At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.
NG Space Systems is looking for a Manager, Program Level 3, to provide leadership to the Program Management organization for the Propulsion portfolio supporting the Mission Enabling Products (MEP) Business Unit in the fast-growing Intelligence Systems Division (ISD) in Commerce, California.
This position is 100% On-Site
(MEP) is a leading designer, producer, and supplier of spacecraft components that power and enable satellites of all classes. Products include spacecraft panels, bus structures, precision optical structures, deployable structural systems and mechanisms, solar arrays, antenna reflectors and propulsion tanks. Our products are on virtually every U.S. satellite built in the last 20 years.
Learn more about Mission Enabling Products at our website: https://www.northropgrumman.com/space/spacecraft-components
Overview
The selected candidate will report to the Propulsion Product Director and serve as a key member of the leadership team for the evolving Propulsion portfolio. The candidate selected will be involved in program execution, cost, schedule, staffing, team building, customer satisfaction, ensuring compliance with organizational processes and procedures, maintaining relationships with and providing status to program leadership and customers. The individual will lead a matrixed-functional team aligned to common program performance goals from inception of an idea through program completion.
As a program manager, the primary objective will be the delivery of all contractual requirements on cost and schedule, while achieving all technical objectives and creating customer intimacy to support value creation strategies and actions. Program Managers are responsible for leading all phases of the program life cycle from inception (proposal development) through startup, execution, and completion (contract closeout). The individual will lead a cross-functional organization aligned to common program performance goals.
The candidate will be responsible for technical leadership and functional management of the Propulsion Program Managers. The candidate must be able to effectively communicate complex concepts, have a successful track record of program performance, and possess interpersonal team building skills. The selected candidate for this position must work full-time, on-site at the Northrop Grumman Commerce, CA site.
Role and Responsibilities:
Besides functional responsibilities, primary program responsibilities are the management of cost, schedule, and technical performance of company programs and include, but are not limited to, the following:
Set vision, lead, and manage an ~8-person team of program managers
Functional management of Program Manager team (time reporting, performance reviews, statement of work, performance evaluations, employee development, mentoring efforts, engagements, and other functional tasks)
Demonstrate a commitment to ethics and integrity, and the capability to innovate while challenging traditional ways of doing business
Interface directly with the Customer, Business Management, Contracts, Engineering, and other functional/support teams in support of program objectives, technical integrity, customer expectations, and schedule
Develop and implement team structures, organizational framework, and processes to optimize productivity and foster a high-performing, cohesive, and collaborative team environment
Developing new business opportunities through long term strategic planning, capture planning, and development of proposals and business plans
Identify, allocate, and manage program resources, including workforce planning
Adhere to all internal processes, policies, and applicable industry standards
Manage proposals, negotiation of contracts, contract changes, specifications, operating budgets, schedule milestones, and key terms and conditions
Cultivate customer relationships and intimacy to develop further opportunities within the customer community
Establish a program organization that effectively addresses customer requirements and incorporates the necessary internal and external sub-organizations
Establish design concepts, criteria, and engineering efforts for product research, development, and integration and test
Conduct thorough risk & opportunity management
Lead and direct cross-functional Integrated Program Teams (IPT) to meet program cost, schedule and technical performance objectives
Ensure the program team understands and adheres to contract scope, and implements changes through a control board
Measure and report program performance to internal and external customers
Deliver clear and compelling presentations to customers, executive management and other program stakeholders
Develop and adhere to budget baselines utilizing Earned Value Management (EVM) or similar cost & schedule control methodologies and tools
Manage customer supplied property or information (GFE, CFE, etc.)
Basic Qualifications:
Bachelor’s Degree and 10 years, or master’s degree and 8 years’ experience U.S. Government contracts and customers and/or project management in the Aerospace Industry
Minimum 5 years’ of experience with functional and/or technical leadership experience
US Citizenship is a requirement for employment
Experience leading the performance of program tasks on schedule, at cost, and achieving all requirements as either a program manager, project lead, integrated program team (IPT), or cost account manager (CAM)
Experience building and leading diverse and inclusive teams with high levels of engagement, including mentoring, coaching, and conflict resolution
Advanced MS Office Suite and MS Project skills
Preferred Qualifications:
Passion and relentless drive to achieve results, exceptional leadership skills, effective and timely decision-making, negotiation skills, and problem-solving skills
Knowledge and experience with implementation and execution of process standards focused on program execution, business development, and risk management
Experience establishing organizational and execution methods using program management tools such as Earned Value Management System (EVMS), Integrated Master Plan (IMP), Integrated Master Schedule (IMS), and Risk and Opportunity Management
An effective collaborator who can develop and maintain good working relationships with internal and external stakeholders
Proven track record of developing product strategy and developing stakeholder/customer relationships, pursuit capture, and shaping requirements
Experience in Program Management, Engineering and Manufacturing, and/or IPT roles
Broad skill set that is balanced between interpersonal, business, and technical capabilities
Strong organization skills in both independent and team environments
Effective communicator (verbal and written) with proven experience with developing and briefing presentations
Ability to adjust communication to an audience (from manufacturing technician up through customer and executive management)
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree and 10 years, or Master's degree and 8 years' experience in U.S. Government contracts and/or project management in the Aerospace industry
- Minimum 5 years of functional and/or technical leadership experience
- U.S. Citizenship
- Experience delivering program tasks on schedule, at cost, and achieving requirements as a program manager, project lead, IPT member, or cost account manager (CAM)
- Experience building and leading diverse and inclusive teams, including mentoring, coaching, and conflict resolution
- Advanced Microsoft Office Suite skills
- Microsoft Project skills
- Experience with Earned Value Management System (EVMS), Integrated Master Plan (IMP), Integrated Master Schedule (IMS), and Risk and Opportunity Management
- Experience developing capture plans, proposals, business plans, and product strategy
- Experience in Program Management, Engineering and Manufacturing, and/or Integrated Product Team (IPT) roles
- Strong communication, organization, negotiation, and leadership skills
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.





