Northrop Grumman is currently seeking a Mission Assurance Manager 1 to lead a Mission Assurance Engineering team responsible for supporting the manufacture and delivery of Solid Rocket Motors and Controls to the USG military as well as other major defense subcontractors. This position will reside and support the Defense Sector team in Elkton, MD.
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 and Palm Beach Gardens, FL.
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
Description:
The Mission Assurance (MA) Manager will support critical programs within Propulsion Systems and Controls and lead a high performing team responsible for delivering quality products and maintaining compliance across the organization. The MA Manager will help plan and execute production plans using measurable goals and effectiveness criteria in support of the overall business strategy of the unit, division and sector. Candidates are to have a proven track record of solving complex problems through systematic and objective evaluation of information resulting in effective communication, championing, and implementation of change with a diverse set of internal and external customers and suppliers. Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills combined with a “can do” attitude is essential.
Roles and Responsibilities:
• Directs and coordinates quality assurance functional disciplines, including Quality Control, Mission Assurance Engineering, Supplier Quality, Software Quality, and Quality Systems per AS9100 standards and other internal/external compliance standards and regulations.
• Interfaces with customers, vendors, and with Propulsion Systems and Controls organizations to identify and resolve mission assurance issues.
• Interfaces with other functional management, integrated product teams, and customers – critical component of the position. Able to build trusted relationships and work through difficult challenges with customers.
• Plans and manages the department’s manpower, budget, physical assets and hiring activities.
• Plans and implements professional development and career management programs for MA personnel while positively influencing employee engagement.
• Provides clear assignments, helps employees connect their efforts to the bigger picture, creates an inclusive work environment characterized by mutual respect and the valuing of differences, and builds a culture that motivates employees to their highest levels of performance.
• Assures compliance in quality, risk management, safety, process improvement, and supplier quality in accordance with contractual requirements.
• Fosters and supports a working environment which reinforces and drives accountability to fundamental Northrop Grumman Values focused on integrity, quality, shared success, and innovation.
• Partners with engineering and program management peers to assure a balanced and efficient assignment of resources to support all programs and achievement in key performance metrics.
• Leads and/or oversees investigations and failure analyses related to product or process performance deficiencies to ensure definitive root causes are determined and corrective actions are implemented.
• Drives continuous improvement actions, through their respective MAE team and by leading CI projects at a site level.
M1 Basic Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree with at least 5 years of experience
• 2+ years of project, program, or people leadership experience
• Demonstrated understanding of the program/product lifecycle in the areas of new business pursuit, design, supply chain management, receiving operations, inventory control, production control, product test & evaluation, reliability, root cause analysis, product sell off, shipping and product support as they apply to quality
• Ability to network and negotiate at all levels within an organization to accomplish objectives
• Strong leadership, influence, and project management skills
• Excellent communication skills – written and oral
• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret Security Clearance
Preferred Qualifications:
• Experience with requirements development, flow-down, analysis, verification and validation
• Experience with development, integration, and testing of integrated aerospace systems
• Leadership skills to develop direct reports at various levels and disciplines to higher levels of performance and responsibility
• Evidence of problem solving and time management skills
• Experience working with multi-disciplined teams
• Experience with technical and project management
• Experience working directly with customers, vendors, and subcontractors
• Prior experience with testing of defense products and/or experience with Government technical agencies
Primary Level Salary Range: $115,500.00 - $173,300.00The 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.Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree
- At least 5 years of experience
- 2 or more years of project, program, or people leadership experience
- Understanding of the program and product lifecycle, including design, supply chain, production, testing, reliability, root cause analysis, shipping, and product support as applied to quality
- Ability to network and negotiate at all organizational levels
- Strong leadership, influence, and project management skills
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- U.S. citizenship
- Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret Security Clearance
- Experience with requirements development, flow-down, analysis, verification, and validation
- Experience developing, integrating, and testing integrated aerospace systems
- Leadership experience developing direct reports across levels and disciplines
- Problem-solving and time-management skills
- Experience working with multidisciplinary teams
- Technical and project management experience
- Experience working directly with customers, vendors, and subcontractors
- Experience testing defense products or working with government technical agencies
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.









