Staff Propulsion Engineer - Elkton MD

Northrop Grumman Propulsion Systems and Controls (PS&C) facility in Elkton, Maryland began solid-propellant rocket motor (SRM) 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.

Northrop Grumman is in need of an experience Staff Propulsion Engineer to own and lead SRM engineering design efforts at its Elkton, Maryland facility. The position will be hired into as a Staff Engineer level 5 into the High-Speed Tactical Boosters (HSTB) group working on solid rocket motors.

Job Responsibilities:

• Perform architecture‑level trade studies and lead technical analyses, risk/opportunity assessments, and strategic objective support
• Perform design and high‑level analysis of SRM materials (including energetics), structural components, and control systems for propulsion applications
• Apply engineering principles, industry and company standards, and customer requirements to develop propulsion hardware such as valves, solid rocket motors, and thrusters for launch vehicles, missile systems, and space missions
• Lead multidisciplinary design, optimization, and analysis strategies to meet mission requirements. Take ownership of the product development process and delegate work.
• Define, plan, and oversee testing activities required to validate designs, including solid rocket motor tests at the Elkton campus or external ranges
• Mentor junior engineers, build and transfer knowledge, and conduct independent reviews of milestones and technical work products
• Participate in failure investigations, determine corrective actions, and drive continuous improvement initiatives
• Support technical business development activities such as proposals and white‑paper preparation

Basic Qualifications:

• Must have a bachelors degree in STEM and at least 12 years of experience. Will consider those with a Masters degree and 10 years of experience or a PhD and 8 year of experience.
• Experience working with cross-functional teams in the design and development of new products
• Experience mentoring early career and/or entry level employees

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience with:

• Rocketry, Solid Rocket Motors, Aerospace Propulsion Systems, Missiles, Flight Vehicles, and/or Energetics
• Siemens NX and Teamcenter, Computer Aided Design (CAD), Product Lifecycle Management (PLM)
• Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, and/or Aeronautical Engineering
• Multi-disciplinary Teamwork
• Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T), ASME Y14.5-2009, Design for Assembly / Manufacturing (DFA/DFM), Engineering Design Principles
• Microsoft Office Suite of products (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, etc.)
• Active DoD Secret Clearance

This position falls under a Federal Explosives License issued by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) for this location. Candidates hired into this role will be required to complete and submit an Employee Possessor Questionnaire to ATF for approval to be a possessor.