Northrop Grumman Defense Systems is seeking to hire a Launcher Product Zone Systems Engineering Manager 3 to be located in Roy, UT or Colorado Springs, CO and support the Sentinel Program and may offer a competitive relocation package.
What You’ll Get To Do:
The Launch Silo IPT is seeking a senior leader to own the end to end design, integration, and release of the Launcher system. You will act as the Cost Account Manager (CAM) for this work scope, directing a multi disciplinary team that delivers the Launcher Closure System/Door, Umbilical System, Missile Suspension System, Launch Tube Structure, and Maintenance features. The role reports directly to the Launch Silo IPT Lead and is responsible for meeting aggressive cost, schedule, and performance targets while maintaining close partnership with customers, subcontractors, and internal stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities:
Technical Ownership - Lead design, analysis, and release of all Launcher subsystems. Ensure requirements flow down, interface control, and configuration management are rigorously applied.
Cost & Schedule Management (CAM) - Develop and maintain the Earned Value Management System (EVMS) baseline for the Launcher work scope; track cost, schedule, and performance; drive corrective actions to stay within budget and on time.
Cross Functional Team Leadership - Direct functional leads for structural, mechanical, electrical, and thermal engineering, as well as CAD/ECAD librarians; foster collaboration across the IPT for seamless hand offs between design, integration, and test.
Model Based Engineering & Release Process - Champion model based engineering (MBE) practices; maintain an up to date digital twin of the Launcher system; own the Product Development Process (PDP) release flow, close design review gaps, and certify releases for production.
Stakeholder & Partner Management - Primary technical liaison to DoD customers, prime subcontractors, and key suppliers; prepare concise briefings and status reports for senior leadership, program reviews, and customer technical panels.
Talent Development & Culture - Mentor and develop engineers and section managers; drive hiring, training, and retention of top talent; lead initiatives that improve employee engagement and continuous improvement.
Special Projects & Support Provide expertise for proposals, independent technical reviews, audits, and ad hoc assignments that support the Launcher program.
Position Benefits:
As a full-time employee of Northrop Grumman you are eligible for our robust benefits package including:
· Medical, Dental & Vision coverage
· 401k
· Educational Assistance
· Life Insurance
· Employee Assistance Programs & Work/Life Solutions
· Paid Time Off
· Health & Wellness Resources
· Employee Discounts
This position’s standard work schedule is a 9/80. The 9/80 schedule allows employees who work a nine-hour day Monday through Thursday to take every other Friday off. This role may offer a competitive relocation assistance package.
You’ll Bring These Qualifications:
• Bachelor's Degree with 8 years of related experience in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) or Masters Degree and 6 years of related experience
• Must be a US Citizen with an active U.S. Government Secret Clearance with an investigation date within the last 6 years
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a DoD Top Secret Clearance and Special Program Access within a period of time, that meets current business needs
These Qualifications Would be Nice to Have:
• Experience with SMT / Key Partner Subcontractors – Direct work history collaborating with System Man Tech (SMT) partners or analogous prime/secondary subcontractors on launch vehicle or weapon system projects, including joint technical reviews, interface negotiations, and integrated schedule management.
• Engineering Codes & Standards Expertise – In depth knowledge of applicable engineering codes and standards (e.g., MIL-STDs, UFCs, NFPA, IBC, etc.) and the ability to apply them to launcher door, umbilical, suspension, and launch tube designs.
• MBSE & CAD/ECAD Proficiency – Experience Model Based Systems Engineering tools (Cameo, MagicDraw, IBM Rational) and CAD/ECAD platforms (SolidWorks, CATIA, NX, Mentor Graphics) for configuration controlled design releases.
• Structural & Thermal Analysis – Experience with ANSYS, NASTRAN, ABAQUS, or comparable solvers for high fidelity structural, thermal, and fluid dynamics studies of launch system components.
• Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) / GOCO Experience – Prior participation in Government Owned Contractor Operated programs, with familiarity in government procurement processes and contract clauses.
• Project Management Certifications – PMP, PMI ACP, or Earned Value Management Certification (EVMC) preferred.
• Leadership Experience: Minimum 3 years in a formal lead/management position overseeing multi-disciplinary engineering teams.
• Aerospace/Defense Exposure: Minimum 1 year of experience working in the Aerospace or Defense Sector.
• Cost & Schedule Management: Minimum 3 years of hands-on experience with Earned Value Management (EVM) / Cost Account Management (CAM) – baseline development, variance analysis, and reporting.
• Technical Breadth: Hands on knowledge of requirements engineering, system architecture, interface control, model-based design, and test & verification.
• Communication Skills: Excellent oral and written communication; demonstrated capability to present technical status, risks, and recommendations to senior leadership, customers, and partners.
• Collaboration & Partner Management: Strong track record of working with subcontractors, suppliers, and DoD customers to resolve technical and schedule challenges.
• Mentoring & Team Development: Experience coaching engineers and managers, fostering an inclusive, high-performance culture.
Primary Level Salary Range: $166,700.00 - $263,300.00The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions.Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in STEM with 8 years related experience, or Master's degree with 6 years related experience
- Must be a U.S. Citizen
- Active U.S. Government Secret Clearance with investigation within the last 6 years
- Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Top Secret Clearance and Special Program Access
- Located in Roy, UT or Colorado Springs, CO (relocation assistance may be available)
- Willingness to travel up to 25% of the time
- Experience with Earned Value Management (EVMS) / Cost Account Management (CAM) (baseline development, variance analysis, reporting)
- Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and CAD/ECAD tool experience (Cameo, MagicDraw, IBM Rational, SolidWorks, CATIA, NX, Mentor Graphics)
- Experience with structural/thermal analysis tools (ANSYS, NASTRAN, ABAQUS)
- Project Management certification (PMP, PMI-ACP) or Earned Value Management Certification
- Leadership experience managing multi-disciplinary engineering teams (minimum 3 years preferred)
- Experience working in Aerospace or Defense sector
- Familiarity with engineering codes and standards (MIL-STD, UFC, NFPA, IBC, etc.) and GFE/GOCO programs
- Strong communication, stakeholder management, and mentoring 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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.







