engineer

Principal/Senior Principal Structural Engineer full_time

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be 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.

An organization within Northrop Grumman’s Payload and Ground Systems (PGS) division, Mission Enabling Products 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 facility in Goleta, CA is seeking a Structural Engineer to support the Deployables Operating Unit.

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

This position may be filled either as a Principal (level 3) or Senior Principal (level 4)

Overview

The Structural Engineer analyzes, researches, and develops structural engineering specifications involving metals, non-metallic or composite structural materials for product design, or operation of product to include structures, mechanical, and thermal designs. They analyze stiffness/strength, design allowables and performs FEA structural modeling. Specific structural engineering specialties may include dynamics and loads (sine, random vibration, acoustic, and shock), composite structures, honeycomb structures, bonded joint analysis, stability and stress fatigue and thermal analysis. Tools utilized may include, ProEngineer/Creo, ANSYS, Femap, NX NASTRAN, VA-One, Mathcad, Matlab and a variety of other software applications.

Responsibilities:

  • Create FEA models based on Creo assembly/part geometries. Make assumptions/simplifications to adequately represent load path, boundary conditions, and material properties.

  • Perform static, sine, random vibe, and acoustic dynamic analyses and compute strength margins, develop notching, response and force limiting. Develop driving load cases for piece part analyses.

  • Modelling and analysis of sandwich panels, composite materials, and boned joints. Assess strength based pertinent failure modes of sandwich composite structures.

  • Review drawings, requirements for materials, structure systems & subsystems and perform required analyses to demonstrate compliance.

  • Document static/dynamic test plans and procedure requirements

  • Participate and present in internal and external (customer) design reviews

  • Strive for the highest possible structural performance that is also cost effective and assures complete reliability

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

Basic Requirements for a Principal (level 3):

  • Bachelor’s degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) discipline with five or more years applicable experience; OR a Master’s degree in a STEM discipline with three or more years applicable experience

  • Spacecraft/Aerospace materials experience for metals, adhesives, thermoplastics, etc.

  • Experience with FEA analysis, preferably ANSYS or Femap/NASTRAN, for structural analysis of designs

  • Ability to verify validity of simulation results by hand-calcs and/or comparison with heritage programs and to perform bolted joint analyses

  • US Citizenship is a requirement

Basic Qualifications for a Senior Principal (level 4):

  • Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline with nine or more years applicable experience; OR a Master’s degree in a STEM discipline with seven or more years applicable experience

  • Experience with FEA modeling & analysis (ANSYS or Femap/NASTRAN) for design of structures

  • Experience with system/sub-system FEA modeling/analysis, piece parts, static, modal, buckling, dynamic (sine, random, acoustic), thermal strength/distortion, and bolted joint analyses

  • Knowledge of failure theories for metallic, composite, adhesive, and honeycomb core structures.

  • Ability to verify simulation results by hand-calcs and/or comparison with heritage programs

  • Must be self-motivated with excellent technical communication skills

  • US Citizenship is a requirement

Preferred Skills and Experience

  • Experience with structures and mechanisms for moving mechanical assemblies such as solar arrays, booms, and other support structures and mechanisms for satellite subsystems

  • Demonstrable problem-solving skills with hands-on project experience

  • Candidate has detailed mechanical design knowledge of structures, mechanisms, release and drive actuators, bearings, and material selection

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

  • Non-linear and transient FEA analysis

  • Multibody and flexible body dynamic analyses

  • Experience with vibration testing of flight hardware

  • Four or more years of direct Mechanical Engineering experience, preferably in the spacecraft or aerospace industry, with significant project ownership

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

  • Strong communication and analytical skills and discipline with the ability to organize and prioritize job assignments and tasks

  • Experience with thermal engineering concepts, thermal analysis techniques, and experience utilizing software such as Thermal Desktop

  • Practical understanding of GD&T (ASME Y14.5-2009)

  • Working knowledge of Microsoft Office suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint…)

Salary Range: $100,300.00 – $150,500.00Salary Range 2: $124,900.00 – $187,300.00

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.

Employees may be eligible for 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 committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action 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/AA 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.

Job Overview