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Principal Structural Analysis Engineer /Sr. Principal Structural Analysis Engineer

Northrop Grumman

Palmdale, CAJob$114–171K/yrSeen 6 days agoSeen in employer's feed 6 days ago

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At a glance

Compensation
$114–171K/yr
Location
Palmdale, 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.

SAP Access Via PARSecret clearance

Job overview

Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems seeks a Principal or Sr. Principal Structural Analysis Engineer in Palmdale or El Segundo, California. The role supports a high-paced development effort through structural modification stress analysis and manufacturing engineering. The engineer analyzes structural materials and aircraft structures, evaluates damage tolerance and durability, and supports production deliveries. The position is assigned to a first-shift 9/80 schedule and requires an active Secret clearance.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Bonded Composite Structural AnalysisMetallic Structural AnalysisStructural Analysis MethodsHand-Sheet AnalysisFinite Element ModelingPATRANFEMAPSpecial Access ProgramsMilitary Aircraft

Qualifications

Bachelor's in STEM or Master's in STEM5+ Years Aerospace Structural Analysis or Master's+3 YearsBachelor's in STEM+8 Years or Master's in STEM+6 YearsActive USG Secret ClearanceSAP Access via PARCurrent SAP ClearanceActive USG Top Secret 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: Yes

CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret

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 Aeronautics Systems has an opening for a Principal Structural Analysis Engineer/Sr. Principal Structural Analysis Engineer to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals located in Palmdale, CA or El Segundo, CA and is assigned to 1st shift 9/80 schedule. Primary function is structural modification stress analysis and manufacturing engineering supporting a high paced development effort .

Looking for an Engineer who analyzes, researches and develops structural engineering specifications involving metals, non-metallic or composite structural materials for product design. Analyzes damage tolerance, durability of metal and composite airframe structures. Knowledge of random vibration analysis. Tools utilized may include Catia, FEMAP, Patran, Nastran and a variety of software applications.

Essential Functions:

  • Provides stress analysis for primary and secondary structure.

  • Review of completed analyses, drawings, and repairs for accuracy, clarity, and completeness.

  • Coordination and clear communication with other disciplines during the development of design solutions.

  • Concise presentation and explanation of structural issues/solutions to internal management and customer representatives.

  • Maintains and improves part designs, equipment, and systems in support of production deliveries

  • Develop solutions to difficult problems that are thorough, imaginative, practical, and consistent with program objectives.

  • Evaluation of as built products for conformity to standards, procedures, and specifications.

  • Experience in Structural Analysis Methods and documentation, including hand-sheet analysis, as well as the development and manipulation of large Finite Element Models.

Basic Qualifications:

  • Principal Structural Engineer: Bachelor's degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) discipline with a minimum of 5 years’ experience to include a background in aerospace structural analysis or Master’s Degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) discipline from an accredited university with a minimum of 3 years' experience to include a background in aerospace structural analysis

  • Sr. Principal Structural Engineer: Bachelor's degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) discipline from an accredited university with a minimum of 8 years’ experience to include a background in aerospace structural analysis; or Master’s degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) discipline from an accredited university and 6 years’ experience to include a background in aerospace structural analysis

  • Active USG Secret clearance (with a background investigation within the past 5 years or enrolled into Continuous Evaluation).

  • Ability to obtain and maintain initial Special Access Program (SAP) access via a Program Access Request (PAR). This SAP/PAR must be obtained prior to commencement of employment and must be obtained within a reasonable amount of time as determined by the company to meet its business needs.

  • Experience in Bonded Composite Structural Analysis of primary and secondary aircraft structures.

  • Experience in Metallic Structural Analysis of primary and secondary aircraft structures

  • Experience in Structural Analysis Methods and documentation, including hand-sheet analysis, as well as the development and manipulation of large Finite Element Models.

  • Experience using PATRAN, or FEMAP.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Current applicable Special Access Program (SAP) clearance.

  • Active USG Top Secret or higher clearance (with a background investigation within the past 5 years or enrolled into Continuous Evaluation).

  • Experience working on Special Access Programs

  • Experience working on military aircraft

Primary Level Salary Range: $114,000.00 - $171,000.00

Secondary Level Salary Range: $142,200.00 - $213,400.00

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 3,124 open Structural Engineer jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 3, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$114–171K/yr
  • California median$115–172K/yr230 salary ranges
  • US median$100–155K/yr1,916 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $143K, is close to the California median midpoint ($144K) — in the middle half of Structural Engineer salary ranges in California.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 282 open Structural Engineer jobs in California and 3,124 across the US. 4% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in California
Experience
This posting asks for at least 3 years of experience; Structural Engineer postings that state a minimum ask for 6 years at the median (2,681 postings).
Education
2,397 of the 3,124 open Structural Engineer jobs (77%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 3, 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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