Northrop Grumman Australia · 10 hours ago
2026 Associate Manufacturing Engineer
United States-California-Palmdale
Full-time
Onsite
New Grad, Entry Level
$69K/yr - $104K/yrNorthrop Grumman is a leading aerospace and defense technology company seeking an Associate Manufacturing Engineer to join their team in Palmdale, CA. The role involves providing engineering guidance, participating in tool design reviews, and defining operational sequences to improve manufacturing processes.
Defense & Space
No H1B
Security Clearance RequiredU.S. Citizen Only
Responsibilities
Provide guidance to Engineering regarding design concepts to ensure the best manufacturing technique is being used to meet the Engineering design
Participate in tool design reviews to ensure tools are feasible and reduce build times and program costs during assembly
Define sequence of operations for product builds, investigate and initiate corrective actions and improvements that involve non-conforming product and identify improvement opportunities in areas that require producibility and affordability initiatives
Provide liaison support for Engineering definition to influence low production costs for integrated assembly related to electrical, hydraulics, fuels, fluids and propulsion systems
Qualification
Required
Be completing or has completed their Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution by 2026
Be majoring in or having majored in Manufacturing Engineering, Engineering Technology, Manufacturing Engineering Technology, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering or similar STEM degree
Foundational understanding of manufacturing operations, including composites, metallic structures, coatings application, and assembly processes
Proven ability to interface and communicate effectively with multiple levels of leadership, clients, and vendors
Familiarity with: (1) CAD software (e.g., CATIA, SolidWorks, NX), (2) reviewing and interpreting Blueprints and 3-D models
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
Ability to work 1st shift (5:00 am – 3:30 pm) or 2nd shift (4:12 pm – 2:42 am); and any work schedule (times may vary) as determined by business needs
Availability for up to 10% travel
Preferred
Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering or Engineering Technology
Security Clearance: Preference for candidates to have an Active In-Scope DOD Secret security clearance that has been granted / renewed within the past 5 years
Hands-on Production Expertise: Engineering Internships and/or manufacturing related work experience, within high-rate production assembly lines, that demonstrates the skill and ability to perform moderately complex professional tasks and provides solutions to a variety of technical problems of increasing scope and complexity as assigned
Digital Thread: Experience utilizing NX for CAD design and CPLM (Product Lifecycle Management) systems to manage technical data and design revisions
GD&T Knowledge: Applied knowledge of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) per ASME Y14.5 standards to ensure manufacturing precision
Composites: Knowledge of composite fabrication (e.g., hand layup, resin infusion, or autoclave curing) and material properties
Structures: Ability to interpret complex 2D/3D engineering drawings and specifications for structural integrity
Systems: Familiarity with integrating technical solutions across multiple disciplines and maintaining manufacturing system requirements
Digital Manufacturing Systems (ERP/MES): Experience executing workflows within Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) to track real-time production and maintain digital work instructions
Design for Manufacturing (DfM) & Innovation: Ability to implement innovative techniques to optimize product designs and tooling, improving cycle times and first-pass yield
Integrated Systems Engineering: Familiarity with integrating technical solutions across multiple engineering disciplines and maintaining precise manufacturing system requirements
Works under general direction: Independently determines and develops approach to solutions and provides feedback to supervision
Benefits
Health insurance coverage
Life and disability insurance
Savings plan
Company paid holidays
Paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business
Company
Northrop Grumman Australia
Northrop Grumman Australia is the Australia-based arm of Northrop Grumman Corporation and committed to generating long-term prosperity, investing in advanced Research & Development, sovereign and exportable Intellectual Property, high-quality jobs and long-term technology leadership across the Commonwealth.
501-1000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageCompany data provided by crunchbase