RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available
CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No
CLEARANCE TYPE: SCI
TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time
DescriptionNorthrop Grumman Mission Systems is seeking an experienced and strategic Director of Advanced Technology Lab (ATL) Wafer Fabrication to lead a critical semiconductor manufacturing organization at our Linthicum, Maryland facility. This leader will oversee wafer fabrication operations and engineering in support of both production and advanced technology development. This is a significant leadership opportunity within a unique, defense-focused semiconductor manufacturing environment. The Director will play a central role in strengthening operational execution, advancing manufacturing performance, and aligning engineering and operations to support mission-critical program and business priorities.
About Advanced Technology Lab (ATL)
Advanced Technology Lab (ATL), located outside of Baltimore, Maryland, designs, manufactures, and tests semiconductor products supporting internal and commercial production customers as well as emerging technology programs. Northrop Grumman’s ATL semiconductor foundry is a unique capability supporting a range of production microelectronic devices (Silicon, Gallium Arsenide, Gallium Nitride, Silicon Carbide and other semiconductor types) and providing leading edge technology development in Superconducting Electronics, Ultra-Wideband Electronics and other Beyond-Moore’s-Law technologies. Our devices support a broad range of Northrop Grumman ground-based, airborne, and space systems.
ATL’s multidisciplinary teams support the full semiconductor lifecycle, including design, mask making, wafer fabrication, test, and assembly. The organization operates at the intersection of advanced technology, production execution, and national security mission support.
Position Summary
The Director of ATL Wafer Fabrication will serve as a manager of managers and lead a large, complex organization spanning key wafer fabrication functions, including:
The Director will be responsible for leadership of resources, execution, and organizational performance across the wafer fabrication enterprise. The role includes responsibility for staffing, work prioritization, budget oversight, cross-functional alignment, and execution support for business and program objectives. Functional responsibilities include hiring, onboarding, performance management, time-charging approval, and employee development.
Leadership Opportunity
The successful candidate will be a strong semiconductor and manufacturing engineering leader with demonstrated experience improving safety, quality, delivery, and cost performance in a complex operating environment. This individual will bring leadership presence to guide a large organization through growth, transformation, and execution challenges while maintaining strong alignment with business priorities, customer commitments, and program needs.
This role requires a leader who can:
Lead through managers and build a high-performing leadership team
Establish clear operating rhythms and execution discipline
Integrate engineering, operations, and program stakeholders around common objectives
Make sound, data-informed decisions in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment
Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, inclusion, and continuous improvement
Technical credibility in semiconductor manufacturing and microelectronic process environments is important. At the same time, this role is intended for a leader who can direct, integrate, and elevate deep technical teams rather than personally serve as the expert in every process domain.
Basic Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Business and a minimum of 10 years related leadership experience in semiconductor-related operations, manufacturing, engineering, closely related advanced manufacturing environments and/or program management
Demonstrated success leading managers and cross-functional teams in complex manufacturing environments, including large organizations operating in 24/7 settings
Proven ability to drive operational, organizational, and/or technology transformation while fostering an inclusive, high-engagement culture
Demonstrated leadership in improving safety, quality, delivery, and cost performance within a manufacturing environment
Experience operating in a defense, aerospace, national security, or other highly regulated manufacturing environment with mission-critical quality, delivery, and customer requirements
Experience partnering with program leadership to align manufacturing and engineering execution with cost, schedule, technical, and delivery commitments
Demonstrated ability to translate business priorities, customer commitments, and program requirements into operational plans, workforce priorities, and execution actions
Demonstrated critical thinking, sound judgment, and data-informed decision-making in a fast-paced and high-consequence environment
Strong business and financial acumen, with the ability to balance operational needs with broader enterprise and program objectives
Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with executive leadership, engineers, shop floor employees, and support functions
Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret clearance with SCI access
U.S. Citizenship required
Preferred Qualifications
Bachelors degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Business, or a related field with minimum of 15 years related leadership experience in semiconductor-related operations, manufacturing, engineering, closely related advanced manufacturing environments and/or program management
Experience supporting both semiconductor technology development and production/manufacturing operations
Experience across silicon and/or compound semiconductor technologies
Experience supporting defense industrial base programs across development, transition to production, and/or sustainment environments
Experience participating in customer reviews, program reviews, manufacturing readiness reviews, or recovery planning in support of government or defense customers
Experience working across program management, business management, supply chain, quality, and engineering to manage execution risk, delivery performance, and issue escalation
Familiarity with security, export control, compliance, and contractual requirements that influence defense manufacturing operations
Experience balancing technology development, production priorities, and customer commitments in support of defense or mission-driven programs
Experience with digital manufacturing, automation, data-driven operations, or Industry 4.0 initiatives
Active Top Secret clearance with SCI access
Primary Level Salary Range: $194,600.00 - $292,000.00
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.
