Mechanical Engineer/ Lvl 3/4– Motion Control and Avionics (Technical)

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret TRAVEL: Yes, 25% 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 is currently seeking a Principal Propulsion Engineer or Sr. Principal Propulsion Engineer to join our team at our Elkton, Maryland location to support the Propulsion Systems and Controls (PS&C) business unit. Northrop Grumman Propulsion Systems and Controls (PS&C) facility in Elkton, Maryland began solid‑propellant rocket operations in 1948. Today, the Elkton PS&C facility designs, develops, and produces solid‑propellant propulsion, ordnance and motion controls systems in programs professionally managed for a wide variety of Government and commercial customers. The facility also serves as the hub for offsite engineering and test facilities in Ronkonkoma, NY and Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Elkton, Maryland is located on the Upper Chesapeake Bay, midway between Philadelphia and Baltimore. Discover charming small towns, parks with miles of trails, specialty and antique shops, award‑winning restaurants, and inns. You can hike, bike, camp, bird watch, ride horseback, or drop a fishing line. Five rivers, Chesapeake Bay and the C&D Canal can be explored by boat or by land. Experience panoramic views from Turkey Point Lighthouse on a bluff overlooking the Bay, or from the banks of the C&D Canal where ships from around the globe cruise.  https://www.ccgov.org/government/tourism Overview We are seeking a Principal or Sr. Principal Mechanical Engineer to lead detailed design and development of actuation and motion control hardware within our Propulsion Systems & Control (PS&C) business unit. This role sits on the Motion Controls team, which develops high‑reliability, high‑capability systems such as: Rocket motor nozzle vectoring mechanisms and controls Flight surface actuators Cold and hot gas valve / thruster actuation Other critical motion control systems for space and defense applications You will be the mechanical design lead or a key member of the design team – using CAD, analysis, standard work, and a fair amount of ingenuity to create robust, producible actuation hardware that meets demanding performance, cost, and schedule requirements. This role has a strong emphasis on electric motor and gearbox integration, thermal performance, and close collaboration with electrical engineering.

Mechanical Design & Analysis (Primary) Own the mechanical design of actuators, mechanisms, and motion control hardware from concept through detailed design, release, and test. Develop, iterate, and maintain 3D CAD models and drawings (Siemens NX), including GD&T, materials selection, and manufacturing details. Perform or lead mechanical analyses (stress, kinematics, thermal, life/fatigue, margins) and document assumptions, methods, and results clearly. Analyze and size mechanical components based on motor torque/speed curves, gearbox ratios, duty cycles, and thermal limits to ensure adequate margin and reliability. Use test data and analysis to refine designs for motor mounting, gear trains, bearings, thermal paths, and structural interfaces. Apply and improve standard