Northrop Grumman’s Armament Systems business unit is seeking a Medium Caliber Ammunition (MCA) Co‑Production (Co‑Pro) Engineering Manager to join our team of dedicated, diverse professionals at our Plymouth, MN facility.
Armament Systems specializes in the development and production of Ammunition, Guns, and Precision Guided Ordinance.
Position Summary:
The MCA Co-Pro Engineering Manager 2 reports to the Co-Production Engineering Manager and manages Co-Pro specific MCA engineering activities across the international business portfolio. The MCA Co-Pro Engineering Manger leads a small and diverse team that supports ongoing MCA Co-production programs, proposal efforts for new business, and the development of future MCA Co-Production capabilities. The candidate will spend ~50% of their time on support of the organization and ~50% of their time on direct technical work.
This position will provide Design to Production Transition (DTPT) Mechanical and Manufacturing engineering expertise in the manufacturing of advanced medium caliber ammunition for international pursuits. The person filling this position must understand a wide variety of manufacturing processes (e.g. hydraulic/pneumatic presses, CNC machining, tooling, inspection equipment, etc.) and have experience in a design to production environment. This position requires up to 50% domestic and international travel.
The MCA Co-Production Engineering Manager ensures that all production support and development activities utilize the best approaches to ensure deliver of highest quality MCA production items and an efficient, rigorous development culture for new MCA products while considering the input of all internal and external customers. The MCA Engineering Manager will lead, coach, and direct other engineers and technicians to accomplish project deliverables and strategic objectives, drive timely decision making, and develop a highly talented team.
Typical Duties:
- Provide guidance, direction, and performance feedback to a diverse cross functional group of engineers tasked with solving difficult manufacturing and technical challenges.
- Supports Engineering/Program Manager as a control account manager to ensure accurate schedule and cost tracking.
- Demonstrated project management skills and techniques including work breakdown structures, integrated master scheduling and earned value management.
- Coach, support, and motivate those around them to ensure a high performing engineering team.
- Create and maintain development and succession plans for team members. Lead recruiting efforts to build and maintain team capabilities.
- Ensure hiring plans, staff development, and workload plans are aligned to overall capability and capacity strategy. Manage team budgets, schedules, and resources to effectively meet business goals.
- Set and promote high standards for quality and safety. Maintains selected engineering processes and drive technical excellence by ensuring team output meets technical standards.
- Maintain knowledge of engineering best practices and technology innovations by attending industry events and educational activities.
- Represent and communicate Defense Systems technical capabilities, capacity, and technologies to internal and external customers.
- As a front facing representative to our customers the candidate must be able to communicate, brief and present deliverables at program technical reviews, proposal reviews, or other technical meetings.
- Presents work products at program reviews, proposals, or other project meetings.
- Prepares and plans cost estimates and written technical proposals.
- Acts as a technical interface to external customers, and forms working relationships with representatives of external technical organizations.
- Lead performance and compensation management activities for team members.
- Prepare, review, and approve cost estimates and written technical proposals. Manage cost and schedule for independent research or process improvement projects assigned to your team.
- Advise stakeholders and team members on how to meet established schedules or resolve technical issues.
- Coordinate with programs and peer functional managers to ensure appropriate staffing strategies are developed and executed with any performance issues resolved or escalated in a timely manner.
- Ensure team members are familiar with and use required engineering processes and tools.
- Will involve sometimes stepping into other roles when needed.
- Provide on-site support at international facilities (requires approximately 50% travel).
Basic Qualifications:
- Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering or other STEM discipline
- 8+ years of related professional/military experience; OR a Master of Science in STEM discipline + 6 years of related professional/military experience
- Demonstrated ability to lead and/or manage an engineering team
- Demonstrated experience mentoring, leading and coaching in a professional capacity
- Experience leading a technical team toward successful product delivery.
- Proven partnership/collaboration skills and ability to partner with cross disciplines within a team.
- Exceptional communication skills (verbal, written, presentation) across all levels of the organization.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Engineering Degree from an accredited university
- 5+ years of experience in leading, developing, and reviewing team members
- 5+ years working with medium caliber ammunition production and/or development activities
- Experience with supporting production programs, including experience with production process and variation control methods and techniques.
- Experience with managing ammunition development and qualification programs.
- Experience with AS9100/ISO 9001, CMMI, and Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP)
- Six Sigma/Lean experience
- Project management experience
- Experience working with suppliers and procurement to improve quality and optimize schedules
Skills Required
- Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering or another STEM discipline
- 8 or more years of related professional or military experience, or a Master's degree in a STEM discipline and 6 or more years of related experience
- Ability to lead or manage an engineering team
- Professional experience mentoring, leading, and coaching others
- Experience leading a technical team toward successful product delivery
- Partnership and collaboration skills across disciplines
- Exceptional verbal, written, and presentation communication skills
- Engineering degree from an accredited university
- At least 5 years leading, developing, and reviewing team members
- At least 5 years working with medium-caliber ammunition production or development
- Experience supporting production programs, including production process and variation control methods
- Experience managing ammunition development and qualification programs
- Experience with AS9100, ISO 9001, CMMI, and APQP
- Six Sigma or Lean experience
- Project management experience
- Experience working with suppliers and procurement to improve quality and optimize schedules
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
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