Northrop Grumman Mission Systems' (NGMS) Secure Processing Operating Unit (SPOU) has an immediate opening for a Manager of Programs 2 located onsite in Linthicum, MD. This position will lead the integration of SPOU products with early adoption programs and will play a critical role in driving program and portfolio execution. The selected candidate will be responsible for proposing and leading the delivery of all contractual requirements on cost and on schedule, while achieving all technical requirements and creating customer intimacy to support value creation strategies and actions. The individual will also lead a cross-functional organization aligned to common capture and program performance goals.
In addition, this role will help shape and execute OU strategy by aligning customer engagement, opportunity capture, and program execution priorities to growth objectives. The selected candidate will be expected to strengthen external customer relationships, support strategic positioning activities, and help translate market and mission needs into executable capture and program plans.
The successful candidate will have demonstrated experience working with and leading diverse teams, be a strong communicator, and be able to work successfully within classified and unclassified arenas.
What You'll Get to Do:
- Serve as the primary interface directly with early adoption customers and be an essential part of the capture and growth activities within the OU.
- Develop and manage proposals, as required. Participate in the negotiation of contracts, contract changes, specifications, operating budgets, milestones schedule, and key terms and conditions.
- Create, review and finalize programs’ statements of work (SOWs), as required.
- Conduct and lead thorough risk & opportunity management including identification, mitigation and realization.
- Lead and direct cross-functional teams to meet program cost, schedule and technical performance objectives.
- Identify, allocate and manage program resources, including Workload Forecast planning (WLF).
- Support opportunity capture activities in partnership with business development, engineering, and functional leaders, including shaping win strategies, supporting gate reviews, contributing to capture plans, and helping mature opportunities from early identification through award.
- Build and sustain trusted customer relationships through regular engagement, responsiveness, and mission understanding, while identifying emerging needs and translating them into actionable growth and execution strategies.
- Support OU-level strategy execution by aligning program priorities to portfolio objectives, informing investment and growth decisions, and coordinating across stakeholders to advance strategic initiatives and operational outcomes.
- Contribute to competitive positioning by assessing customer priorities, mission drivers, acquisition context, and discriminators to help strengthen value propositions and improve probability of win (Pwin).
- Partner across the OU to connect capture, transition, and execution activities so that strategic pursuits are resourced, integrated, and positioned for successful program start-up and delivery.
Basic Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree with 8+ years of relevant professional experience, or a Master’s degree with 6+ years of relevant professional experience, supporting U.S. Government programs, contracts, customers, and/or related program or project management activities.
- Demonstrated experience leading program or project execution with responsibility for cost, schedule, technical performance, requirements, risks, and/or contractual deliverables.
- Demonstrated experience serving in a formal program/project leadership role such as Project Lead, Integrated Product Team (IPT) Lead, Cost Account Manager (CAM), Earned Value Manager, or equivalent.
- Demonstrated experience leading teams with responsibility for coordinating work, driving execution, and achieving defined program or project milestones.
- Demonstrated experience performing program or business data analysis and coordinating across cross-functional organizations to support process improvement and program execution.
- Demonstrated experience managing program financial performance, including budgets, forecasts, Estimate at Completion (EAC), schedule performance, and/or variance analysis.
- Demonstrated experience coordinating activities across Engineering, Operations, Global Supply Chain, Contracts, Program Management, and/or other functional organizations.
- Demonstrated experience managing and tracking program requirements, milestones, deliverables, risks, and issues through completion or closure.
- Experience working within applicable security, export-control, proprietary-information, conflict-of-interest, and/or risk-management requirements in a regulated environment.
- U.S. citizenship required.
- Must possess a current/active U.S. government Secret security clearance to be considered with the ability to obtain and maintain required SAP access.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master’s degree in technical, business, leadership, management, or related discipline.
- Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent.
- Demonstrated experience leading large-scale, complex, and/or multi-functional programs.
- Experience developing and managing Integrated Master Plans (IMP), Integrated Master Schedules (IMS), program schedules, and/or execution plans.
- Experience managing multiple concurrent priorities, projects, or workstreams in a complex program environment.
- Experience independently managing assigned program activities, deliverables, schedules, and/or work packages.
- Experience supporting capture strategy, competitive assessments, customer engagement planning, proposal activities, and/or transition from capture to program execution.
- Experience working across Business Development, Program Management, Engineering, and functional organizations to support portfolio or Operating Unit strategy.
- Experience supporting Mission Security, System Security, cybersecurity, or related technologies.
- Current/active U.S. Government TS/SCI clearance.
What We Can Offer You:
Northrop Grumman provides a comprehensive benefits package and a work environment which encourages your growth and supports the mutual success of our people and our company. Northrop Grumman benefits give you the flexibility and control to choose the benefits that make the most sense for you and your family. Your benefits will include the following: Health Plan, Savings Plan, Paid Time Off and Additional Benefits including Education Assistance, Training and Development, 9/80 Work Schedule (where available), and much more!
Primary Level Salary Range: $153,800.00 - $230,800.00The 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 or more years of relevant professional experience, or master’s degree with 6 or more years of relevant professional experience
- Experience supporting U.S. Government programs, contracts, customers, or related program/project management activities
- Experience leading program or project execution with responsibility for cost, schedule, technical performance, requirements, risks, or contractual deliverables
- Formal program or project leadership experience, such as Project Lead, IPT Lead, Cost Account Manager, or Earned Value Manager
- Experience leading teams and achieving program or project milestones
- Experience performing program or business data analysis and coordinating cross-functional process improvement
- Experience managing program financial performance, including budgets, forecasts, EAC, schedule performance, or variance analysis
- Experience coordinating across Engineering, Operations, Global Supply Chain, Contracts, Program Management, or other functional organizations
- Experience managing program requirements, milestones, deliverables, risks, and issues through completion or closure
- Experience working with security, export-control, proprietary-information, conflict-of-interest, or risk-management requirements in a regulated environment
- U.S. citizenship
- Current and active U.S. government Secret security clearance
- Ability to obtain and maintain required SAP access
- Master’s degree in a technical, business, leadership, management, or related discipline
- Project Management Professional certification or equivalent
- Experience leading large-scale, complex, or multifunctional programs
- Experience developing and managing Integrated Master Plans, Integrated Master Schedules, program schedules, or execution plans
- Experience managing multiple concurrent priorities, projects, or workstreams in a complex program environment
- Experience independently managing program activities, deliverables, schedules, or work packages
- Experience supporting capture strategy, competitive assessments, customer engagement planning, proposal activities, or capture-to-execution transition
- Experience supporting portfolio or Operating Unit strategy across Business Development, Program Management, Engineering, and functional organizations
- Experience supporting Mission Security, System Security, cybersecurity, or related technologies
- Current or active U.S. Government TS/SCI 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.





