Consulting Mechanical Design Engineer

Posted:
3/20/2025, 5:00:00 PM

Location(s):
Oxnard, California, United States ⋅ California, United States

Experience Level(s):
Mid Level ⋅ Senior

Field(s):
Mechanical Engineering

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available

CLEARANCE TYPE: None

TRAVEL: No

Description

At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.

A business unit (BU) within Northrop Grumman’s Payload and Ground Systems (PGS) division, Mission Enabling Products (MEP) is a leading designer, producer, and supplier of spacecraft components that power and enable satellites of all classes. Products include spacecraft panels, bus structures, precision optical structures, deployable structural systems and mechanisms, solar arrays, and antenna reflectors. Our products are on virtually every U.S. satellite built in the last 20 years.

Our Deployables Operating Unit (DOU) facility in Oxnard, CA is seeking a Consulting Mechanical Design Engineer.

Learn more about Mission Enabling Products at: https://www.northropgrumman.com/space/spacecraft-products

Overview

Reporting to the Design Engineering Manager, the Consulting Mechanical Design Engineer will be responsible for creating and implementing deployable structures and mechanisms at the cutting edge of space technology.  You will have ownership of your work from the concept creation through the design and analysis phases and may also participate in the manufacturing, testing, and integration of the systems.

Role and Responsibilities:

  • Create, prototype, design, and analyze structures and mechanisms for moving mechanical assemblies such as solar arrays, booms, and other support structures and mechanisms for satellite subsystems

  • Develop and refine components and subsystems utilizing design skills, hand calculations, and finite element analysis or other modeling tools as needed

  • Perform detailed 3D designs, generate CAD drawings and related documents, and support manufacturing and assembly of components

  • Provide technical solutions to complex problems which require regular use of technical acumen, ingenuity and creativity

  • Document test plans and procedures requirements

  • Lead, participate, and present in internal and external (customer) design reviews

  • Perform cost account management (CAM) functions on assigned projects

  • Participate in the development of engineering estimates for project proposals and generate the basis of estimate (BOE)

  • Be accountable for, manage, and track multiple priorities while maintaining a focus towards common project goals of the program team, matrix organization, and customers

  • Mentor earlier career engineers and conduct peer reviews of other engineer’s work products

  • Identify design errors, omissions, and other deficiencies, and recommend revisions and/or improvements in design layout to responsible engineers or designers

Basic Qualifications:

  • Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering or other related STEM discipline with 16+ years of relevant mechanical engineering experience; OR 14+ years of relevant mechanical engineering experience with a Masters' degree in Engineering; OR 12+ years of relevant mechanical engineering experience with a PhD in Engineering

  • Advanced proficiency with NX and Solidworks (CAD) software

  • Solid understanding and practice of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) (ASME Y14.5-2009)

  • Excellent communication skills, oral and written, with the ability to communicate at the highest level

  • Ability to work independently as well as in an integrated team and adapt to change and dynamic requirements

  • Possess superior analytical and problem-solving skills

  • Demonstrated ability to lead and guide the work of more junior team members

  • Self-motivated with the ability to multitask and organize/prioritize job assignments in a fast-paced and gated-release engineering development environment

  • U.S. Citizenship is required

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Master's degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering

  • Detailed mechanical design knowledge of structures, mechanisms, release and drive actuators, and material selection

  • Spacecraft/aerospace materials experience in metals, adhesives, thermoplastics, etc.

  • Working knowledge of applicable manufacturing processes such as machining, finishing, and rapid prototyping

Salary Range: $188,200.00 - $282,200.00

The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions.

Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.

The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.

Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.