Our Palmdale, CA site is looking for a Mission Assurance Director 1. In this role, you will be serving as Mission Assurance Program Director responsible for all Quality related activities across a majority of the product life cycle. You will be responsible for the oversight of Mission Assurance employees and program operations at multiple CONUS sites.
This position requires managing and leading key program meetings including the Preventive Corrective Action Board (PCAB), management reviews, and customer reviews. The MA Program Director will regularly interface with internal and external customers regarding requirements and will manage stakeholder expectations. The candidate will develop controls that build confidence for process execution.
The selected candidate will have excellent communication skills and the ability to prepare and present to the customer and Northrop Grumman leadership team. This role also requires a candidate that can be strategic, think outside of the box, and be successful in a very demanding and challenging environment.
As a leader, you always act with integrity, and the highest ethical standards characterize everything you do. You enable your team to achieve predictable and balanced results, while satisfying the needs of internal and external partners. You treat all people with respect, and you model personal growth and continuous development. You know how to build an inclusive environment that attracts, retains, and inspires a diverse and engaged team. You develop trusted and valued customer relationships and communicate effectively, so that people throughout the organization feel engaged and connected to their work. You deliver excellence, strive for continuous improvement, and respond vigorously to change.
The role is responsible for:
Managing the Program Quality Management System and ensure adherence to corporate/sector policies and procedures as well as contractual requirements
Maintaining program quality plans
Develop and maintain relationships with the end customers and their quality representatives to ensure Northrop Grumman is delivering a quality product
Ensuring timely support and flow down of sector/division goals and key operating factors
Provides oversight for all Mission Assurance budgets within the program
Developing and approving Mission Assurance input for proposals
Staffing and daily management of Mission Assurance personnel assigned to the Strike program
Interface with Mission Assurance homerooms to ensure resources are properly applied
Defines and monitors mission assurance program specifications and processes to ensure success
Assesses program performance and risks and validate performance metrics reporting
Basic Qualifications:
Bachelors degree and 10 years of related experience as defined below, OR a Master’s degree and 8 years of related experience as defined below, OR an A.A and 12 years of related experience
Related experience includes professional and/or military experience to include a background in aircraft, aerospace, manufacturing, quality, program management, engineering, and/or business management related functions
3 years of experience as a leader, manager, or other team lead roles
Must have an active DoD Secret or higher clearance (with a background investigation completed within the last 6 years or currently enrolled into Continuous Evaluation)
Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a Special Access Program (SAP) Clearance within 3 months
Preferred Qualifications:
Current Special Access Program (SAP) clearance
Experience in root cause and corrective action processes
Strong orientation to change in a dynamic and logistically challenging environment
Advanced level of understanding of complex quality policies, procedures, and governmental regulations
Ability to analyze alternative courses of action where decisions have risk/reward implications for program or area of influence
A demonstrated ability to communicate effectively to all levels of any organization
Strong people leadership skills in developing others
Ability to build partnerships with internal and external stakeholders
DCMA and AS9100 Quality Management System compliance knowledge
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree and 10 years OR Master's degree and 8 years OR A.A. and 12 years of related experience
- Related experience in aircraft, aerospace, manufacturing, quality, program management, engineering, and/or business management
- Minimum 3 years experience as a leader, manager, or team lead
- Active DoD Secret or higher clearance (background investigation within last 6 years or currently enrolled in Continuous Evaluation)
- Ability to obtain and maintain a Special Access Program (SAP) clearance within 3 months
- Current Special Access Program (SAP) clearance
- Experience in root cause and corrective action processes
- Advanced understanding of complex quality policies, procedures, and governmental regulations
- DCMA and AS9100 Quality Management System compliance knowledge
- Strong people leadership, communication skills, and ability to build internal and external partnerships
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.








