Principal OR Sr. Principal Engineer – Dynamics & Aeroelastics

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret TRAVEL: Yes, 25% 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’s Aeronautics Systems – Research & Advanced Design (R&AD) transforms breakthrough ideas into mission-ready capabilities through intelligent anticipation.

We’re the front-end design engine, defining what comes next. From developing cutting-edge next-generation future aircraft to trailblazing collaborative autonomous platforms, we push the boundaries of technology and forge industry-leading partnerships that set new standards for what’s possible. Our team owns the full lifecycle of advanced concept creation, from visionary early-stage designs and rapid prototyping to high-impact demonstrations and solving the toughest technical challenges in survivability, autonomy, and battle management.

We seek curious, adaptable people who thrive on turning intuition into breakthrough solutions. If you’re driven to invent the future, build what’s next, and shape the landscape of national security, this is where you belong. R&AD has an opening for a Principal OR Sr. Principal Engineer – Dynamics & Aeroelastics to join our team in Redondo Beach, CA. This position will support the Flight Sciences & Vehicle Controls Department with design and analysis needs of unclassified and classified programs and interface with customers to define study areas and report status on current programs and technology development efforts.

This role may interface with management and technical teams to define business relationships and technology initiatives for both IRAD (Internal Research and Development) and CRAD (Contractual Research and Development) efforts. This position will support a variety of programs performing analysis, ground test, and flight test activities. Essential Functions: Establish aeroelastic design criteria to guide the development of advanced designs Perform project planning to determine program requirements and develop plans for execution Generate and validate structural dynamic & aeroelastic FEM models Execute modal analysis, evaluate modal correlation across FEM, and test data sets Perform aeroelastic analysis including static aeroelastic solutions, flutter, and gust loads Support validation test activities including actuator testing, ground vibration, aeroelastic wind tunnel testing, and flutter flight testing Develop and present materials for internal and external program related briefings Build consensus through peer and Subject Matter Experts (SME) review and communicate test and analysis results to internal and external customers This position may be filled at either the Principal Aeronautical Engineer – Dynamics & Aeroelastics level or the Senior Principal Aeronautical Engineer– Dynamics & Aeroelastics level, depending upon the qualifications below.

Basic Qualifications for Principal Aeronautical Engineer -   Dynamics & Aeroelastics: Bachelor's degree in a relevant STEM discipline (Science, Technology, Engineering or Math) with 5 years of related engineering experience; OR a Master’s degree in a relevant STEM discipline with 3 years of related eng