2026 Associate Energetics Manufacturing Engineer - Kennedy Space Center FL

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 a space pioneer, supporting government, civil and commercial customers in solving their biggest challenges. Our forward-leaning, innovative spirit is backed by a legacy of expertise that began at the dawn of the space age. Our mission experience in space runs deep, we know our customers well, and our capabilities are unmatched. This is what allows us to provide reliable, agile and affordable space solutions to best serve our customers.

From defending freedom to advancing human discovery, we are defining what is possible in space every day.

Entry Level opportunities at Northrop Grumman are unique. Are you interested in boosting your knowledge through experience and exposure, while supporting a mission that seeks to protect our nation and its allies? If so, then Northrop Grumman is the place you!

Our professionals live and breathe different perspectives; we are curious about the world, accepting each other, and aware that the more ideas, backgrounds, opinions and experiences we bring to our work, the stronger that work will be. Just as you would invest your time and hard work into our company, we focus on investing back into you through enriching professional experiences and high-quality learning and development opportunities. We want you to bring your whole self to work, and for you to have meaningful connections with your coworkers, customers and communities, while providing the best products, systems and technologies to protect our world.

Northrop Grumman is seeking an Associate Energetics Manufacturing Engineer. This position will be located at our Space sector in Kennedy Space Center, FL.

Roles and Responsibilities

The candidate will be responsible for working on solid rocket boosters for NASA’s Space Launch System flight vehicle. This position may include working on the refurbishment, assembly, and acceptance testing of aerospace components and assemblies.

• Generate and maintain electronic planning documents for hardware processing and testing.
• Develop and document resolutions for hardware non conformances.
• Read, summarize, and interpret complex drawings and specifications.
• Support manufacturing operators by clarifying work instruction intent based on applicable drawings and specs.
• Review upcoming processes to confirm readiness of work instructions, flight critical and non flight materials.
• Participate in pre build and post build reviews, contributing improvement input.
• Audit manufacturing steps to identify efficiency opportunities.
• Evaluate any discrepant tool usage, assessing possible impacts on flight hardware that may have been affected.
• Execute tasks assigned by senior engineers within established due dates, prioritizing work to meet critical timelines.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Basic Qualifications:

A candidate must meet ALL of the below criteria. The candidate must:

• Be completing or has completed their degree (Bachelor’s) from an accredited institution
• Be majoring in or having majored in Mechanical, Aerospace, Manufacturing, Materials Science, or a closely related discipline
• Be able to obtain a U.S. Government security clearance (U.S. citizenship is a pre-requisite)
• The ability to obtain Special Access Program within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the company to meet its business needs
• Familiarity with Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing (GD&T) – basic exposure through coursework, labs, or projects (no deep expertise required).
• Hands on experience or exposure to core aerospace manufacturing activities, such as those gained through internships, co ops, senior design projects, DIY projects, laboratory courses, or student run clubs (e.g., rocketry, Formula SAE, UAV teams).
• Teamwork and interpersonal skills – demonstrated ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams, communicate clearly with operators, senior engineers, and support personnel, and contribute to a collaborative work environment.
• Physical requirements – ability to stand, walk, and lift up to 50 lbs., be comfortable climbing ladders or stairs, navigating scaffolding, and crawling beneath major structures to access hardware.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint) for documentation, data analysis, and collaboration.

Core skill areas (experience in any two of the following is typical):

• Mechanical assembly & fastening – bolting, torque verification, large structure lifting/mating.
• Bonding, coating, and paint processes – adhesive/sealant application, paint removal, conversion coating, priming, top coat.
• Safety critical handling & inspection – basic pyrotechnic safety practices, electrical resistance checks, final inspections, hardware removal/re installation, pit mapping for corrosion, non destructive evaluation (NDE).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Have an overall cumulative GPA of 3.00/4.0 or higher
• Passion for rocketry and spaceflight – demonstrated through participation in rocketry clubs, launch competitions, related research projects, or personal aerospace focused initiatives.
• Strong written and verbal communication – ability to convey technical information clearly to operators, senior engineers, and cross functional teams, and to produce concise work instructions and reports.
• Attention to detail and quality focus, thoroughness, and proactive identification of discrepancies.
• Problem solving mindset – comfort analyzing data, tracing root causes of non conformances, and proposing practical, safety first solutions.
• Adaptability to a dynamic production floor – willingness to respond quickly to shifting priorities, work under tight timelines, and support occasional overtime as part of the regular schedule.

Salary Range: $65,800 to $98,800

The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.

Additional Information

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No

CLEARANCE TYPE: None

TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time

Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity 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 and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.