Staff Engineer Tool
Quick Summary
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,
Northrop Grumman is looking for a design-oriented Staff Engineer to join our Tooling department on-site at Palmdale, CA. We are looking for an accomplished technical leader who is highly motivated to dive headfirst into the world of advanced tool design, structural optimization, and complex stress analysis.
In this role, you will not just design; you will act as a principal face of the department and a cornerstone of our engineering team. You will drive a culture of excellence, providing technical mentorship to junior engineers and leading the design team to ensure strict compliance with rigorous aerospace regulations, corporate standards, and internal quality procedures.
From concept to completion, you will work alongside industry experts to design and validate critical manufacturing assets, including complex assembly jigs, composite molds, lifting fixtures, and handling equipment. Utilizing cutting-edge simulation software and classical hand calculations, you will perform end-to-end Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and classical analytical stress analysis to guarantee structural integrity and margin-of-safety compliance. This highly collaborative position bridges the gap between digital innovation and physical execution, allowing you to work directly with shop-floor technicians and manufacturing engineers to see your advanced digital blueprints come to life on the production floor.
- Design precision tooling by creating detailed 3D CAD models and 2D engineering drawings using Siemens NX software
- Create, manage, and release comprehensive Bills of Materials (BOMs) ensuring all raw materials, standard hardware, and manufactured components are accurately captured for tool fabrication
- Apply Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) to ensure all manufactured tools and associated components fit together precisely and maintain strict production tolerances
- Apply Design for Manufacturing (DFM) principles to ensure lower costs and avoid production delays
- Follow a disciplined approach to material selection with respect to material science (e.g. metallurgy and polymer engineering)
- Utilize Finite Element Analysis (FEA) software (e.g. Femap) to evaluate the structural integrity and performance of tools that experience heavy static and dynamic loads
- Actively participate in the creation, review, and revision control of departmental procedures and process documentation to ensure all materials are accurate, up-to-date, and compliant with company standards
- Lead and participate in cross-functional design review meetings with stakeholders to guarantee that all design requirements and standards are being met
- Support local and regional design teams by providing technical expertise, resource sharing, and assistance
- Provide guidance to fellow engineers regarding design concepts and specification requirements to best utilize equipment and manufacturing techniques
- Act as an authority in ensuring the department is in full compliance with all relevant industry regulations, corporate standards, and statutory requirements
- Serve as a technical representative and face of the Tool Engineer department, championing the team's capabilities and presenting technical strategies to executive leadership, cross-functional stakeholders, and external partners
Requirements
~3 min read- Must have a Bachelor’s degree with 12 year of engineering experience or Master’s degree with 10 years of engineering experience or PhD with 9 years of engineering experience
- Has an active Mechanical Professional Engineer (PE) license or an Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certificate issued by the California BPELSG
- Has advanced knowledge of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T/ASME Y 14.5)
- Has demonstrated experience applying stress analysis techniques and concepts to validate structural integrity via hand calculations and FEA tools
- Has experience with computer-aided design tools and systems (e.g., NX, Solidworks, or Catia)
- Has experience in managing projects (cost, schedule, and technical performance)
- Has experience in medium to large scale fabrication of tooling or production hardware, including composites, metallic structures, and coatings application
- Must be a U.S. Citizen
- This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Secret clearance as well as Program Special access within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the company to meet its business needs
- Has the ability to travel at least 10%
- Has an active U.S. Government Secret security clearance
- Has experience in utilizing Root Cause and Corrective Action (RCCA) methodologies to investigate operational failures, identify systemic issues, and execute effective resolution strategies
- Has experience in an aerospace manufacturing environment
- Has the ability to read, interpret, and analyze technical models and drawings
- Has experience coordinating with cross functional teams across multiple organizations
- Has strong verbal and written communication skills tailored for various leadership levels
- Has strong problem-solving skills with a collaborative approach to handling technical and team challenges
Location & Eligibility
About this job
- Pay per year
- $161,000–$241,400 a year
- Posted
- 3 days ago
Listing Details
- Posted
- October 14, 2026
- First seen
- October 17, 2026
- Last seen
- October 18, 2026
Posting Health
- Days active
- 0
- Repost count
- 0
- Trust Level
- 63%
- Scored at
- October 18, 2026
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