Job Description

At the heart of Defining Possible is our commitment to missions. In rapidly changing global security environments, Northrop Grumman brings informed insights and software-secure technology to enable strategic planning. We’re looking for innovators who can help us keep building on our wide portfolio of secure, affordable, integrated, and multi-domain systems and technologies that fuel those missions. By joining in our shared mission, we’ll support yours of expanding your personal network and developing skills, whether you are new to the field, or an industry thought leader. At Northrop Grumman, you’ll have the resources, support, and team to do some of the best work of your career.

We are looking for you to join our team as a Director Manufacturing Engineering based out of San Diego, CA.

This position is full time onsite and is located at the Rancho Carmel campus in San Diego, CA.  This position may require 25% travel.This role reports to the Director, Manufacturing Operations in San Diego. Our expertise is in delivering complex communications solutions to enable modern battlefields and support communications missions.

The Manufacturing Engineering teams is comprised of the following Manufacturing Engineering functions: Manufacturing Engineering, Test Engineering, Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Test Software Engineering, Industrial Engineering, and Process Engineering.

Qualified candidates will have demonstrated success leading broad organizations within cost and schedule while achieving a high level of employee engagement. The position requires a solution-based orientation, unwavering ethics and values, and the demonstrated ability to be a trusted partner. Candidates must demonstrate a proven track record of solving complex problems through systematic and objective evaluation of information, effective communication, and championing and leading change with a diverse set of internal and external customers and suppliers.

What you will get to do:

• The Director is responsible for successful manufacturing and testing of complex Communications & Networking Systems within cost, schedule, and quality requirements.  
• The Director will drive a continuous improvement culture with focus on providing high quality products at or below the associated cost and within the contractual schedules. 
• The Director will utilize key metrics and establish KPIs driving outstanding performance
• The Director will also instill and ensure sound process discipline and test rigor to drive down failures through root cause, failure analysis, and corrective action. 
• Staffing and employee development in a challenging environment for unique skill sets in professional (exempt individual contributor and management) positions. Collaboration & partnership with talent acquisition to ensure current and future hiring requirements are met will be critical for success.
• Accountable for developing robust manufacturing processes, board level test and module level test, and complete system testing utilizing multiple design disclosure documents, manufacturing instructions and procedures are necessary for execution. Assurance of associated customer requirements, controls, and metrics that must be compliant with end item deliverables.
• The Director will be responsible to develop strategic investment roadmaps for San Diego manufacturing and test strategies for the future 
• Financial management including knowledge and understanding of Earned Value Management (EVM), rates and budgets and associated overhead budgets to support manufacturing activities is a key responsibility as well as the planning and execution of strategic funds for capital equipment and machinery, as well as manufacturing technical activities.
• Close collaboration with all of the disciplines within the Manufacturing organization to ensure process controls and process execution are in place to meet stringent quality requirements flowed down from our customers.
• Interface within the Operations Program Management Team (OPM’s) and Project Management Office (PMO’s) in the successful execution of manufacturing schedules and product budgets that support the site Annual Operating Plan (AOP).  
• Works closely with the functional organizations (including Quality and Mission Excellence, Global Supply Chain, Business Management, Human Resources) across the organization and site as necessary to achieve desired results and outcomes.
• The Director will partner closely with the Design Engineering team to ensure that new designs include producibility and testability considerations at all phases of the product life cycle.
• The Director will be responsible for recruiting & mentoring future leaders, directing training & skill development initiatives and promoting Engagement & Inclusion activities.
• Drives operational efficiency through the elements of Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and Morale (Engagement) (SQDCM).
• The position is optimally served by an engaging leadership style by fostering a high degree of teamwork and collaboration with MS Operations & Manufacturing, the local site functional organizations as well as with the program/division leadership.
• To be successful in this role, the selected candidate must have excellent written and oral communication skills, be team oriented, have strong people leadership skills, and be able to effectively multi-task competing priorities and schedules.

Basic Qualifications for Director Manufacturing Engineering:

• A bachelor's degree in Engineering, Science or related technical field with a minimum of 15 or more years of experience. (Non-technical degree may be considered if coupled with extensive, related technical experience and expertise in the required engineering disciplines.); OR 13 or more years of experience with a Masters. (Non-technical degree may be considered if coupled with extensive, related technical experience and expertise in the required engineering disciplines.)
• 8 or more years of progressive direct people leadership experience in manufacturing/production, operations, program management, testing, or related area
• Experience developing strategic roadmaps and investment priorities
• Experience working across multiple disciplines (design, manufacturing and test engineering) with a focus on product development and producibility.
• Experience with financial management including project & process control and budgets
• Experience with industry and management methodologies focused on continuous improvement in manufacturing, such as ISO 9000, Total Quality Management or Six Sigma
• Experience with program / product lifecycle in the areas of new business pursuit, design, supply chain management, receiving operations, inventory control, production control, product test & evaluation, reliability, root cause analysis, product sell off, shipping and product support as they apply to quality.
• US Citizenship is required; Active US Government Secret security clearance; OR DoE equivalent

Preferred Qualifications for Director Manufacturing Engineering:

• Degree in Manufacturing, Electrical or Test Engineering
• Experience with ISO9001/AS9100
• Experience with Six Sigma tools (ex. Green Belt, Black Belt)
• Experience with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) tools such as SAP and Materials Requirement Planning (MRP).
• Ability to obtain US Top Secret clearance