Northrop Grumman is currently seeking a Sr Principal Propulsion Engineer to join our team at our Palm Beach Gardens, Florida location to support the Propulsion Systems and Controls (PS&C) business unit.
Job Summary
Northrop Grumman Defense Systems is seeking a Propulsion Engineer who will support multidisciplinary teams by turning preliminary studies into clear project requirements and verification plans. Working with senior engineers, you will capture and document functional, performance and interface requirements, create verification matrices and test procedures, and track progress against those requirements. You will review feasibility studies, evaluate materials, structural components and functional subsystems, and translate findings into actionable work packages, schedules, resource estimates and cost forecasts. Coordination with procurement, manufacturing and quality‑assurance ensures engineering deliverables align with overall project timelines, while maintaining up‑to‑date requirement‑traceability and verification documentation. The role also includes providing technical assistance to junior engineers, participating in design reviews and continuous‑improvement activities.
Job Responsibilities
· Establish requirements for materials, structural components, and functional systems
· Oversee the end to end verification and validation lifecycle, guiding activities from requirements definition through test execution and final data certification
· Develop and execute test plans for moderately advanced propulsion systems
· Determine engineering tasks required for project planning and execution
· Identify risks and opportunities, propose mitigations, and track cost impacts
· Produce status reports, meeting minutes, and technical presentations for internal and external audiences
· Communicate technical concepts clearly to both technical and non‑technical audiences
· Make recommendations for improving own work and/or group’s work
Basic Qualifications
· Requires Bachelors in STEM and 8 years of engineering experience or Master’s Degree in STEM and 6 years of engineering experience or a PhD in STEM and 4 year of engineering experience.
· Ability to obtain a Secret Clearance which requires US Citizenship as a pre-requisite
· Experience developing and managing system‑level requirements, interface control documents, and verification & validation plans
· Familiarity with the full systems engineering life‑cycle (concept, development, production, sustainment)
· Strong written/oral communication; self‑starter with minimal supervision
· Ability and willingness to travel 10-25%
Preferred Qualifications
· Degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering
· Experience with mechanical design of propulsion components or fluid systems
· Current active Security Clearance
· Understanding of system‑level testing methodologies, including test planning, execution oversight, data certification, and post‑test analysis
· Demonstrated experience in Model‑Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) with proven proficiency in systems‑engineering tools such as IBM DOORS, Cameo (SysML), or comparable requirement‑management platforms
· Experience conducting System Safety Hazard Analyses (SSHA) and Failure Mode and Effects Analyses (FMEA)