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Mechanical Design Engineer - Level 4

Northrop Grumman

San Diego, CAJob$129–194K/yrSeen 1 day agoSeen in employer's feed 1 day ago

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At a glance

Compensation
$129–194K/yr
Location
San Diego, CA
Work Authorization
US work authorization required

Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.

Requirements

Credentials this posting asks for.

Security clearance

Job overview

Northrop Grumman seeks a Mechanical Design Engineer – Level 4 for its Mission Enabling Products team in San Diego. The engineer will design composite components, assemblies, and manufacturing and test tooling, collaborating with Manufacturing, Test, and other Engineering functions. The position is 100% onsite and cannot accommodate telecommuting. A bachelor’s degree with eight years of structural design experience or a master’s degree with six years is required.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Aerospace Product DesignSpecifications ComplianceSOW ComplianceDrawing InterpretationICD ComplianceAerospace MaterialsBonding and FasteningTool Assembly DesignSiemens NXTeamcenterDrawing GenerationGD&TDFMAMistake-ProofingAerospace ToolingComposite Layup MoldsPrecision Assembly FixturesGround Support EquipmentComposite-Metallic AssembliesAdhesives and FastenersInterpersonal SkillsIndependent CollaborationComposite ManufacturingLayupMachiningBonding and Assembly

Qualifications

BS in Mechanical or Aerospace EngineeringMS in Mechanical or Aerospace EngineeringBS+8 or MS+6 YearsU.S. Government Clearance EligibilityActive Government Clearance

Benefits

Relocation Assistance
Medical Insurance
401(k) Match
Paid Time Off

Full job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No

CLEARANCE TYPE: None

TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time

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.

Job Description

Northrop Grumman’s Space Sector is seeking a Mechanical Design Engineer – Level 4 to join our MEP Team in San Diego, California . This position is 100% onsite and cannot accommodate telecommute work.

Northrop Grumman Mission Enabling Products (MEP) Business Unit designs, builds, and delivers space, defense and aviation-related systems to customers around the world. Our main products include satellites and associated space components and services, launch vehicles and related propulsion systems, missile products, subsystems and defense electronics, precision weapons, armament systems, and advanced aerospace structures.

As a Mechanical Design Engineer, you will develop and design composite components, assemblies, and associated manufacturing and test tooling. You will collaborate with Manufacturing, Test, and other Engineering functions to ensure successful execution and delivery of hardware.

Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Design complex assemblies including high strength & stiffness composite laminates, honeycomb sandwich structures, and metallic interface hardware

  • Create, prototype, design, and analyze tools and fixtures for manufacturing and testing of composite parts and assemblies. Tools include layup molds, precision assembly fixtures, Ground Support Equipment (GSE), and test fixtures

  • Develop and refine components and subsystems utilizing design skills, hand calculations, CAD modeling software and analytical tools

  • Perform detailed 3D designs and generate 2D engineering drawings

  • Participate and present in internal and external (customer) design reviews. Includes generation of presentation media for PDR, CDR, and MRR type reviews

  • Support manufacturing and test of fixtures and hardware as required

  • Aid in the generation of manufacturing and test plans

  • Support procurement of flight hardware and tooling

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

  • Support continuous improvement of departmental tools and procedures

  • Ensure designs meet manufacturing and test plans, while maintaining targets for cost and schedule

Basic Qualifications:

  • Bachelors of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering with eight (8) years of experience in a structural design field; OR Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering with six (6) years of experience in a structural design field.

  • Aerospace experience with product definition and design. Understanding of specifications, SOW's, drawings, ICD compliance

  • Understanding of aerospace materials and assembly methods (bonding/fastening)

  • Ability to perform design of complex, multi-piece tool assemblies to ensure successful execution of manufacturing and test plans

  • Experience in Siemens NX and Teamcenter.

  • Experience in drawing generation, with practical knowledge and use of GD&T

  • Experience with Design for Manufacturability (DFMA) principles and mistake-proofing techniques

  • Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government clearance

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience with aerospace tooling, including composite layup molds, precision assembly fixtures, and Ground Support Equipment (GSE)

  • Experience with composite/metallic assemblies including bonded/fastened joints and associated materials, adhesives and fasteners

  • Demonstrated initiative and strong interpersonal skills, thriving both independently and collaboratively within a team environment

  • Experience with composite manufacturing processes and applications (layup, machining, bonding & assembly)

  • Active Government clearance

Working at Northrop Grumman is more than just a paycheck. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards and benefits package designed to help you thrive at work and in life. For more information on our Total Rewards package, please visit our Total Rewards site.

Northrop Grumman Total Rewards (https://totalrewards.northropgrumman.com/?\_gl=1*1y2u5rc*\_gcl\_au*MTkyMjcyNDUxNS4xNzUyNTg4MDg3*\_ga*MzA4NDM5NjgzLjE2NzM5ODM3ODg.*\_ga\_7YV3CDX0R2*czE3NTMyNzU3NDgkbzEyMzckZzEkdDE3NTMyNzY2ODQkajU5JGwwJGgw)

Primary 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.

Job Category: Engineering

How this job compares

Set against the 720 open Mechanical Design Engineer jobs on Olive Jobs, counted October 28, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$129–194K/yr
  • California median$125–175K/yr150 salary ranges
  • US median$104–157K/yr454 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $162K, is 8% above the California median midpoint ($150K) — in the middle half of Mechanical Design Engineer salary ranges in California.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 186 open Mechanical Design Engineer jobs in California and 720 across the US. 3% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in California
Experience
This posting asks for at least 6 years of experience; Mechanical Design Engineer postings that state a minimum ask for 5 years at the median (608 postings).
Education
462 of the 720 open Mechanical Design Engineer jobs (64%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on October 28, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

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