Tool Engineer / Principal Tool Engineer

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No

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 Mission Systems is looking for you to join our team as a Tool Engineer / Principal Tool Engineer based out of Sunnyvale, CA.

The selected tool designer candidate will be responsible for concept generation, detailed 3D CAD design, fabrication drawings, and support during production. The Designer ensures that tooling meets all performance, quality, and safety requirements, while serving as the primary technical liaison between engineering, manufacturing, and project management teams. Assesses project issues and develops resolutions to meet productivity, quality, and client-satisfaction goals and objectives.

What You’ll get to Do:

• Collaborate with internal customers and project teams to capture functional and performance requirements.

• Develop initial tooling concepts, feasibility studies, and cost–benefit analyses that address new and existing program needs.

• Design & Documentation
   - Create detailed 3D CAD models (NX preferred) and production 2D drawings specifying fit, form, and function.
   - Develop fabrication requirements that incorporate standardized manufacturing instructions (ERP system), along with procurement specifications and inspection plans to guide the production process.
   - Ensure design documentation clearly communicates technical intent; note that any changes requiring formal documentation updates must be submitted to the Tooling Configuration Control Analyst.

• Provide hands-on technical support to in-house manufacturing teams and vendors during fabrication.

• Perform first-article and in-process inspections to validate that manufacturing outputs meet design specifications and performance targets.

• Troubleshoot and resolve fabrication issues to maintain quality and schedule.

• Act as the technical point of contact, ensuring that all design revisions are properly documented and routed through the Tooling Configuration Control Analyst.

Technical Skills & Competences:

• Passion for design, i.e., enthusiasm for designing, building, and supporting tools for critical naval machinery.

• Excellent communication and written skills; able to convey technical concepts to diverse audiences and produce high‑quality documentation.

• Strong organization and prioritizing skills to manage multiple projects simultaneously, and allocating resources efficiently to meet tight and changing schedules.

• Leadership – capable of working with cross‑functional teams, mentoring junior engineers, and making technical decisions.

• Attention to detail, consistently delivering high-quality drawings, and applying GD&T to meet optimal tooling and hardware requirements.

• Proactive in continuous improvement, the candidate identifies potential challenges, applies root cause analysis, and implements process improvements that enhance quality, productivity, and cost effectiveness in new tool design.

Basic Qualifications for Tool Engineer:

• Bachelor's in a STEM discipline (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math) with a minimum of 2 years of technical experience in design for manufacturing (DMF); Master's Degree in a STEM discipline with 0 years of experience.

• Experience in 3D CAD modeling using standard commercial CAD software.

• Experience in 2D drafting and drawing creation from 3D models.

• Experience modifying existing 2D drawings and 3D CAD models.

• Minimum 2 years of technical experience in the design and fabrication of special tooling and related equipment