Northrop Grumman’s Aeronautics Systems sector has an opening for a Principal / Sr. Principal Procurement Specialist (Level 3 or 4) – Category Management to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals.
This position is remote, however candidates will need to be within a commutable distance from one of the following AS locations Palmdale, CA; El Segundo, CA; or Melbourne, FL.
We are seeking a results-driven Category Management Procurement Specialist to lead Sector-level strategies for raw materials, composites, and/or standard hardware categories. This role partners with internal stakeholders, suppliers, and cross-functional teams to drive cost effective, resilient sourcing solutions that support mission-critical outcomes. The ideal candidate is a self-motivated individual who will thrive in a project driven environment, and demonstrates the ability to balance long-term strategy with day-to-day execution.
In this role, the selected candidate will be expected to:
- Design and implement comprehensive category strategies for raw materials, composites, or the standard hardware category to mitigate supply chain risk, ensure affordability, and align with the Organization and Program objectives.
- Prepare Procurement Review Board (PRB) packages, competitive and sole source bid packages, conduct bidders conferences, analyze and evaluate proposals, perform price/cost analyses, negotiate contract provisions, select or recommend awards, and administers resulting contracts.
- Monitor commodity indices and leverage market trends to inform sourcing decisions
- Conduct market analyses, total-cost-of-ownership studies, and demand forecasts to shape long-term sourcing roadmaps.
- Apply standard Aerospace & Defense purchasing / procurement methodology to spend categories to achieve organizational objectives, best value for the enterprise, and achievement of target return on investments (ROI).
- Support sector initiatives/ special projects as required
- Establish vendor managed inventory (VMI) agreements, Right-to-Buy Agreements, long-term agreements, strategic agreements, and negotiate favorable terms and conditions with Suppliers.
- Identify supply-chain risks & opportunities and develop mitigation and execution plans to address.
- Manage internal and external relationships and supplier partnerships
This position may be filled as a Level 3 or Level 4 based on the qualifications outlined below.
Basic Qualifications Level 3:
- Bachelor’s Degree with at least 5+ years of experience in Procurement, Subcontracts, or Supply Chain Management OR a master’s degree with at least 3+ years of experience in Procurement, Subcontracts, or Supply Chain Management; 9 years of experience maybe considered in lieu of a degree
- Strong understanding of FAR provisions and GSC policies and procedures
- Ability to multi-task and make sound decisions in a timely manner
- Experience building teams and interfacing/ collaborating with Programs and other organizations within and outside of Global Supply Chain
- Ability to work with minimal supervision, work successfully in a fast-paced environment and apply sound judgment to problem solving
- At minimum, the ability to obtain an active DoD Secret level clearance to apply and to start the role, with the ability to obtain and maintain Special Program Access within a reasonable amount of time as determined by the Company to meet its business needs
- Commutable distance from one of the following AS locations to Palmdale, CA; Redondo Beach, CA; or Melbourne, FL
Basic Qualifications Level 4:
- Bachelor’s Degree with at least 8+ years of experience in Procurement, Subcontracts, or Supply Chain Management OR a master’s degree with at least 6+ years of experience in Procurement, Subcontracts, or Supply Chain Management; 12 years of experience maybe considered in lieu of a degree
- Strong understanding of FAR provisions and GSC policies and procedures
- Ability to multi-task and make sound decisions in a timely manner
- Experience building teams and interfacing/ collaborating with Programs and other organizations within and outside of Global Supply Chain
- Ability to work with minimal supervision, work successfully in a fast-paced environment and apply sound judgment to problem solving
- At minimum, the ability to obtain an active DoD Secret level clearance to apply and to start the role, with the ability to obtain and maintain Special Program Access within a reasonable amount of time as determined by the Company to meet its business needs
- Commutable distance from one of the following AS locations to Palmdale, CA; Redondo Beach, CA; or Melbourne, FL
Preferred Qualifications:
- Masters degree and 8+ years of supply chain, contracts, business management or related experience
- Negotiating contracts in excess of $10 Million
- Budgeting experience and EVM knowledge
- Working knowledge sector categories, including a solid understanding of engineering/technical requirements
- Ability to understand engineering practices and work within the technology arena to further the connection between the technology roadmaps and Global Supply Chain
- Ability to plan schedule and arrange activities to accomplish objectives
- Exceptional leadership and people management skills with the ability to model and promote a strong sense of engagement, teamwork and cooperation
- SAP experience
- Exceptional written and verbal communication and organizational skills
- Significant experience managing supply chain risk
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree with 5+ years of experience in Procurement, Subcontracts, or Supply Chain Management OR master's degree with 3+ years; 9 years experience may be considered in lieu
- Bachelor's degree with 8+ years of experience in Procurement, Subcontracts, or Supply Chain Management OR master's degree with 6+ years; 12 years experience may be considered in lieu
- Strong understanding of FAR provisions and GSC policies and procedures
- Ability to multi-task and make sound decisions in a timely manner
- Experience building teams and interfacing/collaborating with Programs and other Global Supply Chain organizations
- Ability to work with minimal supervision in a fast-paced environment and apply sound judgment to problem solving
- Ability to obtain an active DoD Secret level clearance to apply and start the role, and to obtain/maintain Special Program Access as required
- Commutable distance from Palmdale, CA; Redondo Beach/El Segundo, CA; or Melbourne, FL
- Masters degree and 8+ years of supply chain, contracts, business management or related experience
- Experience negotiating contracts in excess of $10 Million
- Budgeting experience and Earned Value Management (EVM) knowledge
- Working knowledge of sector categories and engineering/technical requirements
- SAP experience
- Exceptional written and verbal communication and organizational skills
- Significant experience managing supply chain risk
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.








