Northrop Grumman’s Space Sector is seeking a Manufacturing Systems Engineering (MSE) Manager – Level 3 to join our team. The primary location(s) of the work will be in Dulles, VA and Gilbert, AZ. Alternate locations will be considered, including but not limited to: Baltimore, MD; Chandler, AZ.
This critical role will develop and lead the program manufacturing strategy and execution from requirements development and demonstration through large-scale production at full rate. requiring the delivery of a significant number of space vehicles on an annual basis. This individual will need to work collaboratively with all elements of the organization to deliver a significant number of space vehicles on an annual basis.
In this job, you will:
Leads projects through all manufacturing readiness level phases including:
Own manufacturing scope: approval authority for manufacturing-related engineering changes; design ownership/oversight across a product portfolio
Lead programs end-to-end: manage full development lifecycle including subcontractors/partners, Design-to-Cost (DTC), sourcing, and alternate suppliers
Drive strategy & growth: build customer relationships; lead Manufacturing Technical Strategy to support proposals
Define & improve designs: establish design concepts/criteria and engineering for R&D/integration/test; recommend cost- and performance-improving changes
Enable affordability & producibility: translate state-of-the-art process capabilities for designers; build cost models and affordability assessments to meet targets
Plan transitions & execute: coordinate manufacturing site selection and facility transition plans; manage risks/opportunities; develop production strategies across multiple classification and SAP levels
Basic Qualifications:
Bachelor of Science degree in engineering, science or other relevant STEM area and 10 years or more of related experience OR a Master’s degree and 8 years of related experience as defined below
Active U.S. Government Secret security clearance at time of application, current and within scope
Related experience includes professional and/or military experience in project or Program management, engineering, capture efforts, supply chain, and/or business management.
Project lead or integrated program team lead in Production Operations, Design to Cost, Subcontract Management, Full-Rate Production or Supplier sourcing
Experience with the full lifecycle of aerospace hardware development and builds
Preferred Qualifications:
Minimum 15 years of experience in production (manufacturing and/or integration and test); development or sustainment management and integration of complex weapon systems
Experience transitioning programs from engineering development to full rate / high volume production.
Experience in leading program execution across a geographically distributed manufacturing organization.
Experience engaging in supplier oversight and management
Proven performance as an engineering leader in all phases of acquisition, design, integration, and execution
Working knowledge and/or experience across engineering disciplines
Experience with use and integration of AI and automation tools to support scalability and production
Ability to obtain Top Secret security clearance level and SAPs as determined by the company to meet its business needs
The ability to identify and proactively address organizational and program impacts through a systematic, proactive approach to problem resolution in keeping with industry practices (e.g. Nishikawa diagram, 5 Whys, etc.)
The ability to support the identification, selection, and management of subcontract and supply chain elements of the program
As a leader with integrity, you ensure ethical conduct, balanced results, and partner satisfaction. You respect and nurture growth, fostering a culture of excellence. Skilled in building collaborative teams and customer trust, you communicate well, foster strong teams, and embrace change.
Curious about all the exciting developments with the Northrop Grumman Space Sector? Click the link below:
https://www.northropgrumman.com/space
Working at Northrop Grumman is more than just a paycheck. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards and benefits package designed to help you thrive at work and in life. For more information on our Total Rewards package, please visit our Total Rewards site.
Northrop Grumman Total Rewards
Primary Level Salary Range: $193,000.00 - $289,600.00The 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 of Science degree in engineering, science, or another relevant STEM field with at least 10 years of related experience, or a master's degree with at least 8 years of related experience
- Active U.S. Government Secret security clearance at the time of application, current and within scope
- Professional or military experience in project or program management, engineering, capture efforts, supply chain, or business management
- Experience as a project lead or integrated program team lead in production operations, design-to-cost, subcontract management, full-rate production, or supplier sourcing
- Experience with the full lifecycle of aerospace hardware development and builds
- At least 15 years of experience in production, development or sustainment management, and integration of complex weapon systems
- Experience transitioning programs from engineering development to full-rate or high-volume production
- Experience leading program execution across a geographically distributed manufacturing organization
- Experience engaging in supplier oversight and management
- Proven performance as an engineering leader across acquisition, design, integration, and execution phases
- Working knowledge or experience across engineering disciplines
- Experience using and integrating AI and automation tools to support scalability and production
- Ability to obtain Top Secret security clearance and SAP access as required by the company
- Ability to identify and proactively address organizational and program impacts using systematic problem-solving methods
- Ability to support identification, selection, and management of subcontract and supply chain elements
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.







