Northrop Grumman Defense Systems Sector is seeking a Principal/Senior Principal Contract Administrator to join its team of qualified, and diverse professionals. This position will be located in Plymouth, MN. This is an on-site position, hybrid or remote options are not available for this position.
This is a very dynamic OU with high volume and fast paced contracts supporting numerous international customers, US DOD customers, and other prime contractors. Candidate must be a self-starter with the ability to manage customer relationships while collaborating internally with program and functional team members to facilitate successful contract execution and resolve emerging issues. Candidate must also have experience with and aptitude for managing contracts within a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
Essential Functions:
- Prioritize proposal activities and working on multiple tasks simultaneously
- Identify contractual risks and mitigate with appropriate contract provisions
- Serve as key business advisor to the program managers on contractual and operational matters
- Oversees all phases of the contract administration process, from initial preparation and negotiation through execution, changes or extensions, and termination.
- Plan and execute successful contract negotiations of a complex nature and achieving targeted profit rates, favorable terms and conditions on both contracts and other agreements required to assist in mitigating risk and meeting overall financial goals
- Build customer intimacy despite geographical separation as well as be able to effectively cultivate those relationships early on
- Make decisions in a timely manner under tight deadlines and pressure
- Offer guidance and work collaboratively with a multitude of organizations ranging from technical, program, finance, global supply chain, and trade compliance for seamless contract administration
- Maintain comprehensive and organized electronic and hard copy records of all contracts and related documentation for easy access and auditing
- Other duties as assigned
This requisition may be filled at a higher grade based on qualifications listed below.
Basic Qualifications:
- Level 3: Bachelor’s degree with 5+ years of professional relevant experience preferably in contracts – OR – Master’s degree with 3+ years // In lieu of degree 9 years of applicable experience
- Level 4: Bachelor’s degree with 8+ years of professional relevant experience preferably in contracts– OR – Master’s degree with 6+ years // In lieu of degree 12 years of applicable experience
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to use them in informing, presenting, and negotiating to all levels of management
- Team player, independent, proactive, and possess excellent problem solving, oral and written communication, and organizational skills.
- Experience evaluating/negotiating FAR clauses in different contract types
Preferred Qualifications:
- Demonstrated people leadership and/or supervisory/management experience.
- Must possess excellent problem solving and decision-making skills that support accomplishment of discipline objective to resolve complex problems and minimize risk to the Corporation.
- Ability to work independently and make independent decisions, ensuring high levels of collaboration with stakeholders and subject matter experts.
- Knowledge of Contract Management System (CMS) and Cost Point (CP).
- Proficient in Excel, PowerPoint, Word, SharePoint, etc.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree with 5+ years relevant experience OR Master's degree with 3+ years relevant experience OR in lieu of degree, 9 years applicable experience (Level 3)
- Bachelor's degree with 8+ years relevant experience OR Master's degree with 6+ years relevant experience OR in lieu of degree, 12 years applicable experience (Level 4)
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including presentation and negotiation abilities
- Team player, independent, proactive, with strong problem solving and organizational skills
- Experience evaluating and negotiating FAR clauses across different contract types
- Demonstrated people leadership and/or supervisory/management experience
- Strong decision-making skills to resolve complex problems and minimize corporate risk
- Ability to work independently while collaborating with stakeholders and subject matter experts
- Knowledge of Contract Management System (CMS) and Cost Point (CP)
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and SharePoint
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.








