Sr. Principal/Principal Facilities Engineer

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available

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 Weapons Systems is currently seeking Principal Facilities Engineer 3 or Sr. Principal Facilities Engineer 4 for our Elkton, Maryland location.

The Northrop Grumman Propulsion Systems and Controls (PS&C) facility in Elkton, Maryland began solid-propellant rocket operations in 1948. Today, the Elkton PS&C facility designs, develops, and produces solid-propellant propulsion and ordnance systems in programs professionally managed for a wide variety of Government and commercial customers.  The facility also serves as the hub for offsite engineering and test facilities in Ronkonkoma, NY, Palm Beach Gardens, FL and San Jose, CA.

Job Summary:

As Principal Facilities Engineer 3 or Sr. Principal Facilities Engineer 4 you will ensure that all buildings, systems, and infrastructure operate safely, efficiently, and cost‑effectively while driving innovation, sustainability, and continuous improvement across the campus.

You will blend hands‑on engineering, strategic project management, and people leadership to:

• Lead capital project delivery from concept through close‑out.
• Enable the highest standards in energetic manufacturing through design, selection and installation of facilities and process equipment.
• Champion reliability, energy‑performance, and regulatory compliance.
• Be part of a high‑performing facilities team in accordance with Northrop Grumman’s Leadership Values

Core Responsibilities:

Planning, Design & Technical Leadership

• Lead the end‑to‑end planning, detailed design, and supervision of plant‑wide machinery, building systems, and supporting facilities.
• Partner with architecture and engineering firms/consultants to develop and validate design criteria, producing comprehensive layout and detail drawings that meet functional, safety, HAZOP/ HOPS, regulatory, and code requirements.
• Review, update, and optimize HVAC, electrical, plumbing, fire‑life‑safety, and building‑automation systems; perform load calculations, energy modelling, and lifecycle‑cost analyses to maximize performance and extend asset life.
• Develop, maintain, and enforce engineering standards, local codes, HOPs/PSM requirements and conduct peer‑reviews of design documents and contractor submittals.
• Design solutions with sustainability and total cost of ownership in mind.

Data Collection & Requirements Analysis

• Compile and analyze specification data for equipment and facilities, aligning it with HAZOP/HOPS requirements, DoD 4145.26, project‑completion timelines, and construction feasibility.
• Translate analyzed data into clear technical requirements that drive design, procurement, and execution phases.

Procurement, Contract Management & Vendor Coordination

• Prepare bid packages, scopes of work, and contractual agreements for construction, installation, and facility‑service contracts.
• Conduct detailed cost estimating for equipment, installation, labor, materials, site preparation, and ancillary expenses.
• Pre‑qualify vendors, issue RFPs, evaluate bids, negotiate contracts, and monitor performance against SLAs and contract deliverables.
• Manage project schedules, budgets, scope changes, and communications throughout execution; administer change‑order processes to keep the project baseline accurate.

Construction & Installation Supervision

• Oversee, inspect, and document construction and equipment installations to verify strict compliance with approved drawings, specifications, and project schedules.
• Conduct site inspections, verify compliance with technical and safety requirements, manage punch list items, and provide final acceptance sign‑offs.

Engineering Design Support & Equipment Qualification

• Provide engineering expertise for new‑equipment installations, infrastructure upgrades, and production‑area renovations.
• Act as the primary liaison between the engineering design team, construction crews, and operations to ensure seamless coordination, accurate translation of design intent, and rapid issue resolution.
• Oversee qualification and performance verification of newly installed equipment – plan and conduct functional testing, validate against design criteria, and document results for long‑term reliability tracking.

Operations & Maintenance Management

• Participate in preventive and predictive maintenance programs using the CMMS; define work order strategies, integrate condition monitoring data, and maintain accurate asset records.
• Conduct FMEAs and develop reliability‑centered maintenance (RCM) plans to maximize equipment availability and reduce failure rates.
• Participate in energy‑management initiatives (sub‑metering, LED retrofits, VFD upgrades, renewable‑energy projects) and pursue relevant certifications.
• Ensure full compliance with OSHA, NFPA, HOPs/HAZOPs, PSM, local building codes, environmental regulations, and conduct hazard assessments and incident investigations.

People & Stakeholder Management

• Supervise facility engineers, technicians, and contractors; conduct performance reviews, mentorship, and technical training (lock‑out/tag‑out, BIM, PLC programming).
• Serve as the primary liaison among real‑estate, finance, IT, sustainability, manufacturing, program management, security, site leadership, and external partners to align facility goals with corporate strategy.
• Respond to occupant requests, perform space‑utilization studies, and support workplace‑reconfiguration or hybrid‑work projects.

