2026 Associate Engineer / Engineer - Plymouth MN

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No

CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret

TRAVEL: Yes, 25% 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 seeking a Associate Engineers for an entry-level opportunity. This position will be located at our Defense Systems Sector in Plymouth, MN.

This Engineer will provide engineering oversight and hands‑on support for large caliber ammunition (LCA) production programs and other Northrop Grumman ammunition projects. The role focuses on 120 mm and 105 mm cartridges and propulsion systems, ensuring robust, high‑quality manufacturing across NG facilities and subcontractors.

The Engineer will apply strong engineering fundamentals, demonstrate clear communication with those they interact with, and must be able to support up to 25% domestic travel.

The qualified candidate will become part of Northrop Grumman’s Armament Systems team within our Weapon Systems Division.  

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Process Development & Oversight – Design, qualify, and maintain production processes at Plymouth, other NG sites, and partner subcontractors.
• Manufacturing Support – Act as the engineering liaison for a remotely located supplier production line, providing virtual troubleshooting, technical guidance, and performance monitoring to resolve day‑to‑day issues and ensure compliance with NG specifications
• Failure Investigation – Lead root‑cause analysis (8D) and drive corrective‑action implementation for defects.
• Technical Communication – Deliver clear, concise updates (oral and written) to internal teams, customers, and suppliers.
• Test Data Interpretation – Review acceptance and qualification test results for ammunition materials and components, providing engineering insight.
• Milestone Delivery – Contribute to the timely completion of program‑specific milestones and deliverables.
• Customer & Supplier Representation – Act as the NG point‑of‑contact, presenting technical information and fostering relationships.
• Travel – Up to 25 % domestic travel to customer sites, supplier facilities, and NG locations.
• Continuous Improvement – Identify and implement lean initiatives (value‑stream mapping, SPC, PFMEA, mistake‑proofing, gauge R&R, first‑article inspection, etc.).
• Manufacturing Engineering Practices – Apply and manage best‑in‑class tools such as production readiness reviews, equipment/gauge qualifications, capacity analysis, and statistical process control.

This requisition may be filled at either a level 1 or a level 2. 

Basic qualifications for an Engineer 1 are a Bachelor’s Degree.

Basic qualifications for an Engineer 2 are a Master’s Degree.

Basic Qualifications: 

A candidate must meet ALL of the below criteria. The candidate must:

• Be completing or has completed their degree (Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD) from an accredited institution by June 2026

• Be majoring in or having majored in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or closely related discipline

• Be able to obtain a U.S. Government security clearance (U.S. citizenship is a pre-requisite)

• Experience or coursework in different manufacturing methods (CNC machining, injection molding, additive manufacturing, etc)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Have an overall cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0 or higher

• Experience or coursework in production shop floor, conducting failure analyses using the 8D methodology

This position falls under a Federal Explosives License issued by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) for this location.  Candidates hired into this role will be required to complete and submit an Employee Possessor Questionnaire to ATF for approval to be a possessor.

Salary Ranges:

Level 1: $66,200 - $99,200

Level 2: $79,600 - $119,400

Campusjobs

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.