2026 Associate Tool Engineer/Tool Engineer

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes

CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret

TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time

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 seeking an Associate Tool Engineer / Tool Engineer. This position will be located at our Aeronautics Systems Sector in Palmdale, CA.

The qualified candidate will become part of Northrop Grumman’s Production Engineering & Operations (PE&O) organization. The shifts available for this role are one of the following work schedules: 

• 4/10A 1st or 2nd shift (10 hr/day Monday – Thursday)
• 4/10 Swing Shift (12-10:30pm Monday – Thursday)
• 4/10B 1st or 2nd shift (10 hr/day Tuesday – Friday)
• 3/10 1st or 2nd shift (10 hr/day Friday - Sunday)
• 9/80 1st or 2nd shift

Depending on the shift, the candidate may be eligible for a shift differential.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Direct support for manufacturing engineering and production to provide quick real-time solutions and validate proper use of Tooling Systems

• Coordination of design and fabrication requirements for tools, fixtures and tooling systems with customers, suppliers both internal and external

• Coordinate/develop & execute Factory acceptance Test Plans for Tooling Systems

• Conduct root cause failure investigations and implement associated corrective actions

• Assist Product Development Team with new product designs to ensure manufacturability, validate process/technology.

• Developing manufacturing processes, plans, and procedures for the fabrication of tools and equipment in support of our process work instructions and visual aids of our shop planning process and other functions that affect product performance.

• Managing all phases of project: design, document, fabricate, assemble, and validate

This requisition may be filled at either an Associate Tool Engineer (T01) or Tool Engineer (T02).

Basic Qualifications for a Associate Tool Engineer (T01):

A candidate, regardless of age and hiring source, must meet ALL of the below criteria. The candidate must:

• Be completing or has completed their Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution by August 2026.

• Be majoring in or having majored in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Engineering Technology, Manufacturing Technology or similar STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Math) degree.

• Active U.S. Government Secret Clearance. Final approved U.S. Government Secret Clearance is required (U.S. citizenship is a pre-requisite).

• Final approved Program Special Access may be required to start.

Basic Qualifications for a Tool Engineer (T02):

A candidate, regardless of age and hiring source, must meet ALL of the below criteria. The candidate must:

• Be completing or has completed their Master’s degree from an accredited institution by August 2026 or is completing their Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution by August 2026 and 1 year of Tool engineering experience and/or related experience.

• Be majoring in or having majored in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Engineering Technology, Manufacturing Technology or similar STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Math) degree.

• Active U.S. Government Secret Clearance. Final approved U.S. Government Secret Clearance is required (U.S. citizenship is a pre-requisite).

• Final approved Program Special Access may be required to start.

Preferred Qualifications for both an Associate Tool Engineer / Tool Engineer:

• Have an overall cumulative GPA of 3.25/4.0 or higher

• Previous internship/co-op or other work experience, leadership & teamwork capabilities, interpersonal communication skills, and activiti