Northrop Grumman Mission Systems is a trusted provider of mission-enabling solutions for global security. We have a wide portfolio of secure, affordable, integrated, and multi-domain systems and technologies. Our differentiated battle management and cyber solutions deliver timely, mission-enabling information and provide superior situational awareness and understanding to protect the U.S. and its global allies.
Northrop Grumman Marine Systems is looking for you to join our team as a Principal Contracts Administrator. The position may be staffed from the following sites with noted expectations:
- Sunnyvale, CA - Preferred site, full-time onsite schedule
- San Diego, CA - full-time onsite schedule, travel to Sunnyvale, CA required one week per month
- Baltimore, MD - full-time onsite schedule, West Coast working hours required; travel to Sunnyvale, CA required one week per month.
Marine Systems brings our company’s pioneering spirit and commitment to performance excellence to the maritime and undersea domains. We design and build systems that guide, power, and connect our nation’s submarines and aircraft carriers.
This position will support our critical Machinery Operating Unit, which has a mix of production and development programs. The successful candidate will have experience supporting contracts in a fast-paced organization.
What You Will Get To Do:
The Principal Contract Administrator will act as the primary interface with customers and business partners in conducting proposal preparation, contract negotiation and contract administration. The Contract Administrator will administer, extend, negotiate and terminate standard and nonstandard contracts. Conduct proposal preparation, contract negotiation, contract administration, and customer contact activities to provide for proper contract acquisition and fulfillment in accordance with company policies, legal requirements, and customer specifications.
Role and Responsibilities:
- Establishing successful working relationships with customers via email, telephone, and in-person, when appropriate and an ability to act as an agent of change by identifying areas for process improvement and providing recommendations for implementation.
- Collaborating effectively with the program team (finance, supply chain, quality & mission assurance, legal, pricing, and compliance) to recommend and complete actions to ensure successful program performance and advise management of contractual rights and obligations.
- Proposal preparation will include: examining proposal requirements and estimates, preparing bids, analyzing terms and conditions to evaluate risk, accuracy, and completeness to provide for proper contract acquisition and fulfillment in accordance with company policies, legal requirements, and customer specifications.
- Contract administration includes processing contractual documentation and reports, advising management of contractual rights and obligations, compilation and analyses of data, and maintenance of historical information. Facilitate proper shipment, billing, and payment collection for deliveries, interfacing with DCMA as required. Preparation of weekly/monthly reports and maintenance of the contracts and accounting databases. Daily interaction with customer representatives is expected.
- Leading solicitation and RFP review/analysis, proposal preparation, signoff coordination, evaluate estimates of material, equipment services, production costs, performance requirements, and delivery schedules to ensure accuracy and completeness.
Basic Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree with 5 years of contracts related experience – OR – Master’s degree with 3 years of contracts related experience
- Experience administrating or negotiating various contract types.
- Working knowledge of FAR/DFARS
- Experience with Microsoft Office including Excel, PowerPoint, and Word
- U.S. Citizenship required
- Ability to travel domestically 25% of the time.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Secret security clearance
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience working with commercial partners in the defense industry
- Experience working with the government as a prime contractor or subcontractor to prime customer
- Experienced working with Requests for Equitable Adjustment (REAs) and Undefinitized Contract Action (UCAs) or similar
- Industry experience with the Navy or other Maritime experience
- Demonstrated highly effective verbal and written communications.
- Experience successfully presenting to all levels of management
- Demonstrated success working as part of a team to achieve common goals
- Active U.S. Government Secret clearance that has been adjudicated within the previous 5 years
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!
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Primary Level Salary Range: $89,900.00 - $141,200.00The 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 5 years contracts related experience OR Master's degree with 3 years of contracts related experience
- Experience administrating or negotiating various contract types
- Working knowledge of FAR/DFARS
- Experience with Microsoft Office including Excel, PowerPoint, and Word
- U.S. Citizenship required
- Ability to travel domestically 25% of the time
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Secret security clearance
- Experience working with commercial partners in the defense industry
- Experience working with the government as a prime contractor or subcontractor to prime customer
- Experience working with Requests for Equitable Adjustment (REAs) and Undefinitized Contract Action (UCAs) or similar
- Industry experience with the Navy or other Maritime experience
- Demonstrated highly effective verbal and written communications
- Experience successfully presenting to all levels of management
- Demonstrated success working as part of a team to achieve common goals
- Active U.S. Government Secret clearance adjudicated within the previous 5 years
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.





