We are looking for you to join our team as a Mission Assurance Manager 2 based in Sunnyvale, CA. Note: This is an on-site position. We do offer flexible work schedules such as 9/80.
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.
You will lead Quality and Mission Assurance activities for new design-focused programs within Marine Systems’ Machinery Systems Operating Unit. The position will lead a team focused on integrating Design Quality and Design Assurance throughout requirements development, system architecture, design maturation, technical reviews, verification planning, manufacturability/inspectability, and transition to production.
As a key leader, partner and essential member of the Quality and Mission Assurance leadership team in the Machinery Systems Operating Unit, you will lead a high performing team of mission assurance engineers, quality engineers, quality analysts and other mission assurance personnel to support company operations and achieve high levels of customer satisfaction.
The successful candidate will - individually and through their team - help programs demonstrate design maturity, retire technical and mission-assurance risks early, establish credible verification strategies, and transition robust, producible designs into subsequent development and production phases.
What you will get to do:
- Leads Design Quality and Design Assurance activities for preliminary-design programs, ensuring quality and mission-assurance requirements are incorporated into system architecture, requirements, design analyses, trade studies, technical reviews, verification planning, and risk-management activities.
- Partners with Program Management, Systems Engineering, Design Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and customers to establish objective evidence of design maturity and identify technical, producibility, supplier, and mission-assurance risks before they affect downstream execution.
- Ensures policies, procedures, and processes are in place to assure the performance and quality of products with conformance to established standards, specifications and customer requirements
- Leads efforts to identify and mitigate design, producibility, supplier, quality, and performance risks through early engineering engagement, APQP methods, Design FMEAs, process FMEAs, Critical-to-Quality characteristics, design reviews, and supplier engagement.
- Leads root cause and corrective action analyses (RCCA) and failure investigations for high-impact issues and teaches/coaches/mentors personnel in use of RCCA for lower-risk or lower-complexity issues.
- Manages program budgets, schedules, program EACs and performance using Earned Value Management for the quality scope on programs
- Establishes and manages performance metrics to facilitate continuous improvement activities
- Develops and operates within departmental budgets for indirect costs and overhead
- Provides performance reviews and periodic feedback for all direct reports; Provides guidance and mentoring to direct reports based on goals, objectives, and company policy procedures
- Ensures compliance with the Quality Management System through execution of internal surveillances and audits
The ideal candidate will possess:
- Demonstrated ability to lead and influence multidisciplinary teams, resolve complex technical and organizational issues, and deliver results with limited oversight.
- Excellent oral and written communication, data analysis, business acumen, and problem-solving skills
- Ability to document, plan and manage projects
- Ability to present to customer and executive/program leadership
- Demonstrated problem solving skills in an engineering and manufacturing environment
- Demonstrated ability to work with minimal oversight and in a multi-discipline team environment, providing insight and solutions to complicated technical issues
- Ability to successfully coach and mentor others in the use of quality principles and practices
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications
- Ability to travel
Basic Qualifications for the Mission Assurance Manager 2:
- Bachelor’s Degree with 8 years of work experience in a quality, mission assurance, manufacturing, engineering or related environment: Master's with 6 years of experience.
- Experience leading engineering or quality professionals setting with varying levels of experience.
- Extensive prior work experience in the application of quality principles and practices (e.g., quality engineering, inspection, systems engineering, material review, etc.) related to the engineering and manufacture of machinery and structures.
- Experience applying advanced product quality planning and mission assurance practices (e.g., risk reduction, system engineering principles, and full life cycle product support)
- Experience with ISO 9001-based quality management systems.
- Ability to obtain a Secret security clearance.
- US Citizenship required
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience leading, developing, and managing engineering or quality professionals with varying levels of experience.
- Experience with advanced product quality planning (APQP) methods, PFMEAs, CRTMs, and overall Design Quality processes
- Experience working and leading in other related functional areas such as manufacturing operations, program management, engineering or supply chain
- Experience developing BOEs (Basis of Estimates) for program capture phase
- Experience as a CAM in an Earned Value Management environment.
- Experience managing departmental overhead budgets.
- Experience with requirements management with defense contracts.
- Prior electrical generation or propulsion systems experience.
- Experience with AS9100-based quality management systems.
- Experience developing audit plans, and leading or managing internal audits.
- Top Secret Clearance.
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Primary Level Salary Range: $146,600.00 - $219,800.00The 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 with 8 years of experience in quality, mission assurance, manufacturing, engineering, or a related environment; alternatively, a master’s degree with 6 years of experience
- Experience leading engineering or quality professionals with varying levels of experience
- Extensive experience applying quality principles and practices related to engineering and manufacturing machinery and structures
- Experience applying advanced product quality planning and mission assurance practices
- Experience with ISO 9001-based quality management systems
- Ability to obtain a Secret security clearance
- U.S. citizenship
- Ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and resolve complex technical and organizational issues
- Strong oral and written communication, data analysis, business acumen, and problem-solving skills
- Ability to document, plan, and manage projects
- Ability to present to customers and executive or program leadership
- Ability to coach and mentor others in quality principles and practices
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications
- Ability to travel
- Experience with APQP methods, PFMEAs, CRTMs, and Design Quality processes
- Experience in manufacturing operations, program management, engineering, or supply chain
- Experience developing Basis of Estimates for program capture phases
- Experience as a Control Account Manager in an Earned Value Management environment
- Experience managing departmental overhead budgets
- Experience with requirements management for defense contracts
- Electrical generation or propulsion systems experience
- Experience with AS9100-based quality management systems
- Experience developing audit plans and leading or managing internal audits
- Top Secret clearance
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.






