Manager of Engineering 3 – Florida SDA I&T Operations Manager

Strategic Space Systems Division (SSSD) is an industry-leading provider for launch systems capabilities serving national security, military, civil and commercial customers. We are built on a heritage of providing innovative, affordable and reliable aerospace and defense products that our customers rely on to achieve mission success. Join the Space revolution and make the impossible, possible.

Northrop Grumman, Strategic Space Systems Division, has an opening for a Manager of Engineering 3 – Florida SDA I&T Operations Manager, to join our team of highly qualified and diverse individuals. This position will be in located in Merritt Island, Florida.

The Integration Test and Launch (IT&L) directorate and the SDA I&T program team are hiring a manager to lead to integration and test operations for Northrop Grumman’s contracts with the Space Development Agency (SDA) in Merritt Island, FL. This is a program direct position that will report directly to the Systems AI&T Director for all SDA programs. The candidate will be responsible for the overall direction and leadership for the spacecraft integration and test production line assuring the on-time delivery of 50+ spacecraft.

The selected candidate will manage a team in Florida that is expected to exceed 30 individuals and consist of spacecraft technicians, test engineers, hardware managers, and inspectors, amongst other full-time on-site team members. The team is responsible to work with partner I&T teams to integrate and test several spacecraft. The selected manager will assign personnel to tasks, manage resource constraints, and drive tasks to completion to meet schedule milestones. This person will also be expected to work with counterparts in the customer and partner contractor teams to assure timely delivery of the spacecraft. This includes pre-production coordination with the partner organization to assure the facility is ready prior to the start of scheduled production.

The selected candidate must be able to work collaboratively with other engineering and manufacturing teams at the Redondo Beach Space Park facility, where the program office is located. The candidate must collaborate with functional and program leadership, business development, business management, mission assurance, product development, and global supply chain management to resolve complex issues in a timely manner. Strong collaboration will also be expected with the functional leadership teams to assure all staffing needs are met and that new members of the team are properly trained prior to executing on flight hardware.

The production line is expected to require process changes and the implementation of new technologies. The selected manager will be expected to determine where process or technologies could drive down cost and reduce schedule and develop opportunities to implement those changes. Working collaboratively with Northrop Grumman’s Digital Transformation and Affordability teams will be required.

Limited travel may be required.

Northrop Grumman offers a competitive and robust benefits program. As a full-time employee of Northrop Grumman, you are eligible for:

• Medical, Dental & Vision coverage

• 401k

• Educational Assistance

• Life Insurance

• Employee Assistance Programs & Work/Life Solutions

• Paid Time Off

• Health & Wellness Resources

• Employee Discounts

• Flexible Schedules:  For example, some roles offer the ability to work a 9/80 work schedule, which allows an employee to work a nine-hour day Monday through Thursday and take every other Friday off of work

Basic Qualifications: 

• Bachelor's Degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM) discipline plus 9 years of engineering experience OR Master’s Degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM) discipline plus 7 years of engineering experience.

• Experience working directly with flight or non-flight hardware in a design, manufacture, integration or test role.

• Proven leadership experience on a project and/or team.

• Candidate must have, and be able to maintain an active U.S. Government security clearances: Department of Defense Secret level with a background investigation date within 6 years

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Master of Science in Engineering or other STEM discipline and/or Master of Business Administration

• Direct experience with spacecraft of space-based payload integration and test

• Continuing education related to systems engineering, engineering management, project management or other related area of study.

• Previous experience in a functional management role

• Knowledge of or experience with Model Based Engineering (MBE), Agile processes, and Digital Transformation

• Experience managing multiple cost accounts.

• Highly effective communication, collaboration and presentation skills.

• Demonstrated experience with developing and leading high performing teams.

• Excellent leadership, strategic thinking, planning, and management abilities.

• Proficiency in technical problem solving, root cause analysis, solution development, change implementation and monitoring.

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.