Principal OR Sr. Principal Engineer – Dynamics & Aeroelastics
About The Position
Northrop Grumman's Aeronautics Systems – Research & Advanced Design (R&AD) transforms breakthrough ideas into mission-ready capabilities through intelligent anticipation. We’re the front-end design engine, defining what comes next. From developing cutting-edge next-generation future aircraft to trailblazing collaborative autonomous platforms, we push the boundaries of technology and forge industry-leading partnerships that set new standards for what’s possible. Our team owns the full lifecycle of advanced concept creation, from visionary early-stage designs and rapid prototyping to high-impact demonstrations and solving the toughest technical challenges in survivability, autonomy, and battle management. We seek curious, adaptable people who thrive on turning intuition into breakthrough solutions. If you’re driven to invent the future, build what’s next, and shape the landscape of national security, this is where you belong. R&AD has an opening for a Principal OR Sr. Principal Engineer – Dynamics & Aeroelastics to join our team in Redondo Beach, CA. This position will support the Flight Sciences & Vehicle Controls Department with design and analysis needs of unclassified and classified programs and interface with customers to define study areas and report status on current programs and technology development efforts. This role may interface with management and technical teams to define business relationships and technology initiatives for both IRAD (Internal Research and Development) and CRAD (Contractual Research and Development) efforts. This position will support a variety of programs performing analysis, ground test, and flight test activities.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant STEM discipline (Science, Technology, Engineering or Math) with 5 years of related engineering experience; OR a Master’s degree in a relevant STEM discipline with 3 years of related engineering experience; OR a PhD in a relevant STEM discipline with 1 year of related engineering experience (for Principal level)
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant STEM discipline (Science, Technology, Engineering or Math) with 8 years of related engineering experience; OR a Master’s degree in a relevant STEM discipline with 6 years of related engineering experience; OR a PhD in a relevant STEM discipline with 4 years of related engineering experience (for Sr. Principal level)
- Proficiency generating and validating structural dynamic & aeroelastic FEM models, utilizing FEMAP & NASTRAN
- Proficiency performing aeroelastic analysis including static aeroelastic solutions, flutter, and gust loads
- Ability to obtain and maintain a US Government Secret clearance within a reasonable amount of time as determined by the company to meet its business needs.
- Ability to obtain and maintain Special Program Access (SAP) within a reasonable amount of time as determined by the company to meet its business needs.
Nice To Haves
- Active US Government Secret clearance
- Bachelor's or Master’s Degree in Mechanical, Aeronautical, or Aerospace Engineering preferred
- Experience in Dynamics Analysis Methods and Documentation, as well as the development and manipulation of large Finite Element Models using NASTRAN, FEMAP or other FEM tools.
- Experience using industry standard analysis software such as NASTRAN, ZAERO, Matlab, etc.
- Knowledge and experience of coding in Python
- Knowledge of the nature and physics of flutter.
- Knowledge of MIL-STD applicable to aircraft design and certification
- Experience with the planning and execution of ground tests required for aircraft certification and validation of structural dynamic models & analyses.
- Capable of performing vibroacoustic environment definition and related analyses
- Experience supporting sub-system qualification activities
- Familiarity with CAD applications (CATIA / NX)
- Demonstrated proficiency in MS Office with strong technical writing skills and the ability to communicate and present technical material to various stakeholders
- Ability and willingness to travel up to 20% time
Responsibilities
- Establish aeroelastic design criteria to guide the development of advanced designs
- Perform project planning to determine program requirements and develop plans for execution
- Generate and validate structural dynamic & aeroelastic FEM models
- Execute modal analysis, evaluate modal correlation across FEM, and test data sets
- Perform aeroelastic analysis including static aeroelastic solutions, flutter, and gust loads
- Support validation test activities including actuator testing, ground vibration, aeroelastic wind tunnel testing, and flutter flight testing
- Develop and present materials for internal and external program related briefings
- Build consensus through peer and Subject Matter Experts (SME) review and communicate test and analysis results to internal and external customers
Benefits
- Relocation assistance may be available
- health insurance coverage
- life and disability insurance
- savings plan
- Company paid holidays
- 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
Principal
