Description

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.

This position is currently contingent on program award and associated program award funding. Start dates are determined after funding confirmation.

Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems is seeking a Department Manager, Engineering M3 to lead within Systems Engineering organization. This role reports to the Engineering Integration & Execution (EI&E) leader on a Research & Advanced Design program. This leadership role is located on-site, based at the following location: Melbourne, FL.

The Department Manager is accountable for the performance, development, and engagement of a large engineering organization consisting of section managers and individual contributors. The role balances people leadership, technical oversight, and operational execution in a complex, program-driven environment.

This leader plays a critical role in aligning functional capabilities with program needs, enabling successful execution across cost, schedule, quality, and technical performance.

Key Responsibilities:

People Leadership & Talent Management

Lead all aspects of personnel management, including workforce planning, hiring, retention, engagement, redeployment, and succession planning.
Partner closely with program leadership, HR, and functional peers to align talent to current and future program needs.
Support staffing for section manager and senior technical roles, including requisition development, interview facilitation, onboarding, and mentoring.
Foster a culture of engagement, collaboration, accountability/ownership, and belonging by modeling Northrop Grumman leadership behaviors: Sets a vision, builds a high performing team, takes ownership, leads with courage, responds to challenges with resilience and acts with speed
Conduct performance management activities, including goal setting, quarterly connections, leadership development, and knowledge sharing activities.

Execution & Operational Leadership

Drive day-to-day execution of departmental activities in support of program objectives.
Serve as Delegation of Authority (DOA) in the absence of the Systems Engineering Director and/or EI&E leadership, as required.
Ensure consistent application of functional engineering processes, tools, and best practices in alignment with the Center of Technical Excellence.
Partner across functions to support cross-discipline and intra-discipline integration activities, data analysis, metrics development, and performance reporting in coordination with Strategy, Integration, and Operations.

Technical & Program Oversight

Provide engineering leadership oversight for technical execution activities, including:
- Root Cause and Corrective Action (RCCA) investigations
- System Engineering Technical Reviews (SETRs), such as System Requirements Review (SRR), Preliminary Design Review (PDR), Critical Design Review (CDR), Test Readiness Reviews (TRRs); Flight Readiness Reviews (FRR).
- Process audits and Independent Review Team (IRT) engagements
Support long-range strategic planning efforts and execute special assignments as required.

Our Leaders at Northrop Grumman live our values daily and encourage our teams to do the same. We do the right thing: upholding the highest ethical standards and facilitating a safe and respectful environment that attracts, retains, and inspires a diverse and engaged team. We do what we promise: holding yourself and others accountable to meet predictable and balanced results. We commit to shared success: operating as OneNG and removing barriers for our teams. Finally, We pioneer: setting a vision that shapes the future and inspires others.

Basic Qualifications:

Must have a Bachelor of Science degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) discipline and 9 years of related engineering experience; OR a Master’s degree in a STEM discipline and 7 years of related engineering experience.
Minimum 5 years of leadership experience, including first-level or higher people management leadership.
Experience in leading, mentoring, and developing multidisciplinary engineering teams to deliver complex technical solutions, within cost and schedule constraints, across the various phases of the engineering lifecycle.
Demonstrated capability in workforce and resource planning, including allocating resources across programs, managing workloads and priorities, forecasting staffing needs, and executing end-to-end hiring decisions.
Strong leadership, interpersonal, and written/oral communication skills, enabling effective engagement with cross-functional stakeholders and customers.
Must possess an active DoD Secret clearance that is in scope or currently enrolled in continuous evaluation, with the ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (PAR) access as determined by business needs.
Relevant test experience in one or more of the following fields:
- Ground testing including static testing, fatigue testing, ground resonance testing, ground vibration testing and live fire testing.
- Flight testing including performance, flutter, flying qualities, loads, and mission systems (sensors, mission processing, communication systems) for development and operational test. Experience and familiarity with airborne instrumentation systems, telemetry and control rooms.
- Laboratory testing including Integrated Functional Capability (combined flight hardware and lab testing) in System Integration Labs/Level 3 testing, cyber testing, wind tunnel testing, structural load and fatigue testing.
- Production testing in a DCMA 8210.D program to include conduct of acceptance test procedures, initial engine run testing, functional check flight testing and customer delivery.

Preferred Qualifications:

Master’s or Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering.
Prior people leadership experience of large teams (75+).
Demonstrated experience applying performance management process and HR policies, including goal setting, performance feedback, development planning, and addressing performance concerns in accordance with company policy.
Experience with Earned Value Management Techniques (EVMS) / Control Account Management (CAM), Integrated Master Schedules (IMS), Basis of Estimates (BOEs) and cost-schedule-risk trade off management.
Experience with the System Engineering Technical Review process (SRR, PDR, CDR and TRR)
Experience identifying, developing, and managing performance metrics to support program and technical execution monitoring and control.
Proven expertise in technical planning, risk & opportunity management, and driving project performance across cost, schedule, and technical quality.

Additional Information

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes

CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret

TRAVEL: Yes, 25% of the Time

Primary Level Salary Range: $151,500.00 - $227,300.00

The 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.

Department Manager Engineering 3 – RAD Restricted Program Systems Engineering