Northrop Grumman

Director 2 - Systems Engineering Discipline Lead

Northrop Grumman • $266K — $399K *
Aerospace & Defense
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's Degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM) discipline.
  • 12 years of engineering, project management, and/or functional management experience.
  • Deep Systems Engineering expertise, including system architecture and SEIT leadership.
  • Experience leading large SEIT teams effectively.
  • Proven record of developing high-performing teams across organizations.
  • Active Top Secret and SCI clearance with recent SSBI.
  • Willingness to travel 25%.

Responsibilities

  • Provide technical leadership and strategic direction for the Systems Engineering organization.
  • Drive long-range strategic planning aligning organizational goals with sector and program needs.
  • Lead optimization efforts of people, processes, and tools for successful project execution.
  • Oversee recruitment, employee development, and skills enhancement within Systems Engineering.
  • Ensure application of sound Systems Engineering processes throughout system lifecycles.
  • Lead program/project reviews and drive SE process improvement initiatives.
  • Identify and resolve challenges across program lifecycles quickly and effectively.
  • Oversee special assignments, including technical reviews and audits that drive operational success.
  • Champion innovative strategies in systems engineering disciplines aligned to sector priorities.
  • Manage and optimize budgets to achieve organizational goals efficiently.
  • Foster a high-performance culture emphasizing communication and employee engagement.

Benefits

  • Relocation assistance may be available.
  • Health insurance coverage, including life and disability insurance.
  • Savings plan to support retirement.
  • Company-paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for personal use.
Full Job Description
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes

CLEARANCE TYPE: Top Secret

TRAVEL: Yes, 25% of the TimeDescription

Northrop Grumman Space Systems is seeking a Director 2 - Systems Engineering Discipline Lead. This position will be located in Redondo Beach, CA and will report to the Vice President of Western Region Engineering.

In this role, you will lead a growing Systems Engineering organization across our Western Region locations: Redondo Beach and Manhattan Beach, CA; Azusa, CA; Commerce, CA; Goleta, CA; Oxnard, CA; San Diego, CA; and Gilbert, AZ. You will be responsible for strategic leadership, people management, and day-to-day operational oversight. The Systems Engineering organization spans the following disciplines: Communication Systems Engineering, Mission Payload Systems Engineering, Space Vehicle Systems Engineering, Specialty Engineering (including Radiation and Reliability), Mission Systems Engineering, Modeling and Simulation, Cyber Systems Engineering, Requirements & Verification, and Flight Operations.

You will drive both strategic and operational initiatives, ensuring the directorate's technical capabilities align with program requirements, long-range sector priorities, and corporate objectives. You will bring deep Systems Engineering expertise (including system architecture, SEIT leadership, integration and test, verification and validation) and a demonstrated track record of functionally leading large, complex organizations.

Job Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Provide technical and people leadership, strategic direction, and oversight of all major disciplines/functions within the Systems Engineering organization.
  • Drive long-range strategic planning, ensuring organizational alignment with sector goals, program needs, future technology requirements, and the continued critical skill/infrastructure build-up for the Western Systems Engineering organization.
  • Lead efforts to optimize people, processes, and tools to support successful captures and program execution activities across the full lifecycle, including development, qualification, manufacturing, integration, test, and flight operations.
  • Provide ownership for the people, processes, and tools that support SE recruiting, employee development and engagement, skills development, NCTA efforts, staffing, and process and product development.
  • Ensure application of sound System Engineering processes during capture, conceptual, design, qualification, manufacturing, integration and test of systems in the Space Systems portfolio.
  • Oversee program/project reviews, including leading Independent Review Teams for key customer milestones such as SRR, SDR, PDR, CDR, and drive SE process improvement plans, proposal review, and commitment authority for SE scope of work.
  • Quickly engage to identify and diagnose program challenges across their full lifecycle, including development, hardware/software integration, production, and test phases, enabling decisive resolution.
  • Oversee special assignments such as proposal development, independent technical reviews, program standup reviews, anomaly resolution, and technical audits.
  • Drive innovation and support advanced research and technology development in systems engineering disciplines to align with long-range sector priorities (LRSP) and Space Systems strategic roadmaps.
  • Champion risk, issue, and opportunity management strategies to ensure operational success and proactively mitigate technical and execution risks.
  • Manage and optimize budgets, including direct, indirect, NCTA, and capital resources, to achieve organizational objectives efficiently and support sector and corporate priorities.
  • Foster a culture of high performance, inclusion, continuous improvement, and disciplined execution, with an emphasis on communication, collaboration, and employee engagement.


Basic Qualifications
  • Bachelor's Degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM) discipline.
  • Twelve (12) years of engineering, project management, and/or functional management experience.
  • Demonstrated experience in Systems Engineering, including system architecture, SEIT leadership, and development programs through system integration and test, verification and validation.
  • Experience in leading large SEIT teams
  • Proven ability to lead and develop high-performing teams and collaborate across organizations to achieve shared objectives.
  • Active Top Secret and SCI clearance at time of application, with a recent Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI).
  • Ability to travel 25%


Preferred Qualifications
  • Advanced degree in Engineering or another STEM field.
  • Fifteen (15) years of experience in engineering, project management, and/or functional management roles.
  • Significant experience leading a large functional or program organization (on the order of 1,000+ personnel) and successfully implementing strategic goals.
  • Exceptional oral and written communication skills with experience preparing and delivering executive-level presentations and briefings.


As a leader with integrity, you ensure ethical conduct, balanced results, and partner satisfaction. You respect and nurture growth, fostering a culture of excellence. Skilled in building collaborative teams and customer trust, you communicate well, foster strong teams, and embrace change.

Curious about all the exciting developments with the Northrop Grumman Space Sector? Click the link below:

https://www.northropgrumman.com/space

Primary Level Salary Range: $266,300.00 - $399,500.00

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.

About Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman is a security company that provides systems, products, and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, shipbuilding, and technical services to government and commercial customers. They design, develop, and build everything from aircraft and spacecraft to cyber security systems. The company is involved in a wide range of defense and technology projects, including the development of aircraft, space systems, cybersecurity solutions, and advanced electronics.

Northrop Grumman Careers

Join the elite team at Northrop Grumman, a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products, and solutions in autonomous systems, cyber, C4ISR, space, strike, and logistics and modernization to customers worldwide. There has never been a more exciting time to advance your career with Northrop Grumman.

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Northrop Grumman is dedicated to your professional and personal growth. We offer unparalleled benefits, including comprehensive health coverage, generous time off, and family care resources. Additionally, we provide extensive leadership and diversity training to help you craft your career path.

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Northrop Grumman Jobs

Discover the impact you can make with a career at Northrop Grumman. We are actively hiring and looking for passionate, curious, and solution-driven team players. Search Northrop Grumman jobs today and find where your expertise is needed most. Join Northrop Grumman, and be part of a team that is dedicated to making a difference, not only within the company but in the world at large. Your journey to building a rewarding career starts here.
Learn more about Northrop Grumman
Size
88,000 employees
Market Cap
$82.7 billion
Industry
Net Income
$3.1 billion
Founded
1939
5 Year Trend
+7.6%
Revenue
$36.7 billion
NASDAQ

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