Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems has an opening for a Senior Principal Supply Chain Subcontract Specialist to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals. This position is hybrid, reporting in-office every week in El Segundo, California.
Able to accommodate an in office schedule.
9/80 shift with every other Friday off
Opportunities for occasional travel
About the Role:
Sources and procures specialized goods and services. Owns contractual management for the supplier. Responsible for source selection from contract proposal to execution phases. Develops subcontract specifications, work statements, and terms and conditions for the procurement of specialized materials, equipment, and/or services. Prepares bid packages, conducts bidders conferences, analyzes and evaluates proposals, negotiates subcontract provisions, selects or recommends subcontractors, writes awards, and administers resulting subcontracts. In conjunction with quality organization, evaluates and monitors supplier quality and reliability, as well as supplier ability to support required delivery schedules. Identifies strategies and opportunities to reduce cost, improve efficiency and manage risk through strategic and targeted negotiations.
Manages performance of subcontracts, ensures compliance with all public law requirements as well as company (and business) policies and procedures including import/export regulations. Employs sound business practices and assesses supplier performance as part of follow-up activities. Ensures that appropriate documentation is provided to logistics/transportation & warehouse organization so that proper receipt is recorded. Manages and develops strategic/key suppliers. Reviews and approves supplier payment as needed. Utilizes process tools such as Lean Six Sigma with suppliers to drive quality, efficiency and continuous improvement.
Coordinates and collaborates with key stakeholders such as legal, contracts, finance, planning, operations, program management, engineering, and quality. As part of a cross-functional team, candidate will monitor and manage schedule, cost, technical and quality performance of suppliers in support of programs. Subcontract Specialists will interface with supplier leadership teams to motivate and drive excellence in performance of contractual requirements.
You will additionally be responsible for providing subcontracting process and compliance requirements guidance to junior Subcontract Specialists, Supplier Management Teams and Integrated Product Team Leads. Provides subject matter expertise in all aspects of supplier and subcontract management. Works under general direction toward long-range goals and objectives. Assignments are often self-initiated. Performs independently with minimal management oversight.
Essential Functions:
Responsible for subcontract sourcing, proposal evaluation, negotiation, award, execution, administration, and closeout phases
Assesses supplier performance and regularly communicates feedback to Supplier Leadership
Manages supplier performance throughout the subcontracting lifecycle
Ensures compliance with all FAR, DFARS and public law requirements, as well as company policies and procedures
Identifies strategies and opportunities to reduce cost, improve efficiency and manage risk through strategic and targeted negotiations
Cultivates and maintains strong working relationships with suppliers, customers, and internal stakeholders
Contributes to Program Risk and Opportunity management
Utilizes process tools such as Lean Six Sigma with suppliers to drive quality, efficiency, and continuous improvement.
The selected candidate should thrive in a fast-paced, On-Site work environment with high expectations, significantly diverse assignments, and collaborative team settings across all levels.
Basic Qualifications ( Sr. Principal Subcontract Specialist):
Bachelor’s Degree with a minimum of 8 years’ experience OR a master's degree with a minimum of 6 years’ experience in Subcontracts, Procurement, Contracts, Finance, or Program/Project Management
A minimum of 12 years' combined experience in Subcontracts, Procurement, Contracts, Finance or Program/Project Management experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
Experience with SAP/MRP or related business application software
Ability to obtain a U.S. Government Secret Security Clearance and Program Special Access within a reasonable amount of time as determined by the Company to meet its business needs
Preferred Qualifications:
Working knowledge of FAR and DFARS regulations.
Supplier selection/management experience on US Government contract(s).
Experience working within a government approved purchasing system
Familiarity with NGAS subcontracting terms and conditions.
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree and at least 8 years of experience in subcontracts, procurement, contracts, finance, or program/project management
- Master’s degree and at least 6 years of experience in subcontracts, procurement, contracts, finance, or program/project management
- At least 12 years of combined experience in subcontracts, procurement, contracts, finance, or program/project management may substitute for a degree
- Experience with SAP, MRP, or related business application software
- Ability to obtain a U.S. Government Secret Security Clearance and Program Special Access within a reasonable timeframe
- Working knowledge of FAR and DFARS regulations
- Supplier selection and management experience on U.S. Government contracts
- Experience working within a government-approved purchasing system
- Familiarity with Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems subcontracting terms and conditions
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.
