Sr. Principal Manufacturing Engineer

Company: Northrop Grumman
Location: Northridge
Posted on: April 2, 2026

Job Description:

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No CLEARANCE TYPE: Interim Secret TRAVEL: No 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. We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Principal Manufacturing Engineer to join our Northridge manufacturing engineering team in a fast-pass production environment supporting advanced weapons systems. This role serves as a technical leader responsible for ensuring manufacturing readiness, MES integrity production efficiency, and quality compliance across complex electromechanical assemblies. The role serves as a senior technical manufacturing leader responsible for manufacturing execution, MES integrity configuration control, production performance, and quality compliance across complex electromechanical assemblies. This position requires strong floor engagement, rapid problem resolution, and ability to balance urgent production needs with long-term process improvement initiatives. The ideal candidate thrives in a high-velocity environment, and demonstrates strong ownership in driving schedule adherence, yield improvement, and cross functional alignment. Key responsibility: Provide direct, hand-on manufacturing engineering support to AARGM –ER assembly test, and inspection operations. Drive rapid resolution of production barriers impacting schedule, yield or quality. Develop and validate rework instructions and disposition plans Support First Pass Yield (FPY) improvement initiatives. Ensure alignment between engineering design, MBOM and shop floor execution Serve as senior technical escalation resources for complex AARGM –ER production issues. Lead creation, revision, and release of MES plan supporting AARGM –ER builds Ensure peer review, checklist completion and required training prior to MES release Resolve routing work center, and mapping discrepancies impacting WIP tracker. Drive compliance with controlled MES execution and eliminate reliance on uncontrolled documentation Maintain strict configuration control in fast pass production cycles. Lead Root Cause Corrective Action (RCCA) investigation Support audit readiness and corrective action closure Implement corrective and preventative control to eliminate repeat finding Ensure manufacturing process align with released engineering documentation and procedural requirement Participate in Engineering Change Proposal review and implementation Mentor and guide manufacturing engineer supporting AARGM- ER Partner cross-functionally with Engineering, Quality, Production and Supply Chain to ensure execution excellence. Promote a culture of accountability responsiveness, and operational discipline Required Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Manufacturing or related field) 8 years of manufacturing engineering experience in complex assembly environment. 6 years of experience are required with an MS degree or 12 years in lieu of a degree. Ability to obtain DoD Secret Security Clearance Preferred Qualifications: Experience supporting LRIP and FRP production ramp in weapons systems Lean Six Sigma certification (Green Belt of Higher) Primary Level Salary Range: $129,300.00 - $193,900.00 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.

Keywords: Northrop Grumman, San Marcos , Sr. Principal Manufacturing Engineer, Engineering , Northridge, California