Northrop Grumman’s Space Sector is seeking a Subcontracts Mission Assurance Manager – Level 3 or Level 4 to join our team in Promontory, UT. This position is 100% onsite and cannot accommodate telecommute work.
The Subcontracts Mission Assurance Manager (SMAM) serves as the primary Supplier Quality representative for an assigned program, independently leading all supplier quality and mission assurance activities across the subcontract lifecycle. This role requires a highly technical professional capable of making sound risk-based decisions, influencing cross-functional teams, and driving supplier performance with minimal oversight.
This position will work a 9/80 schedule, with every other Friday off.
Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Serve as the single point of contact for Supplier Quality and Mission Assurance supporting one or more complex programs, providing technical leadership and independent decision-making.
- Develop and execute supplier quality strategies to ensure subcontractor compliance with contractual, technical, regulatory, and mission assurance requirements.
- Assess supplier capability and manufacturing readiness through technical evaluations, process reviews, audits, and product verification activities.
- Lead supplier issue resolution including nonconformance disposition, supplier corrective actions (SCAR), root cause and corrective action verification, risk assessments, and recovery planning.
- Provide technical oversight and approval of supplier quality documentation, including First Article Inspection (FAI), source inspection planning, control plans, manufacturing plans, and quality records.
- Participate in design reviews, Manufacturing Readiness Reviews (MRR), Test Readiness Reviews (TRR), Pre-Ship Reviews (PSR), Material Review Boards (MRB), Failure Review Boards (FRB), and program risk reviews.
- Partner with Engineering, Program Management, Global Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Reliability, Configuration Management, Mission Assurance, and customer representatives to proactively identify and mitigate supplier risks.
- Perform supplier audits, product/process surveillance, and on-site assessments to ensure compliance with AS9100, contractual requirements, and industry best practices.
- Monitor supplier performance metrics, identify emerging risks, and develop mitigation strategies to support cost, schedule, quality, and mission success.
- Provide technical guidance on supplier quality processes, investigations, and continuous improvement initiatives as needed
- Other duties as assigned
This position can be filled at either a Level 3 or Level 4.
Basic Qualifications for Level 3:
- Bachelor’s degree with 5 years of professional experience – OR – Master’s degree with 3 years of professional experience – OR – PhD with 1 year of professional experience.
- Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Secret security clearance
- Experience independently managing supplier quality activities supporting complex hardware, aerospace, defense, electronics, mechanical assemblies, or other highly engineered products.
- Working knowledge of quality management systems (AS9100 and/or ISO 9001) and supplier quality requirements.
- Experience conducting technical investigations and utilizing quality tools including RCCA, 8D, PFMEA, Fishbone, SCAR, statistical analysis, and risk assessment methodologies.
- Experience reviewing engineering drawings, specifications, manufacturing processes, and technical documentation to evaluate supplier capability and product compliance.
- Demonstrated ability to prioritize multiple assignments, manage competing program demands, and communicate effectively across functional organizations.
Basic Qualifications for Level 4:
- Bachelor’s degree with 8 years of professional experience – OR – Master’s degree with 6 years of professional experience – OR – PhD with 4 years of professional experience.
- Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Secret security clearance
- Recognized technical expert with extensive experience independently leading supplier quality activities for complex aerospace or defense programs with minimal direction.
- Demonstrated expertise evaluating manufacturing processes, production readiness, supplier quality systems, technical risks, and subcontract execution throughout the product lifecycle.
- Proven ability to influence supplier executive leadership and internal stakeholders while leading complex technical issue resolution and supplier recovery efforts.
- Extensive experience leading supplier audits, surveillance activities, design reviews, MRBs, FRBs, readiness reviews, and mission assurance assessments.\
- Demonstrated ability to develop supplier quality strategies, drive continuous improvement initiatives, and mentor less experienced quality professionals.
Preferred Qualifications:
- AS9100 and/or ISO 9001 Lead Auditor certification or equivalent Quality Management System auditing experience.
- Experience supporting DoD, NASA, or other highly regulated aerospace and defense programs.
- Experience with electronics, avionics, propulsion systems, mechanical assemblies, composites, energetics, or other mission-critical hardware.
- Familiarity with Costpoint and/or TipQA
- Experience supporting source inspection, First Article Inspection (AS9102), production acceptance, and supplier surveillance.
- Knowledge of FAR/DFARS, contractual quality requirements, and risk-based supplier management.
- Active U.S. Government Secret or Top Secret Security Clearance.
Curious about all the exciting developments with the Northrop Grumman Space Sector? Click the link below:
https://www.northropgrumman.com/space
Working at Northrop Grumman is more than just a paycheck. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards and benefits package designed to help you thrive at work and in life. For more information on our Total Rewards package, please visit our Total Rewards site.
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Primary Level Salary Range: $89,400.00 - $134,200.00Secondary Level Salary Range: $111,700.00 - $167,500.00The 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 with 5 years experience OR Master's with 3 years OR PhD with 1 year (Level 3) or Bachelor's with 8 years OR Master's with 6 years OR PhD with 4 years (Level 4)
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Secret security clearance
- Experience independently managing supplier quality activities for complex hardware, aerospace, defense, electronics, mechanical assemblies, or other highly engineered products
- Working knowledge of quality management systems (AS9100 and/or ISO 9001) and supplier quality requirements
- Experience conducting technical investigations and using quality tools: RCCA, 8D, PFMEA, Fishbone, SCAR, statistical analysis, and risk assessment methodologies
- Experience reviewing engineering drawings, specifications, manufacturing processes, and technical documentation to evaluate supplier capability and product compliance
- Demonstrated ability to prioritize multiple assignments and communicate across functional organizations
- Recognized technical expert with extensive experience leading supplier quality activities and influencing supplier executive leadership (Level 4)
- Extensive experience leading supplier audits, surveillance, MRBs, FRBs, readiness reviews, and mission assurance assessments (Level 4)
- Ability to develop supplier quality strategies, drive continuous improvement, and mentor less experienced quality professionals (Level 4)
- AS9100 and/or ISO 9001 Lead Auditor certification or equivalent QMS auditing experience
- Experience supporting DoD, NASA, or other highly regulated aerospace and defense programs
- Experience with electronics, avionics, propulsion systems, mechanical assemblies, composites, energetics, or other mission-critical hardware
- Familiarity with Costpoint and/or TipQA
- Experience supporting source inspection, First Article Inspection (AS9102), production acceptance, and supplier surveillance
- Knowledge of FAR/DFARS and contractual quality requirements
- Active U.S. Government Secret or Top Secret security 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.
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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.





