Director of Engineering 2

Northrop Grumman Defense Systems in Northridge, CA is currently seeking to fill a Senior Director position to lead the Engineering function of the Advanced Weapons Business Unit.  The Senior Director reports to the Business unit VP and as part of the executive staff you will provide vision and strategy and drive growth.  In this position you will foster a culture of execution excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement. 

As the executive responsible for the Engineering function, you will provide the leadership to achieve customer commitments, meet business unit objectives, and achieve growth expectations.  You will foster a culture of innovative problem solving, performance excellence, and continuous improvement to deliver affordable, effective, and dependable engineering solutions.

You will be responsible for a specific focus and coordination to guide workforce management, grow engineering competencies, develop technologies, and support business capture.

In this role, you will:

• Be responsible for the Engineering execution of the AW portfolio of programs.

• Lead, facilitate, and encourage the development of a coherent engineering organization focused on the specific needs of the Advanced Weapons business. 

• Leverage best engineering practices from across the corporation and advance the digital engineering paradigm.

• Provide guidance and direction to senior Engineering Leadership staff, fostering the development and engagement of all employees in the organization.

• Execute workforce planning to include talent management, recruiting, attrition, career development, and maintenance of core competencies.

• Identify and develop new engineering capabilities and competencies that enhance the ability to pursue new products and business opportunities.

• Ensure the staffing, tools, processes, and capabilities are provided to support execution of the AW portfolio and grow the business.

• Establish, define, develop, and communicate clear processes, procedures, metrics, and training to ensure engineering program execution.

• Establish and maintain clear roles, responsibilities, and expectations between AW Engineering, Program Management, and Operations.

• Enhance program execution in support of AW programs by strengthening functional engineering support to programs.

• Direct, prioritize, and communicate ongoing technical issues and concerns and mitigation solutions. Serve as focal point and top of the escalation chain for incidents related to engineering.

• Provide strategic guidance that extends the knowledge in relevant technologies.

• Enhance ability to meet business objectives by developing advanced applications of technology.       

• Support organizational communications with a focus on organizational change management for program execution.

• Offer expertise and support to Business Development and Program Management in the pursuit and execution of profitable contracts for existing and new product development.

• Develop and instill collaboration across functional, business unit, division, and sector boundaries to support and drive AW strategic objectives.

• Demonstrate a leading role in promoting adherence to the company's ethical standards and business practices; ensure compliance with the NGC operational standards and all other policies and requirements; provide for good stewardship of the assets of the business.

Basic Qualifications

• Minimum of 20 years professional experience, with a BS; 18 with MS; 15 with PhD.

• 15+ years of leadership experience in functional management, program management or technical leadership in the aerospace industry.

• Background in aerospace systems with basic understanding of all aspects of missile systems.

• High level of leadership and management skills to set direction, create goals in alignment with business requirements, prioritize operational and project tasks, and enforce accountability.

• Demonstrated ability to identify talent, give sufficient autonomy and accountability, and build a highly functioning engineering team.

• Possess strong critical thinking skills that result in effective and timely decision making and priority setting.

• Experience building high performing teams.

• Experience in product development, identifying critical technologies, developing technology roadmaps, and executing strategic and tactical technology development.

• Comfortable operating at a fast pace with a commitment to success.

• Must have experience identifying, establishing, and building important relationships with senior level executives and stakeholders, as well as the ability to collaborate within and across organizational boundaries.

• This role demands engaged and visionary leadership and the ability to collaborate, influence, negotiate, shape, gain commitment to action, and be decisive at all levels.

• Strong executive presence with experience presenting to CEO/VP level executives and customers.

• Current/Active Secret clearance, or higher. Clearable to Top Secret.

• Special Background Investigation within the last 5 years.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Network of outside technical contacts within industry, professional societies, or academia.

• Budgeting/cost estimating experience.

• Prior experience implementing and managing a large Program.

The health and safety of our employees and their families is a top priority. The company encourages employees to remain up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccinations. U.S. Northrop Grumman employees may be required, in the future, to be vaccinated or have an approved disability/medical or religious accommodation, pursuant to future court decisions and/or government action on the currently stayed federal contractor vaccine mandate under Executive Order 14042 https://www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/contractors/.

Northrop Grumman is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action 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/AA and Pay Transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for most positions.