Staff Cryocooler Engineer

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.

Strategic Space Systems Division (SSSD) is an industry-leading provider for prime satellite and payload capabilities serving national security, military, and civil customers. We are built on a heritage of providing innovative, affordable and reliable aerospace and defense products that our customers rely on to achieve mission success. Join the Space revolution and make the impossible, possible.

SSSD has an opening for Staff Cryocooler Engineer to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals. This position will be located in Redondo Beach, California.

The ideal candidate will have a complete understanding and wide application of technical principles, theories, and concepts in the area of cryocoolers, heat engines, or spacecraft cryogenic thermal engineering and general knowledge of other related disciplines.   

Candidate responsibilities include (but not limited to) leading the following:

• Requirements development

• Perform fluid, thermal, and performance analyses

• Lead component design efforts, coordinating with other engineering disciplines

• Document analyses and designs

• Review and approve drawings for component hardware

• Work with manufacturing engineering on build processes and in-process testing approaches

• Lead proposal efforts

• Report analyses and data results and design specifics to internal management and external customers.

• Provide feedback regarding impacts of possible cost and/ or schedule changes

• Work and execute independently with minimal technical oversight and general direction

• Mentor junior engineers and provide guidance on best practice

Basic Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) from an accredited university with 14 years of engineering experience; OR Masters degree in STEM from an accredited university with 12 years of engineering experience OR PhD degree in STEM from an accredited university with 9 years of engineering experience.

• Candidate must be able to and willing to obtain and maintain a DOD Top Secret and SCI access with a Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI) 

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Design, analysis and test experience with cryocoolers and heat engines

• Active DOD Top Secret and/or SCI access clearance with a Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI) completed within 5 years

• Experience using fluid/thermal analysis tools (SAGE)

• Experience using aerospace standard design tools (NX, CATIA)

• Familiarity with Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T)

• Cryogenic thermal system design, analysis, and test

• Knowledge of cryocooler or heat engine manufacturing and testing processes

• Knowledge of fluid mechanics, heat transfer and structural mechanics

• MS or PhD in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

• Experience leading small teams and managing cost and schedule

• Experience writing proposals and leading proposal teams

• Experience performing research, writing technical papers, and presenting at conferences

• Detail-oriented and have excellent verbal and written communications skills, leadership skills, and organization skills

Salary Range: $161,000 USD - $241,400 USD

Employees may be eligible for a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.

The health and safety of our employees and their families is a top priority. The company encourages employees to remain up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccinations. U.S. Northrop Grumman employees may be required, in the future, to be vaccinated or have an approved disability/medical or religious accommodation, pursuant to future court decisions and/or government action on the currently stayed federal contractor vaccine mandate under Executive Order 14042 https://www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/contractors/.

Northrop Grumman is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO/AA and Pay Transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for most positions.