Principal Mechanical Engineer

TCS•Huntsville, AL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

TCS is searching for a Principal Mechanical Engineer to join our strong team of Engineers supporting our Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) customer in Huntsville, AL. The GMD program is a portion of the Missile Defense Agency's (MDA) system to protect the US and our allies from ballistic missile attack. The selected candidate will use modern tools to further the development and sustainment of the GMD system. This is an in-office position. Remote work is not available. Role : The selected engineer will support GMD Weapon Systems (GWS) and Missile Defense Agency (MDA) programs by reviewing, analyzing, and implementing mechanical engineering requirements in support of supplier capabilities for GMD Weapons Systems. This position ensures that supplier-provided mechanical and electro-mechanical hardware meets strict quality, cost, and manufacturability standards. Working as a technical liaison, the engineer will bridge the gap between internal engineering teams and suppliers, ensuring seamless procurement of hardware critical to space mission success. The engineer will apply mechanical engineering principles to evaluate supplier designs, resolve production challenges, and develop technical solutions to optimize manufacturing processes. This role is critical to implementing supply strategies and ensuring systems are delivered on time and budget. The engineer will support ongoing sustainment of existing weapon systems by selecting replacement/repair parts & identifying requirements to overcome system obsolescence.

Requirements

Bachelors degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math) discipline with 5 years of relevant engineering experience; or a masters degree with 3 years of experience.
A current, active DoD Secret clearance is required.
Experience reviewing engineering drawings, schematics, and specifications, with the ability to translate requirements into supplier deliverables.
Knowledge of mechanical and/or electro-mechanical systems and associated manufacturing processes.
Familiarity with resolving technical challenges during design, development, or production phases.

Nice To Haves

Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering or Manufacturing Engineering.
Experience working with suppliers on technical qualification, capability assessments, and resolution of production issues.
Knowledge of ISO 9001/AS9100, FAR/DFAR requirements, and Material Resource Planning (MRP/ERP) systems.
Proficiency in 2D/3D CAD modeling software and experience with Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems.

Responsibilities

Review and evaluate supplier designs, schematics, and manufacturing processes to ensure compliance with engineering specifications and mission requirements.
Act as the technical liaison between internal teams (Programs, Design Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Supply Chain, and Quality) and external suppliers.
Review vendor specifications to assess program requirements
Apply mechanical engineering expertise to address technical challenges for mechanical and electro-mechanical components and systems.
Conduct non-conformance investigations, perform root cause analysis, and work with suppliers to implement corrective actions.
Perform technical evaluations of supplier quotes and assess supplier product capabilities and producibility.
Support sourcing decisions by conducting technical market research, cost benchmarking, and supplier capability assessments.
Assist in supplier qualification processes, technical reviews, and production readiness evaluations.
Drive continuous improvement in supplier performance to align with program needs and requirements.
Travel as necessary (1025%) to supplier locations and Northrop Grumman facilities to conduct technical discussions, audits, or readiness reviews.