Northrop Grumman Mission Systems (NGMS) is looking for you to join our team as a Principal Operations Program Management Specialist (Principal Production Operations) based in Rolling Meadows, IL. This role is full-time onsite.
The candidate will support production, development, business, and other processes in a team-based manufacturing environment. Performs activities in a variety of cross-functional areas including production planning and control, total quality management, systems, manufacturing, equipment and facilities engineering, material management, and process reengineering. The incumbent may facilitate self-directed work teams, provide training in core skill areas to teams and peers, and interact with internal and external customers with respect to product planning, problem resolution, and process improvement. Incumbents are generally experienced in one or more areas of manufacturing operations. This highly motivated individual will be responsible for providing objective-oriented direction to multifunctional teams, including Operations functional support organizations, to ensure all program and manufacturing goals and objectives are met.
What you will get to do:
- Serve as the primary Manufacturing Operations interface with the Program Office,
- Coordinate/collaborate with engineering, Supply Chain Management, and Mission Assurance on all aspects of manufacturing programs.
- Responsible for managing proposals, production planning, and execution of manufacturing programs, while monitoring and addressing all cost, schedule, performance, and quality issues.
- Represent the Operations Manufacturing organization as a prime contact on contracts or programs. Interact with senior internal and external personnel on significant matters often requiring coordination between organizations.
- Oversee the generation of proposals, including basis of estimates, resource codes, estimate rational, bid codes, and overhead and labor rates.
- Ability to develop and maintain Production tools/metrics regarding Microsoft Excel Macro functions.
- Responsible for the overall performance of the Operations Team's activities to assure compliance with company objectives and obligations.
- Monthly reconciliation of Sales Order WBS to MRP WBS for accuracy and consistency.
Basic Qualifications for the Principal Production Operations Specialist:
- Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 5 years of related work experience; OR a Master’s degree and 3 or more years of relevant work experience; OR 9 years relevant work experience in lieu of a degree.
- Experience leading teams or projects.
- Experience with Material Requirements Planning (MRP).
- Experience with Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, and Word).
- Ability to obtain and maintain a US Government Secret Clearance.
- US Citizenship required.
Preferred Qualifications for the Principal Production Operations Specialist:
- Experience with taking a prototype to full rate production
- Experience in the defense/aerospace industry
- Experience performing in a fast-paced manufacturing and development environment.
- In-depth experience with Manufacturing Resource Planning (MRP), production planning, and material management
- Experience with Earned Value reporting and analysis.
- Experience with all aspects of proposal generation
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree and at least 5 years of related experience
- Master's degree and at least 3 years of relevant experience, as an alternative to a bachelor's degree
- At least 9 years of relevant experience in lieu of a degree
- Experience leading teams or projects
- Experience with Material Requirements Planning (MRP)
- Experience with Microsoft Office, including Excel, PowerPoint, and Word
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Secret Clearance
- U.S. citizenship
- Experience taking a prototype to full-rate production
- Experience in the defense or aerospace industry
- Experience in a fast-paced manufacturing and development environment
- In-depth experience with MRP, production planning, and material management
- Experience with Earned Value reporting and analysis
- Experience with all aspects of proposal generation
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.






