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Principal Engineer 2 / 3

Northrop Grumman

Merritt Island, FLJob$79–119K/yrSeen todaySeen in employer's feed today

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At a glance

Compensation
$79–119K/yr
Location
Merritt Island, FL
Work Authorization
Not specified

Olive focuses on jobs in the United States, including remote roles you can work from there.

Job overview

Northrop Grumman seeks a Propulsion Engineer 2 or Principal Propulsion Engineer 3 for its Design Engineering team at Kennedy Space Center. The role designs and processes aerospace structures and hardware, supports integration, fabrication, testing, and discrepancy resolution, and develops engineering documentation. Candidates need aerospace structures design and analysis experience or an MS with no experience, along with a relevant engineering degree or STEM equivalent.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Aerospace Hardware Design, requiredManufacturing Processes, requiredFlight Structures Design, requiredFlight Structures Analysis, requiredTeamwork, requiredWritten Communication, requiredOral Communication, requiredTime Management, requiredOrganization, requiredMaterial Review Board, nice to haveDiscrepant Hardware Resolution, nice to haveSpace Shuttle Hardware, nice to haveSiemens NX, nice to haveASME Y14.100, nice to haveGeometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing, nice to haveASME Y14.5 GD&T, nice to haveSolid Modeling Software, nice to have

Qualifications

BS in Engineering or STEM Equivalent + 2 Years or MS + 0 Years, required2 Years Aerospace Structures Design and Analysis, required

Benefits

Relocation Assistance
Medical Insurance
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.

Northrop Grumman is a global aerospace and defense leader with over 95,000 employees, and an annual revenue of nearly $42.0 billion. Our mission is to ensure that our customers accomplish their mission – whether it’s a technological breakthrough, a satellite launch, or protecting our nation. A leader in innovative technologies, Northrop Grumman is also the world’s leading supplier of solid rocket motors, a leading provider of launch vehicles, satellites and other space systems, and one of the nation’s largest aerospace manufacturers.

Northrop Grumman is currently seeking an experienced Propulsion Engineer 2 or Principal Propulsion Engineer 3 to join our Design Engineering team in our Kennedy Space Center, FL offices.

Roles and Responsibilities:

The Propulsion Engineer is responsible for the design and processing of aerospace structures and hardware to contract requirements. The candidate’s major responsibilities include (though not exclusively):

  • Coordinate major design efforts based on knowledge and experience

  • Design Booster hardware elements using processing knowledge and solid modeling software.

  • Perform booster level integration tasks of pyrotechnics and range safety system, avionics integration, faying surface close outs, Thermal Protection Systems (TPS), paint and bolted joint designs.

  • Develop engineering documentation products (drawings, specifications, design and analysis reports, test plans, test reports, etc.)

  • Conduct, support, and present MRB analysis/dispositions

  • Work effectively with existing flown hardware and adapt to creatively form solutions for common engineering issues.

  • Provide production and floor support, including problem solving, anomaly resolution, and disposition of non‑conformances.

  • Provide engineering support to lead TVC and integration design engineers

  • Oversee and plan testing for development and qualification of flight hardware products.

  • Support team to include task and schedule planning to meet major project milestone objectives

Job Duties:

  • Design Booster hardware using Northrop Grumman systems and tools.

  • Create and revise engineering drawings and specifications and conduct engineering reviews with stakeholders in order to optimize hardware for fabrication and lowest end cost.

  • Support shop floor and vendor hardware fabrication efforts.

  • Support Program Management office on engineering labor estimates, schedule, and procurement activities.

  • Support other element Integrated Product Teams in integration and optimization of engineering products and processes.

  • Write test plans, oversee testing, analyze test data, and make revisions to design based on results.

  • Support hardware discrepancy (MRB) activities by authoring, analyzing, and presenting dispositions to Material Review Boards.

  • Learn and help maintain standard design processes.

Basic Qualifications:

  • Candidate must have a minimum of 2 years of engineering design and analysis of aerospace structures experience with a BS in Mechanical, Aerospace, Civil (Structural) Engineering or STEM equivalent or MS with 0 years’ experience is required.

  • Broad understanding and knowledge of aerospace hardware design and manufacturing processes

  • Solid experience with the design and analysis of flight structures.

  • Ability to work in a fast-paced dynamic environment as part of a multi-discipline team

  • Excellent written and oral communications skills.

  • Excellent time management and organization skills.

  • Excellent interpersonal skills working in a team environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience with Material Review Board and resolving discrepant hardware

  • Previous experience with Space Shuttle hardware or similar

  • Proficiency with Siemens NX solid modeling software

  • Working experience with drafting standards (ASME Y14.100) and Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (ASME Y14.5 GD&T)

  • Sound knowledge of solid modeling software with the ability to quickly learn new software.

Primary Level Salary Range: $79,300.00 - $118,900.00

Secondary Level Salary Range: $98,400.00 - $147,600.00

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 743 open Aerospace Engineer jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 14, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$79–119K/yr
  • US median$114–175K/yr545 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $99K, is 32% below the US median midpoint ($145K) — in the lowest quarter of Aerospace Engineer salary ranges across the US.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 39 open Aerospace Engineer jobs in Florida and 743 across the US. 1% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in Florida
Experience
This posting asks for no prior experience — less than three in four Aerospace Engineer postings that state a minimum ask for (median 5 years, across 649 postings).
Education
401 of the 743 open Aerospace Engineer jobs (54%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 14, 2026. Figures based on too few postings are left out.

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