Northrop Grumman’s Space Systems sector has an opening for a Program Manager 1 to support our Precision Structures team in the Mission Enabling Products Operational Unit . This selected candidate will join our leadership team of qualified, diverse individuals onsite in San Diego, California.
This position will manage the cost, schedule and technical performance of contract(s) and lead shaping program requirements for follow-on efforts. The candidate will act as primary customer interface for program activities, leading program review sessions with customer to discuss cost, schedule, and technical performance. Additionally, they will establish and manage milestones and monitor adherence to master plans and schedules, identify program risks and opportunities, and obtain solutions, such as allocation of resources or changing contractual specifications. This leader will also direct and manage the work of employees assigned to the program from technical, operations and administrative roles.
A successful candidate must have a record of achieving successful outcomes by leading diverse technical teams, navigating internal processes, communicating with customers, creating a positive work environment that engages our employees, managing suppliers, bringing clarity and clear direction to a variety of situations, excelling in the fundamentals of program management and use of predictive metrics to employ innovative problem-solving skills.
Role and Responsibilities:
Cultivate customer relationships and intimacy to develop further opportunities within the customer community
Develop new business opportunities through long term strategic planning, capture planning, and development of proposals and business plans
Establish a program organization that effectively addresses customer requirements and incorporates the necessary internal and external sub-organizations
Lead cross-functional Integrated Program Teams (IPT) to meet program cost, schedule and technical performance objectives
Measure and report program performance
Deliver presentations to customers, executive management and other program stakeholders
Participate in the negotiation of contracts, contract changes, specifications, operating budgets, schedule milestones, and key terms and conditions.
Establish design concepts, criteria, and engineering efforts for product research, development, integration and test.
Create, review and finalize the program Statement of Work
Identify, distribute, track, and complete program requirements
Establish and manage the program and subordinate baselines
Develop and adhere to budget baselines utilizing Earned Value Management (EVM) or similar cost & schedule control methodologies and tools
Identify, allocate and manage program resources, to include workforce planning
Manage Government/customer supplied property or information (GFE, CFE, etc.)
Manage suppliers to meet program objectives
Adhere to all internal processes, policies, and applicable industry standards
Ensure the program team understands and adheres to contract scope, and manage change through control board activities
Develop and adhere to master plans and schedules
Conduct thorough risk and opportunity management practices to include identification, mitigation and realization
Travel Approximately 10%
Basic Qualifications:
Bachelor degree in a STEM discipline and 5 years' related experience as defined below
Related experience includes a background in project management, program management, IPT Lead, capture efforts, and/or business management related functions in an aerospace production environment
Strong interpersonal, communication and presentation skills to internal and external customers
Experience supporting proposal efforts, business plans, operating budgets, or program budgets
Demonstrated financial management skills including development and control of program budgets, schedules, Estimate at Complete (EAC), and the ability to recognize and capture program changes
Demonstrated Program Execution and Performance
Gated design development experience (PDR, CDR)
US Citizenship is required
Preferred Qualifications:
Bachelors of Master's degree in Engineering
Experience with composite structures
Active Top Secret clearance
Skills Required
- Bachelor degree in a STEM discipline and 5 years related experience
- Background in project/program management, IPT lead, capture efforts, or business management in an aerospace production environment
- Strong interpersonal, communication and presentation skills
- Experience supporting proposal efforts, business plans, operating budgets, or program budgets
- Demonstrated financial management skills including development and control of program budgets, schedules, and Estimate at Complete (EAC)
- Demonstrated program execution and performance
- Gated design development experience (PDR, CDR)
- U.S. Citizenship
- Master's degree in Engineering
- Experience with composite structures
- Active Top Secret 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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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.







