Manufacturing Engineer - Level 3

Northrop Grumman • Commerce, CA

1d • $103,600 - $155,400 • Onsite

About The Position

Northrop Grumman Mission Enabling Products’ Propulsion team in Commerce, California, is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer Level 3 for its first-shift team. The team supplies pressure vessels and tank hardware to the aerospace industry. The position works on assigned programs, including non-recurring work, and provides technical support on the shop floor.

The initial focus is modernizing the vacuum pump room, which supports onsite vacuum weld chambers with multiple types of vacuum pumps and associated cooling systems. The engineer will lead pump-room and broader site modernization and continuous-improvement projects, applying data-driven analysis and coordinating with cross-functional stakeholders to improve safety, reliability, maintainability, throughput, quality, delivery, and cost.

Requirements

• Five years of relevant experience with a bachelor's degree, or three years of relevant experience with a master's degree; an additional four years of experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• Demonstrated experience applying and implementing Lean methodologies in manufacturing or production environments, including root-cause and Ishikawa analysis.
• Practical application of AS9100, ISO 9001-2008, AS9145, or similar quality systems.
• Proficiency with computer-aided design (CAD) software.
• Proficiency reading engineering drawings and interpreting GD&T.
• Working knowledge of machining processes, including lathe, milling, and CNC programming.
• Working knowledge of welding and heat-treating processes.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in aerospace manufacturing or a related industry.
• Experience with utilities-intensive areas such as pump rooms, compressed-gas systems, vacuum systems, cooling water, or similar infrastructure.
• Hands-on experience developing and leading continuous-improvement projects.
• Experience developing or improving facility layouts to support new products, capacity increases, or modernization efforts.
• Familiarity with Siemens NX or other CAD platforms.
• Proficiency with data and database tools such as MS Access, Excel, Power BI, or similar tools for performance analysis and project justification.
• Working knowledge of machining, welding, heat treating, or composite processes to understand infrastructure and utility requirements.

Responsibilities

• Map current pump-room layouts, utilities, and material and people flows using tools such as CAD or Visio.
• Identify safety, reliability, and capacity constraints in existing pump-room configurations.
• Develop and propose future-state layouts and modernization plans to improve reliability, maintainability, and throughput.
• Coordinate with Facilities, EHS, Operations, and Programs to plan and execute pump-room upgrades while minimizing production disruption.
• Research and recommend modernization equipment for the pump room and throughout the shop.
• Own medium- to large-scale site modernization projects from concept through implementation, including scope definition, requirements gathering, and stakeholder alignment.
• Apply Lean, 5S, and continuous-improvement methodologies to optimize equipment layout, material flow, ergonomics, and space utilization.
• Develop and maintain value stream maps and process flow diagrams to identify waste and improvement opportunities.
• Build and execute project plans, including schedules, risk assessments, and coordination of internal and external resources.
• Evaluate manufacturing and support processes and recommend system-level changes that improve safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
• Partner with Operations, Quality, EH&S, and Engineering to define and implement standards for upgraded utilities, equipment, and infrastructure.
• Support capital-investment justification through business cases, ROI, and cost-benefit analyses related to modernization initiatives.
• Lead and facilitate cross-functional working sessions focused on modernization and continuous improvement.
• Prepare and present Manufacturing Readiness and Modernization Reviews, recommendations, and status updates to stakeholders and leadership.
• Develop documentation, visual standards, and training materials to support adoption of new layouts, processes, and equipment.
• Use throughput, downtime, maintenance history, quality trends, and EHS observations to prioritize modernization and continuous-improvement projects.
• Conduct root-cause analysis, including 5 Whys and Ishikawa/fishbone analysis, and implement corrective and preventive actions addressing systemic issues.

Benefits

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

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level