Documentation, Reporting & Continuous Improvement

• Maintain “as‑built” drawings, equipment manuals, warranty files, Management‑of‑Change (MoC) records, and CMMS data using version‑control tools (SharePoint, Aconex, Leading 2 Lean, etc.).
• Produce monthly/quarterly dashboards on energy use, maintenance KPIs, project status, and budget variances for senior leadership.
• Lead Kaizen, Lean, or Six‑Sigma projects to streamline work‑order flow, reduce waste, and improve turnaround times.
• Prepare for and participate in internal/external audits, develop corrective‑action plans, and ensure all permits and regulatory filings are current.

This requisition may be filled with either Principal Facilities Engineer 3 or Sr. Principal Facilities Engineer 4, depending on years of experience and qualifications.

Basic Qualifications Principal Facilities Engineer 3:

• Minimum 5 years of facilities, engineering, or construction experience with demonstrated success managing small- to medium-scale capital investments and construction projects from planning through closeout.
• Proven experience overseeing projects including budgeting, scheduling, procurement, contractor coordination, and closeout documentation.
• Experience preparing scopes of work, cost estimates, and basic life-cycle cost assessments for smaller capital projects.
• Hands-on construction management experience: contractor oversight, site inspections, quality assurance, safety compliance, and coordination of commissioning/turnover activities.
• Ability to manage multiple projects concurrently, prioritize workload, track milestones, and meet delivery timelines within budget.
• Demonstrated success working on cross-functional teams, coordinating with operations, maintenance, procurement, safety, finance, and external contractors or vendors.
• Ability to gather and translate technical requirements into actionable tasks and align stakeholders on project scope, schedule, and budget.
• Experience facilitating meetings, preparing concise status updates, and escalating issues to leadership when necessary.
• Comfortable operating with limited supervision: able to take initiative, make sound decisions, and drive projects to completion while maintaining stakeholder alignment.
• Strong organizational skills and a self-starter attitude to manage competing priorities and deliver results.
• Working knowledge of applicable codes, standards, and safety requirements relevant to the facility type.
• Demonstrated ability to influence and coordinate without direct authority across functional teams.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Project.
• Must be able to obtain a DoD Secret clearance; U.S. Citizenship is a prerequisite

Basic Qualifications Sr. Principal Facilities Engineer 4:

• Minimum 9 years of facilities, engineering, or construction experience with a proven track record managing large-scale, multimillion-dollar capital investments and construction projects from concept.
• Demonstrated experience in construction management, including contract administration, contractor oversight, schedule and budget control, quality assurance, and compliance with codes and standards.
• Experience preparing and delivering proposals, scope development, cost estimates, and life-cycle cost analyses for capital projects.
• Proven leadership experience directing multidisciplinary project teams, influencing stakeholders, and making high‑impact decisions in complex environments.
• Strong mentorship skills with a history of developing engineers and technical staff through coaching, performance feedback, and career development.
• Ability to set technical standards, enforce best practices, and lead continuous improvement initiatives across projects or site engineering functions.
• Demonstrated ability to operate autonomously with minimal direction—prioritizing work, resolving technical and operational issues, and advancing projects to meet objectives. A Self-starter mindset: anticipates needs, escalates appropriately, and drives tasks to completion while maintaining stakeholder alignment.
• Deep knowledge of design, construction, and commissioning processes for industrial or high‑hazard facilities (preferred: propulsion, aerospace, or classified defense environments).
• Proficiency in creating scopes of work, detailed cost estimates (conceptual through detailed), schedules, risk assessments, and procurement strategies.
• Effective at coordinating with operations, procurement, finance, safety, and external contractors to ensure timely, compliant project delivery.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Project
• Must be able to obtain a DoD Secret clearance; U.S. Citizenship is a prerequisite

Preferred Qualifications both levels:

• E.I.T. Credentials
• PMP Credentials
• Experience with Revit
• Experience with CMMS and work order systems

This position falls under a Federal Explosives License issued by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) for this location.  Candidates hired into this role will be required to complete and submit an Employee Possessor Questionnaire to ATF for approval to be a possessor.

Elkton, Maryland is located on the Upper Chesapeake Bay, midway between Philadelphia and Baltimore. Discover charming small towns, parks with miles of trails, specialty and antique shops, award winning restaurants, and inns.  You can hike, bike, camp, bird watch, ride horseback, or drop a fishing line.  Five rivers, Chesapeake Bay and the C&D Canal can be explored by boat or by land. Experience panoramic views from Turkey Point Lighthouse on a bluff overlooking the Bay, or from the banks of the C&D Canal where ships from around the globe cruise. https://www.ccgov.org/government/tourism

Primary Level Salary Range: $98,900.00 - $148,300.00

Secondary Level Salary Range: $123,400.00 - $185,000.00

The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions.

Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.

The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.

Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.