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.
We are seeking capable, talented, and motivated team-contributors at our Northrop Grumman Rolling Meadows site. Our products range from advanced sensing technologies to state-of-the-art targeting and tracking systems that are deployed in Electro-Optical Infrared (EOIR) and Radio Frequency Electronic Warfare (RFEW) systems. These systems are designed, developed, built, integrated, and tested by the capable folks at our company to protect the lives of US and Allied warfighters in present and future conflicts. Enjoy a culture where your voice is valued and start contributing to our team of passionate professionals providing real-life solutions to our world’s biggest challenges. We take pride in creating purposeful work and allowing our employees to grow and achieve their goals every day by Defining Possible. With our competitive pay and comprehensive benefits, we have the right opportunities to fit your life and launch your career today. If you are interested in being considered for inclusion on this team, we invite you to apply.
The Engineering Program Manager (EPM) is responsible for leading end-to-end engineering execution across the full program lifecycle. The EPM ensures the integrated engineering team delivers on cost, schedule, and technical performance. This role works in close partnership with the Program Manager and Chief Engineer to drive program success and meet commitments. EPMs are essential to strengthening how we execute—bringing consistency, rigor, and visibility across all engineering efforts on a program.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead engineering execution across the entire program lifecycle (capture through delivery)
- Drive cost, schedule, and technical performance with disciplined execution
- Integrate across all engineering functions and partner organizations (GSC, MFG, MA) to ensure cohesive program alignment
- Enable data-informed decisions using program metrics and performance indicators
- Ensure adherence and appropriate rigor to all engineering processes
- Partner with Program Managers and Chief Engineers to align technical scope, staffing, and execution plans
- Identify, communicate, and mitigate risks and issues early
- Drive milestone reviews (e.g., SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR) with clear entry/exit criteria and readiness
This position will be full-time, on-site at our Rolling Meadows, IL location.
Basic Qualifications for Engineering Program Manager:
- BS degree in Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, Physics or other STEM field with 12+ years of related experience, MS degree in STEM field with 10+ years of related experience, or PhD in STEM field with 8+ years of related experience
- 5+ years of related engineering experience working in an engineering organization at a defense contractor during EMD and/or LRIP phases
- Experience working collaboratively on complex projects that encompass hardware, software, and firmware
- Experience in development and Earned Value Management (EVM) of cost accounts and schedules
- U.S. Citizenship required
- Active U.S. Government Secret security clearance
Preferred Qualifications for Engineering Program Manager:
- Experience using metrics to drive decisions and program outcomes
- Demonstrated strong written and verbal communication skills including presentation experience briefing senior levels of leadership, both internal and external
- 9+ years engineering experience, including 5+ years leading multi discipline engineering teams
- Experience in all aspects of the engineering process from proposal / requirements analysis through verification testing and fielding of systems
- Experience in a Systems Engineering Integration & Test environment from one or more of the following specialty areas: EOIR systems, sensors, optics, antenna design, direction finding, geolocation, threat analysis
- Experience decomposing requirements for DoD-based platforms or systems
- Demonstrated expertise in SysML modeling and MBSE tools (e.g., IBM Rational DOORS, Enterprise Architect, Cameo). Ability to develop and maintain system models, traceability matrices, and verification cross‑reference artifacts
- Strong understanding of engineering execution across the full program lifecycle (beyond task tracking or a single discipline)
- Proven ability to collaborate across functions, sites, and stakeholders
- Familiarity with Northrop Grumman processes and operating procedures
- CAM certification with experience in ETCs and CEACs (or demonstrated experience performing CAM responsibilities)
- Demonstrated success guiding teams through proposals and Basis of Estimate (BOE) generation, program planning including start-up, Integrated Baseline Reviews (IBRs), milestone or gate reviews and through all execution phases
- Active U.S. Government Top Secret security clearance
Skills Required
- BS in Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, Physics or other STEM with 12+ years related experience (or MS with 10+ years, or PhD with 8+ years)
- 5+ years related engineering experience working in an engineering organization at a defense contractor during EMD and/or LRIP phases
- Experience working collaboratively on complex projects encompassing hardware, software, and firmware
- Experience in development and Earned Value Management (EVM) of cost accounts and schedules
- U.S. Citizenship required
- Active U.S. Government Secret security clearance
- On-site work at Rolling Meadows, IL (full-time)
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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Retirement Support — 401(k) matching is considered strong, with additional defined-benefit coverage for certain cohorts and options like catch-up contributions. Retirement programs are repeatedly highlighted as a core strength of the total rewards.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — PTO, company-paid holidays, and compressed work schedules (such as 9/80) provide meaningful time away and flexibility. These scheduling options are cited as a major quality-of-life benefit across many locations.
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Parental & Family Support — Paid parental leave alongside caregiver leave, adoption assistance, and back-up care supports a range of family needs. These programs have been expanded recently, signaling continued investment in family support.
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.








