacturing processes

Responsibilities

Define and maintain the overall mechanical layout for the vehicle and major subsystems (structures, TPS hardware, mechanisms, payload, avionics packaging).
Coordinate mass properties, interfaces, access, and maintainability across the configuration.
Oversee creation and release of mechanical designs, 3D models, and drawings in collaboration with the design/drafting team.
Ensure interfaces between subsystems are clearly defined, controlled, and compatible (mechanical, thermal, alignment, envelope).
Resolve mechanical integration issues between aerothermal, TPS, structures, GNC, propulsion, and avionics.
Flow down system requirements into clear mechanical requirements, constraints, and design criteria (environments, loads, clearances, margins, materials).
Work with systems engineering to maintain requirements traceability and define mechanical verification methods (analysis, inspection, test).
Collaborate with manufacturing and operations to ensure designs are producible, testable, and supportable.
Support build and integration on the factory floor (build issues, nonconformance disposition, redlines).
Provide technical direction to mechanical suppliers (requirements, reviews, deviations, acceptance).
Plan and coordinate mechanical engineering work across a small team (tasking, priorities, schedules).
Review and approve design work products, ensuring consistency with program standards and best practices.
Mentor junior engineers and foster strong communication across disciplines and IPTs.

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
a discretionary bonus
Annual bonuses
Long Term Incentives (for VP or Director positions)