Tanker Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Northrop Grumman's Space Sector invites you to bring your pioneering spirit to our collaborative teams. AsEngineering Manager - Commerce Propulsion Tanks, you will lead the multidiscipline engineering organization responsible for designing, analyzing, testing, and supporting propulsion tanks produced at our Commerce, CA site.

You will manage a team of14+ engineers and technical staff(structural analysis, materials & processes, test engineering, mechanical design, tooling, a test technician, and the Chief Engineer). You will ensure the team has thepeople, tools, skills, and cultureneeded to support current programs and execute the propulsion tank technology roadmap. This role reports to theDirector, Western Region Vehicle Engineering - Propulsion and Structures.

The ideal candidate is apositive, visible leaderwith strong engineering management experience who can improve morale, develop talent, and build an engaged, highperforming team.

The Engineering Manager is accountable for theperformance and health of the Commerce propulsion tank engineering organization, including:

• Providing engineering leadership to a multidiscipline teamof structural analysis, M&P, mechanical design, tooling, and test personnel.

• Owning people leadership, staffing, development, and engagement.

• Ensuring engineering processes, tools, and skills support cost, schedule, and quality commitments, and leading continuous improvement initiativesfocused on process effectiveness, design and analysis rigor, and manufacturability of propulsion tanks.

• Collaborating with senior technical leaders to enable execution of the propulsion tank technical roadmap and adoption ofnew technologies.

Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

People Leadership & Culture

• Lead the Commerce propulsion tank engineering team (structural analysis, M&P, mechanical, tooling, test, and Chief Engineer).

• Ownhiring, staffing, performance management, and development plansfor the engineering team; share daytotodaytechnical coaching with senior technical leaders.

• Foster apositive, inclusive, hightrust culturein a smallteam, with a focus on improvingmorale and psychological safety.

• Model Northrop Grumman's leadership behaviors: seta clear vision, build ahighperformingteam, take ownership, lead with courage, respond with resilience, and act with speed.

• Lead the team throughsignificant change, setting clear priorities, communicating transparently, and helping engineers navigate shifting demands whilemaintainingengagement and focus.

• Implement succession and talent development plans, ensuring engineers are growing in technical depth and leadership capability.

• Identifyand developtechnical and team leadswithin the organization, building a sustainable leadership bench and reducingsinglepointdependencies.

• Promote knowledge sharing, mentoring, and bestpractice adoption across analysis, M&P, test, mechanical, and tooling disciplines.

Engineering Operations & Execution

• Establish andmaintainahighly effective engineering organizationcapable of supporting propulsion tank programs across multiple locations, divisions, and customers.

• Ensure the team is equipped with thetraining, tools, and staffingneeded to meet cost, schedule, and quality commitments across programs and IRAD/CRAD.

• Manage the engineering budget and headcount plan;optimizeutilizationand staffing across programs and IRAD/CRAD efforts.

• Work with Program Management and Operations tomanage engineering workload and priorities, balancing urgent needs with longterm health of the team and avoiding unsustainable firedrill cycles.

• Develop, implement, andmaintaindisciplinespecific processes and toolsfor structural analysis, M&P, test, mechanical design, and tooling, in alignment with sector and functional standards.

• Define and monitormetrics for engineering efficiency, quality, and ontime performance, and drive continuous improvement in affordability, knowledge management, and engineeringutilization.

• Lead continuous improvement initiatives within the engineering organization, including refinements to design and analysis practices, test and verification approaches,processesand procedures,configuration management, and collaboration with Operations and Quality to improve manufacturability and yields.

• Champion a strongquality andmissionassurancemindsetwithin the engineering team, ensuring design and analysis decisions reflect safety, reliability, and customer expectations.

• Identifyorganizational gaps and proactively forecast potential challenges to program execution; lead root cause and corrective actions that address systemic issues in staffing, process, or coordination.

• Build strong partnerships with Program Management, Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, and other leaders to ensure seamless coordination and delivery.

Collaboration & Technology Roadmap

• Work closely with senior technical leaders to ensure the engineering organization can effectivelyexecute the propulsion tank technical roadmap.

• Align staffing, skill development, and process changes to support adoption ofadditive manufacturing and other advanced manufacturing methodsdefined in that roadmap.

• Ensure engineering processes, tools, and training keep pace with evolvingpropulsion tank architectures(e.g., PMD designs, COPVs, diaphragm tanks) and material/forging constraints.

• Supportmajor technical reviews, investigations, and nonconformance resolution by ensuring the right resources, coordination, andcrossfunctionalparticipation are in place.

• Connect the Commerce engineering team withbroader Northrop Grumman communities of practice, training resources, andbestpracticenetworks to accelerate learning and adoption of proven approaches.

• Participate in customer and leadership meetings focused oncommitments, staffing, and organizational readiness, while senior technical leaders lead detailed technical content.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) from an accredited university with8+ years of experience in mechanical, structural, or related engineering disciplines, including aerospace, space, or other missioncritical hardware domains.

• Priorengineering leadership experience(e.g., team lead, functional manager, department manager) with responsibility for people leadership and organizational performance, supportingmultidisciplineengineering teamsin a hardwarecentric environment.

• Experience leading engineering organizations that supportadditive manufacturing or other advanced manufacturing methods.

• Ability toimprove team morale and performance, build engagement, and foster an inclusive, collaborative culture.

• Experience with engineering processes and metrics related to staffing,utilization, quality, and ontime delivery.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to influence and partner effectively with Program Management, Operations, Quality, and senior leadership.

• Ability to obtain andmaintaina U.S. Government security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Materials Engineering or related STEM field with 12 years of experience; OR Master's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Materials Engineering, or related STEM field with 10 years of experience

• Experience withpropulsion tanks, pressure vessels, or related structural hardware, including familiarity with PMDs, COPVs, diaphragm tanks, or forging constraints.

• Prior leadership experience in a site or valuestream context with a clearturnaround or growth mandate.

• Experience defining and implementing engineering process improvements, common toolsets, andknowledgemanagementpractices across teams and locations.

Curious about all the exciting developments with the Northrop Grumman Space Sector? Click the link below:

https://www.northropgrumman.com/space

Working at Northrop Grumman is more than just a paycheck. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards and benefits package designed to help you thrive at work and in life. For more information on our Total Rewards package, please visit our Total Rewards site.

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