Manufacturing Engineer

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE:
Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START:
No

CLEARANCE TYPE:
Secret

TRAVEL:
Yes, 10% of the Time

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.

Northrop Grumman is seeking a Staff-level Manufacturing Engineer focused on industrial automation to join our Propulsion Systems & Controls (PS&C) team in Elkton, Maryland. This role leads the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of automated manufacturing processes for energetic, static-sensitive, corrosive, and chemical operations supporting solid-propellant propulsion and ordnance systems.

The Elkton PS&C facility began solid-propellant rocket operations in 1948. Today, the site designs, develops, and produces solid-propellant propulsion and ordnance systems for a wide variety of U.S. Government and commercial customers. Elkton also serves as the manufacturing hub for test facilities and offsite engineering in Ronkonkoma, NY and Palm Beach Gardens, FL.

Located on the Upper Chesapeake Bay between Philadelphia and Baltimore, Elkton offers access to charming small towns, miles of parks and trails, specialty and antique shops, award‑winning restaurants, and waterfront recreation. Residents can enjoy hiking, biking, camping, birdwatching, horseback riding, and fishing, as well as boating on five rivers, the Chesapeake Bay, and the C&D Canal. More information about the area can be found through Cecil County Tourism.

• Serve as the technical leader for automated manufacturing of energetic materials and related assemblies, ensuring safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives are met.
• Design and optimize automated manufacturing processes and equipment layouts for highly energetic, static‑sensitive, and chemical operations, ensuring compliance with HOPs, DOD 4145.26, ATF, and related regulatory requirements.
• Develop, launch, and qualify new or upgraded automated production lines, including specification, selection, and integration of robotics, controls, instrumentation, material handling, and preventative maintenance strategies; lead FAT/SAT, commissioning, startup, and acceptance testing.
• Define sequence of operations, process parameters, and quality control plans (inspection, test, SPC) and ensure processes, procedures, and documentation (standard work, routings, BOMs) meet customer, regulatory, and internal requirements, including ERP/MRP integration.
• Collaborate with Hazards Analysis, EH&S, and cross‑functional engineering teams to identify, mitigate, and eliminate safety risks, incorporating safety interlocks, remote operations, and standardized mix requirements into automated process designs.
• Lead advanced Lean, continuous‑improvement, and data‑driven optimization efforts to increase throughput, reduce waste, improve process capability, and drive corrective actions.
• Provide training, mentorship, and technical consultation to operations, maintenance, and quality personnel; lead cross‑functional investigations (RCCA, PFMEA,…