Northrop Grumman Mission Systems (NGMS) seeks to fill a Manager Level 3 Software and Digital Technologies (SWDT) position as a department manager in our Rolling Meadows, IL location. SWDT is a discipline within the sector Engineering and Sciences (E&S) organization. The selected candidate will be responsible for the overall direction, leadership, and management of SWDT execution and operations for remote sites outside of Rolling Meadows that directly support business units in Rolling Meadows. This will include the performance and execution of all software efforts in Apopka, FL. This Business Unit is a part of the MSTS division which is headquartered at Rolling Meadows, IL. This role encompasses team leadership, management, and technical performance of a diverse team of embedded software engineers.
The selected candidate will report to the Director of SWDT supporting the Rolling Meadows, IL site.
The successful product area manager will:
- Be responsible for driving strong technical, cost, and schedule performance in support of contracts across multiple business units, which includes all SW programs at the Apopka, FL site
- Be responsible for driving operational efficiency and affordability on programs and across the SWDT organization and related E&S elements
- Be the primary point of contact for remote sites supporting RM programs across MSTS program management, E&S systems engineering, and E&S hardware engineering and other stakeholders
- Be the primary point of contact for Apopka SWDT activities across MSTS program management, E&S systems engineering, and E&S hardware engineering and other stakeholders
- Be responsible for reviewing organizational metrics with applicable program and organizational leadership
- Be responsible for collaboration and input on future business opportunities, specifically program proposals and new business captures
- Be responsible for staffing projections, and execute staffing plans in accordance with staffing projections
- Be responsible for regular communications with direct employees, including increasing inclusion and engagement, mentoring and career development, employee training, and performance management
- Be accountable for recruiting of talent
- Provide advice on staffing, training, tools, and processes to the overall SWDT organization
Travel is required. Minimum of 25% is expected
This position will be full-time and on-site in Rolling Meadows, IL.
Basic Qualifications:
- BS/BA degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) related discipline with a minimum of 10 years related software or firmware experience.
- Experience and depth of understanding in software engineering principles, and the full engineering lifecycle
- Prior experience with personnel management activities including: performance management, professional development, employee retention, and recruiting
- High proficiency in technical problem solving, to include decomposition, root cause analysis, solution development, implementation and monitoring
- Experience leading small-to-medium technical teams in successful delivery of technical solutions, engineering artifacts, and operational software
- Familiarity with an engineering lifecycle in an agile environment
- Strong oral and written communication skills with ability to focus on multiple projects with competing priorities
- Active DoD Secret Clearance
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with embedded software development and delivery of software product for DoD customers
- Familiarity with DoD Earned Value Management principles to measure project performance
- Master's degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) related discipline with 5 years experience in an agile environment
- Experience with process transformation and insertion in a large engineering organization
- Familiarity with the creatation and execution of remote software teams
- Active DoD Top Secret Clearance
Skills Required
- BS/BA in STEM with a minimum of 10 years related software or firmware experience
- Experience and depth of understanding in software engineering principles and full engineering lifecycle
- Prior personnel management experience (performance management, professional development, retention, recruiting)
- High proficiency in technical problem solving (decomposition, root cause analysis, solution development and monitoring)
- Experience leading small-to-medium technical teams to deliver technical solutions and operational software
- Familiarity with an engineering lifecycle in an agile environment
- Strong oral and written communication skills and ability to manage multiple competing priorities
- Active DoD Secret Clearance
- Ability and willingness to travel (minimum ~25%)
- Ability to work full-time on-site in Rolling Meadows, IL
- Accountability for recruiting, staffing projections, and executing staffing plans
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.









