Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems is seeking a motivated and execution-oriented Manager 3, Business Development – Strategy & Program Development to join a Restricted program within the Air Dominance Division. The position will be based onsite in Palmdale, CA. This senior leadership role is responsible for driving enterprise strategy, program development, and new business growth opportunities for the program.
This role reports to the Director of Business Development and collaborates across executive leadership, sector BD teams, and program management. The selected candidate will serve as a key interface with internal and external stakeholders and play a pivotal role in shaping and executing business development strategies.
Key Responsibilities
Portfolio & Pipeline Leadership
- Lead business development for the program in the Air Dominance Division, coordinating across functional teams.
- Manage and grow the opportunity pipeline through strategic customer outreach and targeted campaign planning.
- Oversee all aspects of the Business Acquisition Process (BAP), including growth strategy development, opportunity qualification, pursuit prioritization, capture plan development, and progression through internal BAP/review gates.
Customer Engagement & Technical Outreach
- Actively engage and follow up with operational and acquisition customers, U.S. Government representatives, and Northrop Grumman leadership.
- Conduct independent initial technical and concept discussions with customers, translating mission needs into differentiating solutions.
- Develop briefings, white papers, and RFI responses that clearly articulate mission value and technical advantages.
Strategy, Capture & Investment Shaping
- Develop and execute comprehensive business development strategies for modernization and sustainment.
- Influence internal investment planning and shape business priorities aligned with pipeline opportunities and customer roadmaps.
- Convene and lead multi-functional teams (engineering, program management, finance, legal, government relations) to develop mission discriminators through innovative architectures, payloads, technology strategies, management approaches, and competitive cost solutions.
- Devise and support execution of government relations and legislative advocacy plans to enhance key campaign outcomes.
Relationships & Representation
- Build and sustain trusted relationships with senior government and military decision-makers, program offices, and contracting officers.
- Represent Northrop Grumman to increase visibility and strengthen customer/partner relationships.
Leadership & Mentoring
- Promote business development best practices across the portfolio and contribute to a high-performance, mission-focused culture.
Compliance & Acquisition Discipline
- Ensure all business development initiatives comply with company standards, ethics, and applicable government regulations.
- Leverage familiarity with defense and national security acquisition processes, including both traditional and non-traditional pathways, to guide bid decisions.
Basic Qualifications
- Must either have a bachelor's degree with 10 years' experience or a master's degree with 7 years' experience or a PhD with 4 years' experience
- Minimum 10 years’ military experience
- Knowledge of Department of War procurement and acquisition processes
- Proven track record in leading / developing winning strategies and tactics to win
- Experience leading and mentoring cross functional teams
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
- Active USG Top Secret clearance (with a background investigation within the past 5 years or enrolled into Continuous Vetting). Ability to obtain and maintain initial Special Access Program (SAP) access via a Program Access Request (PAR). This SAP/PAR must be obtained prior to commencement of employment and must be obtained within a reasonable amount of time as determined by the company to meet its business needs
- Ability to travel at least 35%
Preferred Qualifications
- Current access to a Special Access Program (SAP)
- STEM degree
- Business development, strategy, capture management, or program management experience in the defense or aerospace sectors
- Demonstrated success supporting cross-sector initiatives
- Experience briefing and influencing internal and external senior leadership
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree with 10 years of experience, master's degree with 7 years of experience, or PhD with 4 years of experience
- Minimum 10 years of military experience
- Knowledge of Department of War procurement and acquisition processes
- Proven track record leading or developing winning strategies and tactics
- Experience leading and mentoring cross-functional teams
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
- Active USG Top Secret clearance with a recent background investigation or enrollment in Continuous Vetting
- Ability to obtain and maintain initial Special Access Program access through a Program Access Request before employment
- Ability to travel at least 35%
- Current Special Access Program access
- STEM degree
- Business development, strategy, capture management, or program management experience in defense or aerospace
- Success supporting cross-sector initiatives
- Experience briefing and influencing senior internal and external leadership
Northrop Grumman Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Northrop Grumman and has not been reviewed or approved by Northrop Grumman.
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage offers multiple medical plan options by region alongside dental, vision, mental‑health resources, and wellness programs. Recent materials also highlight added family‑building support, including a dedicated fertility benefit.
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Retirement Support — The 401(k) savings plan is positioned as competitive with a company match, auto‑escalation features, and access to an employee stock fund/ESPP. Official filings and benefits guides emphasize retirement as a core element of the Total Rewards package.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Many sites offer a 9/80 schedule, generous PTO, paid holidays, and flexible/telework options where program needs allow. Paid parental and caregiver leave are prominently featured, with recent enhancements for the delivering parent.
Northrop Grumman Insights
What We Do
We are a close-knit community of big thinkers collaborating to keep the world safe. Our passion, creativity and expertise bring next-level technology solutions to life in autonomous systems, cyber, C4ISR, strike, space, and logistics and modernization for our customers around the globe. On the Northrop Grumman team, you’ll join our pursuit of excellence immersed in a dynamic culture of innovation and respect. Your unique perspective will help achieve our shared vision for the future of global security. Every step of the way, you'll be supported by world-class training, employee resource groups and a comprehensive benefits package that enables greater health and happiness for you and your family. Worldwide and across disciplines, we’re challenging what’s possible for technology to protect people and places from undersea to outer space and into cyberspace. And we see the impact of our performance every day. We are Northrop Grumman, and we work on what matters—now, you too can make a difference. Explore opportunities in engineering, IT, manufacturing, business management, cybersecurity and more with us. Northrop Grumman is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.







