The Northrop Grumman Propulsion, Aerospace Services and Structures (PASS) Operating Unit is a leading supplier of composite structures for optical benches and telescope structures, spacecraft structures, aircraft components, and ceramic matrix composites, as well as other air- and space-related applications. We are seeking a Principal Project Manager to support the Program Management team on-site at our San Diego, California facility.
Learn more about Spacecraft Components at our website: Mission Enabling Products | Northrop Grumman
Overview
Reporting to the Space Director of Programs in San Diego, the Project Manager will support key programs within the Space business portfolio, with particular emphasis on composite panels for solar arrays and spacecraft structures. This role requires experience in a manufacturing environment, strong leadership potential, and collaborative interpersonal skills, along with proven experience working in a dynamic, high-growth, fast-paced, and strategically important operating unit.
Responsibilities:
- Serve as a liaison between program management and cross-functional teams during proposal, design, procurement, manufacturing, test, and delivery phases
- Work with the Program Management team to establish milestones and monitor adherence to master plans and schedules
- Anticipate and identify potential issues, including understanding impacts to adjacent areas
- Review and manage budgets, schedules, critical path activities, Estimates at Completion (EACs), and workload forecasts; support preparation of status reports for customers and management
- Assess project issues and develop resolutions to meet productivity, quality, and customer satisfaction objectives
- Participate in root cause analysis and corrective actions, failure review boards and material review boards as needed
- Support transition of designs into manufacturing by working with technical teams to identify opportunities to streamline manufacturing and assembly processes, achieve required delivery rates, and reduce costs
- Support proposal development for change orders, new business opportunities, capture efforts, and strategic planning
- Develop strong customer and supplier relationships to facilitate open communication regarding project requirements and supplier capabilities
Basic Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering or another technical discipline with 5 year related experience; OR 3 years with a Master's degree, an additional four years' experience may be considered in lieu of a degree
- 2 years of project management experience, or experience leading task execution on schedule as a project lead or integrated program team lead
- Experience supporting customers in a project or technical lead role
- Ability to communicate effectively across multiple levels of the organization, including strong presentation skills
- Strong interpersonal, written, verbal, and presentation skills
- Proven analytical, technical, strategic, and problem-solving abilities
- High proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and Microsoft Project
- Ability to obtain and maintain a secret clearance
- U.S. citizenship required
Preferred Qualifications:
- 2+ years of Program or Project Management experience or similar (e.g. Lead IPT (Integrated Product Team), or Lead NPT (New Product Team) or Systems Engineering lead
- Experience with earned value management
- Aerospace or defense industry experience
- Experience with Composite Manufacturing and testing
- Program execution experience
- Gated design development experience (PDR, CDR)
- Active US Government security clearance
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering or another technical discipline with 5 years of related experience, or a master’s degree with 3 years of related experience; additional experience may substitute for a degree
- At least 2 years of project management experience or experience leading task execution as a project lead or integrated program team lead
- Experience supporting customers in a project or technical lead role
- Effective communication across multiple organizational levels, including presentation skills
- Strong interpersonal, written, verbal, analytical, technical, strategic, and problem-solving skills
- High proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and Microsoft Project
- Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance
- U.S. citizenship
- At least 2 years of program or project management experience or similar leadership experience
- Experience with earned value management
- Aerospace or defense industry experience
- Composite manufacturing and testing experience
- Program execution experience
- Gated design development experience, including PDR and CDR
- Active U.S. Government security clearance
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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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage offers multiple medical plan options by region alongside dental, vision, mental‑health resources, and wellness programs. Recent materials also highlight added family‑building support, including a dedicated fertility benefit.
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Retirement Support — The 401(k) savings plan is positioned as competitive with a company match, auto‑escalation features, and access to an employee stock fund/ESPP. Official filings and benefits guides emphasize retirement as a core element of the Total Rewards package.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Many sites offer a 9/80 schedule, generous PTO, paid holidays, and flexible/telework options where program needs allow. Paid parental and caregiver leave are prominently featured, with recent enhancements for the delivering parent.
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.








