Northrop Grumman Mission Systems is seeking a Business Operations Lead to join our Engineering & Sciences (E&S) Hardware Engineering team in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. In this highly visible role, you will partner directly with the MSTS RM HWE Director and leadership team to drive strategic initiatives, shape operating rhythms, and enable data‑driven decisions across a large, complex engineering organization.
This role reports directly to the MSTS RM HWE Director and supports the Rolling Meadows Multidomain Sensing, Targeting & Survivability (MSTS) Hardware Engineering (HWE) organization.
The Principal/Sr. Principal Business Operations Lead will manage the business operational aspects of the HWE organization and provide direct support to the Director ensuring the leaders’ vision is translated into an operational reality. The position will require interface across the MSTS RM HWE leadership team and coordination of activities all sub-organizations.
The Business Operations Lead position requires a high energy strategic thinker with the ability to operate at both a strategic and a hands-on level as needed.
Responsibilities
Strategic execution and operating rhythm
- Drive execution of strategic initiatives and tasks initiated by the RM HWE Director by working with cross-functional teams and business leaders throughout the organization and sector.
- Establish and maintain the operating rhythm for the RM HWE Director and Leadership Team, including regular cadences, reviews, and follow-up.
Communication, collaboration, and stakeholder engagement
- Serve as the focal point for communication and collaboration for the RM HWE organization and ensure strong collaboration across the entire MSTS E&S organization.
- Support the Director in cultivating relationships with strategic partners and other key stakeholders.
- Draft organizational communications related to calendar events, functional processes, and strategic updates.
Program / project and process leadership
- Lead internal special project initiatives and the HWE Director, including overseeing HWE process activities, establishing and leading cross-discipline teams, managing overhead budgets on initiatives, and briefing the HWE Director and senior leaders.
- Facilitate organizational strategy discussions (off-sites, roadmap development, engagement planning) across all RM HWE areas.
Workforce planning, metrics, and analytics
- Work with the RM HWE leadership team to support workforce planning, metrics, and movement of work across campuses.
- Perform analysis, planning, and forecasting to aid leadership, financial, and organizational decision making.
- Facilitate the collection and presentation of metrics and develop analytical tools to track results and measurable outcomes versus stated objectives/goals.
- Coordinate RM HWE financials and management of investments (ITA/Capital, etc.) across the organization.
Leadership support and meeting preparation
- Establish agendas and coordinate preparation for leadership team meetings, off-sites, events, and other key meetings.
- Shadow the Director at major meetings and events, reviewing the agenda and pre-/post-interactions to ensure successful outcomes.
- Anticipate and manage materials, data, and presentation needs for upcoming meetings and events.
- Brief the Director on key issues, challenges, and decisions made at meetings.
- Work with the administrative team to facilitate staff meetings (establish rhythms, coordinate special topics).
This position will be full-time and on-site at our Rolling Meadows, IL. location
This position can be filled at the Principal or Sr. Principal level based on requirements below:
Basic Qualifications for Principal Business Analyst:
- Bachelor’s degree and 5+ years of relevant experience; or a Master’s degree and 3+ years of relevant experience.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Secret security clearance.
- Demonstrated project management, analytical, planning, and presentation skills.
- Self-motivated with the ability to prioritize and complete multiple tasks and projects within critical deadlines.
- Strong experience with Microsoft Excel (e.g., pivot tables, formulas) or other data analysis tools.
- US Citizenship
Basic Qualifications for Sr. Principal Business Analyst:
- Bachelor’s degree and 8+ years of relevant experience; or a Master’s degree and 6+ years of relevant experience.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Secret security clearance.
- Demonstrated project management, analytical, planning, and presentation skills.
- Self-motivated with the ability to prioritize and complete multiple tasks and projects within critical deadlines.
- Strong experience with Microsoft Excel (e.g., pivot tables, formulas) or other data analysis tools.
- US Citizenship
Preferred Qualifications:
- Prior leadership experience in functional or program roles (e.g., technical lead, IPT lead, functional manager).
- BS in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering or relevant Hardware discipline.
- Experience working in or with hardware engineering or similar technical organizations.
- Excellent organizational, verbal, and written communication skills.
- Strong Jira and Confluence skills.
- Experience in Agile leadership and/or as a Scrum Master.
- Strong Microsoft Office and SharePoint skills.
- Attention to detail and accuracy.
- Demonstrated ability to build and foster effective relationships across multi-discipline and cross-campus teams.
- Demonstrated ability to respect confidentiality and safeguard sensitive information.
- Familiarity with organizations and stakeholders outside of Engineering & Sciences, with experience in cross-campus or multi-discipline collaboration.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree and 5+ years relevant experience or Master's degree and 3+ years (Principal level)
- Bachelor's degree and 8+ years relevant experience or Master's degree and 6+ years (Sr. Principal level)
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Secret security clearance
- U.S. Citizenship
- Demonstrated project management, analytical, planning, and presentation skills
- Strong experience with Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, formulas) or other data analysis tools
- Self-motivated with ability to prioritize and complete multiple tasks and projects within critical deadlines
- Prior leadership experience in functional or program roles (e.g., technical lead, IPT lead, functional manager)
- BS in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering or relevant hardware discipline
- Experience working in or with hardware engineering or similar technical organizations
- Strong Jira and Confluence skills
- Experience in Agile leadership and/or as a Scrum Master
- Strong Microsoft Office and SharePoint skills
- Excellent organizational, verbal, and written communication skills
- Demonstrated ability to respect confidentiality and safeguard sensitive information
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.








