2026 Associate Engineer Structural / Engineer Structural - Rancho Bernardo CA

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.

Please note that this opportunity is contingent on program funding.  Start dates are determined after funding confirmation.

Northrop Grumman is seeking an Associate Structural Aeronautical / Engineer Structural. This position will be located on-site at our Aeronautics Systems Sector in Rancho Bernardo, CA (other locations may include Palmdale, CA or Redondo Beach/El Segundo, CA).

The qualified candidate will become part of Northrop Grumman’s Vehicle Engineering group. In Vehicle Engineering, we develop manned and unmanned aircraft platforms for all programs in the Aeronautics Systems Sector. In this role, you will need to thrive in a fast-paced work environment with high expectations, significantly diverse assignments, and collaborative/team settings across all levels. You will be responsible for collaborating across a multi-disciplinary team of engineers responsible for developing, modifying, and maintaining aircraft design configurations using current engineering practices and standards. Some responsibilities you can expect include conceptual design, preliminary / layout, and detail design, drawing release, design review presentations, and support to fabrication.

Essential Functions

The selected candidate will perform the following, including, but not limited to:

•  Collaborate with team of engineers. 

• Provide technical support to other disciplines as required.

• Participate in internal program, customer and/or supplier technical exchange meetings and/or formal program milestone reviews to provide and/or obtain progress status updates.

• Interface with relevant stakeholders, including cross-functional teams, customers, and suppliers, to ensure robust and maintainable configurations are produced. 

• Works on design and integration of composite materials and their applications.

• Leverages knowledge of aircraft structure concepts including best practices for material selection of materials and metallic/composites trade analyses.

• Capture best practices in designing various aircraft systems including composites and/or metallic and their associated requirements for composites and/or metallic structures.

• Perform design related tasks utilizing the CATIA, and Teamcenter tool suite.

• Integrate subsystems components and structural configurations into various types of aircraft applications.

• Perform GD&T activities associated with producing and manufacturing of designs.

• Ability to design for affordability leveraging Agile methodology.

This requisition may be filled at either an Associate Engineer Structural (level 1) or Engineer Structural (level 2).

Basic Qualifications for an Associate Engineer Structural

A candidate, regardless of age and hiring source, must meet ALL of the below criteria. The candidate must:

• Be completing or has completed their Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution by August 2026.

• Be majoring in or having majored in: Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a similar STEM degree.

• Be able to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance (U.S. citizenship is a pre-requisite) as well as Program Special access within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the company to meet its business needs (U.S. citizenship is a pre-requisite).  Final approved U.S. Government security clearance (U.S. citizenship is a pre-requisite) as well as Program Special Access may be required to start.

Basic Qualifications for an Engineer Structural

A candidate, regardless of age and hiring source, must meet ALL of the below criteria. The candidate must:

• Be completing or has completed their Master’s degree from an accredited institution by August 2026 or is completing their Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and 2 years of Aeronautical engineering experience (or similar engineering experience) by August 2026.

• Be majoring in or having majored in: Aerospace Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a similar STEM degree.

• Be able to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance (U.S. citizenship is a pre-requisite) as well as Program Special access within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the company to meet its business needs (U.S. citizenship is a pre-requisite).  Final approved U.S. Government security clearance (U.S. citizenship is a pre-requisite) as well as Program Special Access may be required to start.

Preferred Qualifications 

• Have an overall cumulative GPA of 3.25/4.0 or higher

• Previous internship/co-op or other work experience, leadership & teamwork capabilities, interpersonal communication skills, and activities (professional/community/extracurricular). 

• Experience in bonded composite structural analysis of primary and secondary aircraft structures.

• Experience in metallic structural analysis of primary and secondary aircraft structures.

• Experience with structural analysis methods and documentation, including hand-sheet analysis and large Finite Element Model manipulation.

• Experience with CATIA.

• Familiarity with PATRAN or FEMAP.

Pay Range

• Associate Engineer Structural: $ 76,200 - $114,400

• Engineer Structural: $91,800 - $137,600

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Primary Level Salary Range: $76,200.00 - $114,400.00

Secondary Level Salary Range: $91,800.00 - $137,600.00

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.