This onsite role requires a proven leader capable of guiding a diverse and innovative team through the design, development, delivery, maintenance, and field operation of custom maritime capabilities. The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong leadership and management skills in a fast-paced, technical environment.
Essential Functions/Job Description:
The Program Manager (PM) oversees day-to-day program execution and profit & loss responsibility. This role demands a proven leader who can manage program delivery, align with Customer needs, foster strong Customer relationships, and drive outcomes that advance the success of the Special Defense portfolio. Key responsibilities include:
- Developing and executing program budgets and schedules that satisfy both Customer and NGMS requirements.
- Cultivating and maintaining deep Customer relationships to identify and pursue new opportunities within the Customer community.
- Providing clear leadership and direction to the program team to achieve objectives and deliver results.
- Managing program activities in compliance with Customer security requirements and constraints.
- Serving as the primary company representative and point of contact for the program.
- Delivering program briefings to Customer leadership and corporate management.
This position requires strong leadership, strategic thinking, exceptional Customer engagement, and effective program and team management skills, supported by a collaborative and positive approach to team building.
Basic Qualifications:
- To be considered, you must possess an Active Secret clearance with the ability to obtain/maintain TS/SCI access and a Counterintelligence (CI) polygraph.
- Bachelor’s degree in STEM or Business discipline from an accredited institution.
- Minimum of 8 years of relevant management and leadership experience.
- Proven ability to drive programmatic battle rhythms effectively.
- Strong leadership skills with direct Customer engagement experience, including communication, presentation, persuasion, and negotiation at executive and senior government levels.
- At least 5 years of Profit & Loss (P&L) responsibility as a Cost Account Manager (CAM) utilizing Earned Value Management (EVM) and/or Integrated Product Team (IPT) leadership.
- Demonstrated experience managing program financials, including awards, sales, Operating Margin (OM), and Operating Cash Flow (OCF).
- Experience developing and executing annual program baselines encompassing budgets, staffing, subcontractors, materials, and travel.
- Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams on Cost-Plus development programs.
- Skilled in risk and opportunity management.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Current Top Secret/SCI clearance with the ability to obtain and maintain SCI access and a Counterintelligence (CI) polygraph.
- Master’s degree in STEM from an accredited institution.
- Minimum of 3 years’ experience in designing, developing, delivering, or using products within the complex maritime domain.
- Experience leading a Prime Contract for the Government.
- Proven success managing fast-paced programs, delivering systems from design to fielding within three years.
- Demonstrated track record of leading teams to successful outcomes.
- Experience developing and leading proposal efforts.
- Skilled in change management within Cost-Plus development programs.
- Poised leader with experience briefing senior Customers, government agencies, and executive leadership, effectively building consensus among diverse stakeholders.
- Over 7 years of leadership experience with strong communication and presentation skills, delivering clear and compelling messaging to executive and senior government audiences.
- Ability to deliver persuasive verbal and written program briefings, including technical content, to Customers and corporate leadership.
- Current Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or higher through the Project Management Institute.
- Experience working in a matrix organization with functional leadership managing shared staff resources across multiple programs.
- Proven ability to foster a positive team culture within a matrixed organization while balancing program execution and team engagement.
- Experience managing contracts governed by Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR).
- Experience working in classified environments and operating within a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF), or willingness to do so.
Skills Required
- Active Secret clearance with ability to obtain/maintain TS/SCI access and a Counterintelligence (CI) polygraph
- Bachelor's degree in STEM or Business discipline from an accredited institution
- Minimum of 8 years of relevant management and leadership experience
- Proven ability to drive programmatic battle rhythms effectively
- Direct customer engagement experience, including communication and negotiation at executive and senior government levels
- At least 5 years of Profit & Loss responsibility as a Cost Account Manager (CAM) utilizing Earned Value Management (EVM) and/or Integrated Product Team (IPT) leadership
- Experience managing program financials, including awards, sales, Operating Margin (OM), and Operating Cash Flow (OCF)
- Experience developing and executing annual program baselines (budgets, staffing, subcontractors, materials, travel)
- Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams on Cost-Plus development programs
- Skilled in risk and opportunity management
- Current Top Secret/SCI clearance with CI polygraph
- Master's degree in STEM
- Experience (3+ years) in maritime domain product design, development, delivery, or use
- Experience leading a Prime Contract for the Government
- Proven success delivering systems from design to fielding within three years
- Experience developing and leading proposal efforts
- Experience with change management within Cost-Plus development programs
- Experience working in a matrix organization managing shared staff resources
- Experience managing contracts governed by the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR)
- Experience working in classified environments and operating within a SCIF, or willingness to do so
- Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or higher
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.








