2026 Associate Energetics Manufacturing Engineer - Elkton MD

About the role

Northrop Grumman is seeking Associate Energetics Engineers for our Propulsion Systems and Controls Business Unit at the Defense Systems Sector in Elkton, MD. The facility designs, develops, and produces solid-propellant propulsion and ordnance systems for government and commercial customers, serving as the hub for engineering and test sites in Ronkonkoma, NY and Palm Beach Gardens, FL.

Responsibilities

• Engineer and design production tooling components for energetic aerospace propulsion systems, including molds, lifting devices, handling fixtures, test fixtures, and related documentation inputs.
• Coordinate tooling requirements with project engineering, process engineering, manufacturing, quality, and other stakeholders.
• Establish tooling scope, monitor projects against plan, and manage the tool lifecycle for assigned programs.
• Conduct tool-design reviews with cross-functional teams to ensure safety adherence, first-time quality, yield, and effectiveness.
• Prepare cost estimates for tooling design and fabrication in proposals.
• Identify opportunities for improvements to existing designs.

Basic Qualifications

• This requisition may be filled at either a level 1 or a level 2.
• Engineer 1: Bachelor’s degree.
• Engineer 2: Master’s degree.
• Must meet all of the following:
  • Be completing or have completed a degree (Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD) from an accredited institution by August 2026.
  • Major in or have majored in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
  • Be able to obtain a U.S. Government security clearance (U.S. citizenship is required).
• Experience or coursework in CAD and modeling.

Preferred Qualifications

• Overall cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0 or higher.
• Experience or coursework in stress calculations for support structures.
• Experience or coursework in Siemens NX and TcUA.
• Experience or coursework in geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (ASME Y14.5M).
• Experience or coursework in machine shop fabrication practices and material selection.
• Experience or coursework in MS Office Suite.
• Experience or coursework with collaborating on team projects.
• Previous internship experience.

Relocation assistance may be available. Travel required approximately 10% of the time. Secret clearance required for start; U.S. citizenship is a prerequisite.