Advanced Ammo Production Engineer (Level 2 or 3)

Employer description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No

CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret

TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the TimeDescription

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’s Armament Systems business unit is seeking an Advanced Ammo Production Engineer to provide manufacturing and process engineering support for guided projectile and advanced ammunition production programs at our Plymouth, Minnesota facility. Armament Systems specializes in the development and production of ammunition, gun systems, and precision-guided ordnance.

This opportunity is well suited for a self-motivated, proactive engineer who enjoys hands-on technical challenges, problem-solving, and cross-functional collaboration. Our engineers work in a fast-paced production environment supporting the manufacture and testing of complex electromechanical assemblies.

The selected candidate will apply engineering fundamentals, demonstrate attention to detail, and communicate effectively with manufacturing personnel, engineers, suppliers, and other stakeholders. This position requires on-site support of production operations and up to 15% domestic travel.

Position Overview

Reporting to the Engineering Manager, Production Engineering, the Production Engineer will support the development, documentation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of manufacturing processes for electromechanical fuze assemblies and related products.

The engineer will work alongside experienced team members and collaborate with Design Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, Test Engineering, and suppliers. Responsibilities will vary based on program needs and may include manufacturing process development, production planning, build support, troubleshooting, equipment implementation, and continuous improvement.

The selected candidate will also likely support the development, implementation, qualification, and production ramp-up of an advanced automated assembly cell for electromechanical products. This work may include supporting equipment requirements, process development, acceptance testing, installation, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Develop and maintain manufacturing processes, work instructions, and supporting documentation to ensure hardware and test articles meet engineering and configuration requirements.Coordinate and provide hands-on support for builds of electromechanical assemblies in manufacturing development and production environments.Support the development, implementation, qualification, and production ramp-up of an advanced automated assembly cell.Work with experienced engineers, equipment suppliers, and cross-functional stakeholders to define equipment requirements, evaluate equipment concepts, support acceptance testing, and integrate automated equipment into production.Assist with troubleshooting and continuous improvement of automation equipment, tooling, controls, inspection systems, test equipment, and associated manufacturing processes.Support production planning, equipment selection, tooling, fixtures, and test-station implementation.Support daily production operations by troubleshooting manufacturing processes, equipment, tooling, and product issues.Review and disposition discrepant hardware in collaboration with Quality and Engineering.Participate in failure investigations, root-cause analysis, and corrective-action implementation.Collaborate with Design Engineering to provide manufacturing feedback and improve product producibility and ease of assembly.Support manufacturing readiness activities and communicate manufacturing plans, risks, and status to internal stakeholders.Participate in continuous-improvement projects focused on safety, quality, yield, throughput, capacity, and cost.Coordinate manufacturing activities across Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, and Test.Work with suppliers and internal stakeholders to support the delivery of high-quality components, equipment, and assemblies.Apply manufacturing engineering methods appropriate to assigned work, which may include process capability analysis, statistical process control, process failure mode and effects analysis, mistake-proofing, gage repeatability and reproducibility, equipment qualification, and First Article Inspection.Contribute to the completion of program and project milestones.Communicate project status, technical issues, and recommended actions to engineering leadership and other stakeholders. 

This position may be filled at the Advanced Ammo Production Engineer 2 or 3 level, based on the candidate’s qualifications, including education and relevant experience .

Basic Qualifications for Advanced Ammo Production Engineer (Level 2)

Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related STEM discipline.2+ years of relevant engineering experience in manufacturing, manufacturing development, production support, or a related environment. A Master’s degree in Engineering or a related STEM discipline may be considered in lieu of two years of relevant experience.Experience developing or maintaining manufacturing processes, work instructions, or other production documentation.Experience supporting the assembly, testing, or production of mechanical or electromechanical products.Ability to apply engineering fundamentals to investigate and resolve technical problems and perform hands-on work in a manufacturing or production environment.Ability to work independently on assigned tasks and collaboratively within a cross-functional team.Strong written and verbal communication skills.Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.Ability to work first shift in direct support of on-site production operations, with core support hours from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.Ability to support up to 15% domestic travel.Must be a U.S. citizen and able to obtain and maintain the required security clearance. 

Basic Qualifications for Principal Advanced Ammo Production Engineer (Level 3)

Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related STEM discipline.5+ years of relevant engineering experience in manufacturing, manufacturing development, production support, or a related environment or Master’s degree plus 3 years of experienceExperience developing, implementing, and maintaining manufacturing processes, work instructions, or other production documentation.Experience supporting the assembly, testing, or production of mechanical or electromechanical products.Demonstrated ability to apply engineering fundamentals to investigate and resolve technical problems and perform hands-on work in a manufacturing or production environment.Experience independently executing manufacturing process development, production-support, or continuous-improvement activities.Experience troubleshooting production equipment, tooling, test equipment, or automated assembly systems.Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a cross-functional team.Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate technical information to Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, and other stakeholders.Experience supporting equipment qualification, production readiness, manufacturing process validation, or production ramp-up activities.Ability to communicate technical issues, risks, status, and recommendations to engineering leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.Ability to work first shift in direct support of on-site production operations, with core support hours from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.Ability to support up to 15% domestic travel.Must be a U.S. citizen and able to obtain and maintain the required security clearance. 

Preferred Qualifications

Hands-on experience in a production, manufacturing, laboratory, or assembly environment.Experience or coursework involving manufacturing automation, robotics, controls, machine vision, automated inspection, or integrated assembly equipment.Experience with electromechanical assemblies, mechanical mechanisms, electronics manufacturing, or standard assembly processes.Familiarity with statistical process control, process failure mode and effects analysis, root-cause analysis, mistake-proofing, gage repeatability and reproducibility, equipment qualification, or First Article Inspection.Experience with manufacturing automation, robotics, torque tools, inspection systems, test equipment, or data-collection systems.Familiarity with ERP, MES, electronic work-instruction, or product lifecycle management systems.Experience with Creo, Siemens Teamcenter, SharePoint, Power BI, or similar tools.Experience working with suppliers or supporting supplier-manufactured components.Previous experience in the defense industry or with U.S. Government contracts. 

Physical Demands

Ability to work at a computer or similar workstation for extended periods.Ability to work in a manufacturing environment requiring extended periods of standing, walking, bending, or kneeling.Ability to access and navigate production areas, machinery, tooling, work stands, ladders, and steps while complying with Environmental, Safety and Health requirements.Ability to wear required personal protective equipment, including safety shoes, gloves, safety glasses, hearing protection, protective jackets, aprons, or arm guards, as applicable.Ability to lift up to 35 pounds occasionally.

Primary Level Salary Range: $79,600.00 - $119,400.00

Secondary Level Salary Range: $98,900.00 - $148,300.00

The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate’s experience, education, skills and current market conditions.

Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and 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 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.

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.