Tooling Engineer - Energetics Manufacturing 4

Northrop Grumman • Elkton, MD

10d • $135,800 - $203,600 • Onsite

About The Position

Northrop Grumman is hiring a Level 4 Tooling Engineer for its Operations Engineering team at the Propulsion Systems & Controls facility in Elkton, Maryland. The facility designs, develops, and produces solid-propellant propulsion and ordnance systems for government and commercial customers, and serves as an engineering hub for offsite facilities in Ronkonkoma, New York, and Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

The engineer will lead the strategy, engineering, design, and implementation of production tooling for energetic aerospace propulsion systems. Working with minimal direction and considerable latitude, the role applies extensive technical expertise in tooling, mechanical design, and energetics manufacturing. The engineer serves as the primary technical authority for complex tooling and a key technical contact for programs, customers, suppliers, and internal teams.

The position is based in Elkton, Maryland. Travel is required approximately 10% of the time. Relocation assistance may be available. A clearance is not required to start, but the candidate must be able to obtain a DoD Secret clearance.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline and 8 years of relevant experience; or a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline and 6 years of relevant experience; or a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline and 4 years of relevant experience.
• U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain a DoD Secret clearance.
• Extensive mechanical design experience with a strong focus on production tooling, fixtures, or special test equipment.
• Demonstrable communication skills and a track record of presenting technical approaches, risks, and recommendations to leadership and cross-functional teams.
• Experience working in and/or leading integrated product or project teams.
• Familiarity with machine-shop fabrication practices, manufacturing methods, and material selection for tooling.
• Working knowledge of stress calculations for support structures and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (ASME Y14.5M).
• Proficiency with Excel, PowerPoint, Word, CAD, and 3D modeling tools such as Siemens NX or similar.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with Siemens NX and Teamcenter (TcUA).
• Prior manufacturing or production-floor experience in energetics, aerospace, or defense.
• Experience leading cross-functional design, safety, or tooling readiness reviews.
• Background in composites and rubber molding processes and tooling.
• Active Secret clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead tooling strategy and implementation for propulsion and ordnance manufacturing operations.
• Serve as the primary technical authority for molds, lifting devices, handling fixtures, test fixtures, and other complex tooling for energetic components and assemblies.
• Develop tooling concepts that balance safety, manufacturability, ergonomics, quality, cost, and schedule across programs and production lines.
• Translate requirements into production-ready tooling designs using CAD and 3D modeling tools, and guide designs through fabrication and production.
• Ensure tooling designs comply with Hazardous Operations Procedures (HOPS) and formal safety requirements, including hazard analyses, interlocks, guarding, and human-factors considerations.
• Coordinate tooling fabrication and integration with internal shops and external suppliers; monitor progress and resolve technical or safety issues.
• Support production introduction, qualification, checkout, and first-article use of tooling, verifying performance against design intent, safety, and quality expectations.
• Represent tooling and energetics manufacturing in customer and supplier discussions, design and safety reviews, and readiness events.
• Identify and implement improvements to existing tooling for safety, ergonomics, reliability, and maintainability.
• Work with engineering, manufacturing, test, quality, and safety teams, and communicate technical approaches, risks, and recommendations to leadership and cross-functional teams.

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.
• Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions and allow employees to share in company results.
• Relocation assistance may be available.

What This Job Offers

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