Engineer Manufacturing/Principal Engineer Manufacturing (Level 2/3)

Company: Northrop Grumman
Location: Gilbert
Posted on: April 3, 2026

Job Description:

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance 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’s Space Systems Sector is an industry-leading provider for launch systems capabilities serving national security, military, and civil customers. We are built on a heritage of providing innovative, affordable, and reliable aerospace and defense products that our customers rely on to achieve mission success. Join the Space revolution and make the impossible possible. We are excited to announce an opening for a Engineer Manufacturing (Level 2) / P rincipal Manufacturing Engineer (Level 3) who demonstrates the ability to solve complex Manufacturing problems, particularly in Wire Harnesses. This position is 100% on site at our Gilbert, AZ location . The successful candidate must be able to work EITHER the 1st shift 7:00am - 4:30pm OR the 2nd shift 3:00pm - 12:30am. Join our innovative team and contribute to the future of space systems manufacturing! Position Overview: As a Principal Manufacturing Engineer, you will be instrumental in optimizing manufacturing processes and ensuring alignment with engineering design concepts. You will work collaboratively with cross-functional teams to reduce build times, lower costs, and improve overall quality. Your role will involve providing technical guidance, participating in tool design reviews, and implementing corrective actions for non-conforming products. Key Responsibilities Provide guidance to Engineering on design concepts to ensure optimal manufacturing techniques for wire harnesses. Participate in tool design reviews to ensure feasibility, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. Define and document the sequence of operations for wire harness assembly. Investigate non-conformance issues and initiate corrective actions and improvements. Identify and implement improvement opportunities to enhance producibility and affordability. Serve as a technical liaison to ensure low production costs and high-quality output. Interpret drawings and specifications to support wire harness production technicians. Write detailed work instructions to improve production workflow efficiency. Assist in training employees in new and existing manufacturing processes. Evaluate and enhance current manufacturing processes with a focus on efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Specify, identify, and procure new manufacturing equipment to ensure production readiness. Build 1:1 scale models of mockups to validate designs and improve assembly processes. Utilize 3D printing technology to create models and parts for prototyping and production support. Basic Qualifications Level 2 Bachelor's Degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math) discipline with 2 years of manufacturing and/or aerospace experience. Or a Master's Degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math) discipline with 0 years of manufacturing and/or aerospace industry experience. Experience with 3D printing technology. Familiarity with process flows, manufacturing principles, and production operations. Strong organizational and communication skills (both oral and written). Basic Qualifications Level 3 Bachelor's Degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math) discipline with 5 years of manufacturing and/or aerospace experience. Or a Master's Degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math) discipline with 3 years of manufacturing and/or aerospace industry experience. Experience with 3D printing technology. Familiarity with process flows, manufacturing principles, and production operations. Strong organizational and communication skills (both oral and written). Preferred Qualifications Experience with wire harness manufacturing and assembly. Proficiency with the full suite of Microsoft Office Tools. Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in manufacturing, Mechanical Engineering or Systems Engineering. Documented experience working in an Integrated Product Team (IPT) environment. New manufacturing technology development experience. Experience with computer systems such as MES, Deltek Costpoint, TipQA, PTC Windchill, Tableau, or Minitab. Primary Level Salary Range: $72,100.00 - $108,100.00 Secondary Level Salary Range: $89,400.00 - $134,200.00 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.

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