Senior Principal Engineer – Aeronautical, Performance and Sizing

Northrop Grumman

. Conduct preliminary design synthesis and analysis of advanced manned and unmanned air vehicles .

Posted 10/26/2026full-timeRedondo Beach • California • United StatesSenior💰 $142,200 - $213,400 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in aircraft performance analysis, vehicle sizing, and conceptual air vehicle design, with proficiency in programming languages such as Python and C++. Holds a current U.S. Government security clearance and possesses extensive experience in flight sciences engineering disciplines.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Aircraft Performance AnalysisVehicle SizingPython ProgrammingU.S. Government Security ClearanceFlight Sciences Engineering

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Hard Skills

Aircraft Performance AnalysisVehicle SizingConceptual Air Vehicle DesignNumerical MethodsPythonMatlabC++FortranLinuxHTEP Propulsion Architecture

Soft Skills

Customer InteractionPresentation SkillsProblem Solving

Tools & Technologies

MIL-STD-3013B

Certifications & Qualifications

U.S. Government Security Clearance

Industry Keywords

Air ForceNavyNASADARPAFlight SciencesAerodynamicsPropulsion ParametersMission PerformanceKinematic ManeuveringTakeoff and Landing

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

LinuxPythonC++

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Conduct preliminary design synthesis and analysis of advanced manned and unmanned air vehicles
Develop technical solutions to difficult problems and document and present results
Interact with and brief external customers
Support vehicle performance and sizing analysis for vehicle programs from government organizations such as Air Force, Navy, NASA, DARPA and others
Provide analysis and guide design teams to execute program goals
Support proposal and business development activities

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor's degree in a STEM discipline with 8 years of related engineering experience; OR a Master’s degree in STEM with 6 years of related engineering experience; OR a PhD in STEM with 4 years of related engineering experience
Understanding of aircraft performance analysis with general knowledge of related disciplines
Understanding of conceptual air vehicle sizing analysis and numerical methods
6+ years of experience with one or more of the following: Python, Matlab, C++, Fortran, Linux
Familiarity with MIL-STD-3013B
Ability and willingness to travel 10% of the time
A current active in-scope U.S. Government (DoD) Secret or higher security clearance is required to start, with the ability to obtain and maintain Special Program Access (SAP/PAR)
Three plus (9+) years of experience in Vehicle Performance and Sizing and Flight Sciences engineering disciplines
Understanding of fundamental aircraft design, aerodynamic and propulsion parameters
Experience assessing mission performance, turn performance, kinematic maneuvering, takeoff and landing
Experience in aircraft sizing
Experience with conceptual development and sizing of air vehicles around HTEP and LH2 propulsion architectures and integration of the necessary fuel systems for those architectures
U.S. Citizenship is required for positions with a government clearance

Benefits

Comp & perks

Relocation assistance may be available
Overtime may be available
Shift differential may be available
Discretionary bonus
Health insurance coverage
Life insurance
Disability insurance
Savings plan
Company paid holidays
Paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business