Sr. Principal Manufacturing Engineer

Relocation Assistance:
No relocation assistance available

Clearance Required:

No

Clearance Type:
Interim Secret

Travel:
No

Sr. Principal Manufacturing Engineer

Northrop Grumman Defense Systems is seeking a Sr. Principal Manufacturing Engineer. This individual will work closely with the Manufacturing Engineering Manager, IPT Lead, Quality Engineer, Design Engineering, and Operations to ensure producibility meets the program targets, including yield, and continuous improvement opportunities. This role supports the AARGM program (Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile).

• Lead the development, review, standardization, and continuous improvement of manufacturing process documentation, MES instructions to ensure compliance, configuration control, production readiness, and operational efficiency.
• Drive manufacturing documentation strategy and governance across production and sustainment operations, ensuring processes are aligned with engineering requirements, quality standards, and program execution objectives.
• Support rapid implementation of engineering changes, corrective actions and process improvement while maintaining configuration accuracy and manufacturing compliance.
• Coordinate cross-functionally with Engineering, Quality, Test, and Production and Program Management teams to ensure manufacturing documentation supports efficient execution, troubleshooting, and schedule recovery activities.
• Lead manufacturing process improvement and operations execution strategies to support quality, efficiency, affordability, and production readiness.
• Support manufacturing execution and operational improvement initiatives supporting production yield, process stability, affordability, and schedule performance.
• Provide technical leadership and manufacturing execution support to production operations and cross-functional teams.
• Lead continuous improvement, corrective action, and risk mitigation activities to improve manufacturing efficiency, quality, and operational performance.
• Mentor and support manufacturing personnel through process guidance, operational support, and manufacturing best practices.
• Coordinate with internal and external stakeholders to support manufacturing readiness and operation execution.
• Support high-visibility production builds, troubleshoot efforts, and schedule recovery initiatives in fast-paced operational environments.
• Support RCCA and nonconformance resolution implementation in coordination with quality and engineering teams.
• Provide technical mentorship and leadership to junior manufacturing engineers and cross-functional personnel.

• Provide manufacturing expertise and producibility guidance to support design maturity, producibility, and production readiness.
• Develop and communicate manufacturing capabilities, process constraints, and producibility requirements to cross-functional engineering teams.
• Lead and support cross-functional producibility reviews for new and existing productions to ensure manufacturing readiness and operational success.

• Bachelor's Degree + 8 years of relevant experience, or Master’s degree + 6 years of experience. Twelve years of experience are required in lieu of a degree.
• Knowledge of IPC standards.
• Experience using Manufacturing Resource Planning (MRP) software for routings of manufacturing orders.
• Experience with Material Review Board (MRB) activity such as collaborating with cross-functional teams to process hardware.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Secret Security Clearance.

• Experience with electro‑mechanical assemblies.
• Active U.S. Secret Security Clearance.

• Primary Level Salary Range: $ – $.
• Eligible for overtime, shift differential, discretionary bonus, and, for certain senior positions, long‑term incentives.
• Comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, life and disability insurance, retirement savings plan, company‑paid holidays, and paid time off for vacation or personal business.
• U.S. Citizenship required for all positions requiring government clearance.
• Equal Opportunity
  
  Employer:
  
  decisions are made 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. EEO and pay transparency statement available at