Principal / Sr. Principal Mechanical Engineer – Inertial Sensors & Precision Instrumentation

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes

CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret

TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the TimeDescription

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.

That same spirit of innovation continues within Northrop Grumman's Mission Systems sector, where we develop mission-enabling technologies for global security. Our Engineering and Sciences (E&S) organization brings together multidisciplinary technical expertise to research, develop, design, integrate, and sustain advanced systems and technologies. From our Woodland Hills campus in the greater Los Angeles area, our engineering teams support programs across Navigation and Cockpit Systems (NACS) and Emerging Capabilities Development (ECD), spanning established products and next-generation research and development. Together, we advance precision sensing, positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) capabilities that strengthen mission effectiveness and provide a decisive advantage to the warfighter.

We are seeking a Principal / Sr. Principal Mechanical Engineer to join our engineering team. In this role, you will design, develop, integrate, and qualify precision mechanical and electromechanical hardware for advanced PNT applications, including resilient navigation in GPS-denied or contested environments. The work spans inertial sensors, including gyroscopes and accelerometers, as well as inertial measurement units (IMUs), inertial navigation systems (INS), and other high-performance sensing and navigation instrumentation.

Delivering the precision and reliability these technologies demand requires sound mechanical design, rigorous analysis, and direct hands-on engineering judgment. You'll collaborate with electrical and systems engineers, manufacturing specialists, and experts in sensor physics and precision instrumentation to translate demanding performance requirements into reliable and manufacturable hardware. The role offers opportunities to own challenging hardware problems through verified resolution, advance next-generation sensing technologies, and guide complex mechanical development efforts.

What You'll Do

• Design precision mechanical sensing elements, components, assemblies, and packaging solutions for inertial sensors, electromechanical instrumentation, and integrated measurement systems.
• Deliver detailed mechanical designs from 3D CAD modeling, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T), tolerance analysis, and material selection through the preparation, review, controlled release, and revision management of engineering drawings and assembly documentation.
• Develop and evaluate structural, thermal, dynamic, and multiphysics models using analytical methods, finite element modeling and analysis (FEM/FEA), or other simulation techniques to assess modal behavior, shock and vibration response, and thermal-mechanical effects.
• Investigate the influence of mechanical characteristics on instrument performance, including structural resonance, alignment, dimensional stability, mechanical coupling, thermal sensitivity, and environmental response.
• Design and evaluate precision mechanical interfaces, mounting structures, vibration isolation systems, tooling, fixtures, and electromechanical assemblies.
• Drive prototype hardware development through hands-on design, fabrication, machining, precision assembly, and integration while establishing and refining manufacturing processes for reliable, repeatable builds.
• Conduct mechanical testing to verify hardware performance against applicable requirements, correlate analytical predictions with measured response under representative environmental conditions, and improve design robustness and reliability.
• Own complex mechanical or manufacturing issues from initial discrepancy through root-cause analysis, corrective design action, repeat test, and verified technical resolution.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams and suppliers to optimize designs for performance, manufacturability, environmental qualification, and production readiness.
• Share design methods, test findings, and lessons learned through documentation, collaborative reviews, and mentoring; seek feedback from experienced specialists to expand technical capability.
• (Sr. Principal) Lead complex mechanical development while remaining actively engaged in hardware integration and test; establish engineering approaches, guide multidisciplinary design reviews, and mentor engineers toward independent technical ownership.

This position requires full-time on-site work at our Woodland Hills, CA facility and follows a 9/80 work schedule, with every other Friday off.

 

This requisition may be filled at either the Principal or Sr. Principal level based on the qualifications listed below.

Basic Qualifications for Principal Mechanical Engineer

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related STEM discipline with 5 or more years of relevant experience; Master's degree with 3 or more years; or PhD with 1 or more years.
• Demonstrated experience independently designing, analyzing, and developing precision mechanical assemblies, electromechanical instrumentation, or complex hardware systems.
• Proficiency with 3D CAD tools, engineering drawings, GD&T, material selection, and mechanical tolerance analysis.
• Experience applying engineering calculations, structural analysis, thermal analysis, or dynamic modeling to evaluate mechanical designs and resolve technical problems.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience with hardware fabrication, process development, precision assembly, laboratory integration, or testing, including direct investigation of discrepancies between expected and observed performance.
• Demonstrated analytical problem-solving abilities and effective communication of technical findings and engineering recommendations.
• U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Secret security clearance.

Basic Qualifications for Sr. Principal Mechanical Engineer

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related STEM discipline with 8 or more years of relevant experience; Master's degree with 6 or more years; or PhD with 4 or more years.
• Demonstrated experience independently designing, analyzing, and developing precision mechanical assemblies, electromechanical instrumentation, or complex hardware systems.
• Proficiency with 3D CAD tools, engineering drawings, GD&T, material selection, and mechanical tolerance analysis.
• Experience applying engineering calculations, structural analysis, thermal analysis, or dynamic modeling to evaluate mechanical designs and resolve technical problems.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience with hardware fabrication, process development, precision assembly, laboratory integration, or testing, including direct investigation of discrepancies between expected and observed performance.
• Demonstrated analytical problem-solving abilities and effective communication of technical findings and engineering recommendations.
• U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Secret security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading the development and integration of precision mechanical or electromechanical hardware for high-performance sensors, navigation instrumentation, or scientific measurement systems.
• Experience designing or developing precision mechanical components and assemblies for sensing or measurement systems, such as resonators, flexures, proof masses, or high-stability mounting structures.
• Demonstrated expertise in precision mechanical design, applying principles of structural dynamics, mechanical resonance, vibration isolation, and thermal stability to guide design decisions and performance tradeoffs.
• Experience performing finite element modeling and analysis (FEM/FEA) or multiphysics simulations using ANSYS, COMSOL Multiphysics, or similar tools to evaluate modal behavior, thermal distortion, shock/vibration response, transient dynamics, or assembly-induced stresses in precision hardware.
• Experience developing innovative precision mechanical solutions by combining analytical modeling, prototype experimentation, and iterative design refinement.
• Experience developing or refining precision sensor assembly and packaging processes involving resonator mounting, bonding, alignment, fixturing, or hermetic sealing.
• Knowledge of environmental sensitivities and protection methods for precision sensor assemblies, such as vacuum integrity, hermetic leak testing, gas permeability, gas damping, surface stability, or magnetic shielding.
• Demonstrated experience leading mechanical design verification and model-to-test correlation, including assessment of predicted and measured hardware response against performance and environmental requirements.
• Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary root-cause and corrective-action (RCCA) efforts to resolve complex hardware issues and verify corrective-action effectiveness.
• Experience maturing precision mechanical prototypes toward reliable, repeatable, and manufacturable hardware.

Primary Level Salary Range: $103,600.00 - $155,400.00Secondary Level Salary Range: $129,300.00 - $193,900.00

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.