RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available
CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No
CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret
TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time
DescriptionNorthrop Grumman’s Space Sector is seeking a Sr. Manufacturing Engineering Manager 3 to join our team in Chandler, AZ. This position is 100% onsite and cannot accommodate telecommute work.
Position Summary
The Sr. Manufacturing Engineering Manager 3 is a strategic, hands-on leader responsible for driving operational excellence acrossLaunch Vehicleproduction lines through advanced manufacturing engineering, industrial engineering, human factors, and manufacturing systems engineering practices. This role leads a team of5managers,60engineers and technical specialiststo develop,optimize, and sustain safe, efficient, and highly capable manufacturing processes for complex aerospace products (e.g., structures, avionics,cableassemblies).
The ideal candidate brings a strong background in lean manufacturing, production systems design, ergonomicworkcelldevelopment, and data-driven decision making, with a proventrack recordleading cross-functional teams in a regulated aerospace environment.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Strategy
Lead, develop, and mentor a multidiscipline team of Manufacturing, Industrial, Human Factors, and Systems Engineers.
Define and execute the manufacturing engineering roadmap aligned with program, operations, quality, and businessobjectives.
Champion a culture of safety, continuous improvement, and accountability,leveraginglean and Six Sigma methodologies.
Serve as the primary technical and operational interface between Manufacturing Engineering and Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, Program Management, and Design Engineering.
Manufacturing Engineering & Production Support
Own manufacturing process definition and deployment for new and existing aerospace products, including build sequences, work instructions, tooling concepts, and process controls.
Ensure processes are robust, capable, repeatable, and compliant with customer, regulatory, and internal requirements (e.g., AS9100,AS6500standards as applicable).
Oversee manufacturing documentation (routing, BOM validation, work instructions, standard work, visual aids) and configuration control.
Industrial Engineering & Operations Optimization
Lead value stream analysis, capacity modeling, throughput optimization, and factory flow improvements for complex production lines.
Develop andmaintainproduction standards (time studies, methods analysis, work measurement, labor standards) and translate them into achievable performance targets.
Optimizefacility layout, equipmentutilization, and material flow to reduce cycle time, WIP, and cost while improving on-time delivery and asset efficiency.
Establish and monitor KPIs (OEE, first-pass yield, productivity, scrap/rework, takt attainment) and drive action plans to meet or exceed targets.
Human Factors & Ergonomics
Conduct ergonomic risk assessments, task analyses, and usability reviews; implement design changes that reduce fatigue, error potential, and injury risk.
Manufacturing Systems Engineering & Digital Transformation
Lead the design,selection, and deployment of manufacturing systems (e.g., MES, PLM integration, digital work instructions, data acquisition systems) to enable a connected factory environment.
Partner with IT, Quality, and Design Engineering to ensure seamless integration between ERP, MES, PLM, and shop-floor systems.
Drive adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies (e.g., automation, robotics, additive manufacturing,IIoT, AR/VR for work instructions)wherejustified by businesscase.
New Product Introduction (NPI) & Design for Manufacturability (DFM/DFA)
Lead manufacturing engineering input to new product development, ensuring ease of manufacture, assembly, test, and maintainability.
Develop transition-to-production plans, including pilot builds, process validation, capability studies, and ramp-up strategies.
Compliance, Quality, and Risk Management
BasicQualifications:
Bachelor27s degree in Engineering(Mechanical,Manufacturing, Industrial, Systems, or relateddegree.)
8years of experience in manufacturing engineering within the aerospace or closely related high-reliability industry.
5+ years of leadership experience managing engineering teams or multi-disciplinary technical groups.
Must have the ability to obtain andmaintaina U.S. Government Secret security clearance
Demonstratedfamiliarity with:
Manufacturing process development and production support.
Industrial engineering methods (time studies, line balancing, facility layout, capacity modeling).
Manufacturing systems (MES, PLM, ERP integration, digital work instructions).
Proven experience with lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and problem-solving tools (e.g.value stream mapping, 5S, Kaizen, DMAIC, 8D).
Strong knowledge of aerospace quality and regulatory standards (e.g., AS9100, customer specifications).
Track recordofdeliveringcost, quality, and schedule improvements in production programs.
Excellent communication, stakeholder management, andchangeleadership skills.
PreferredQualifications:
Master27s degree inEngineering
10+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering within the aerospace or closely related high-reliability industry.
Active U.S. Government security clearance of Secret or above
Professional certifications (e.g., PE, CPE, Six Sigma Black Belt, PMP).
Familiarity with Human factors/ergonomics applied to manufacturing environments.
Experience with automation systems, robotics, or advanced manufacturing technologies in aerospace.
Experience supporting military, commercial aviation, or spaceflight programs.
Familiarity with model-based systems engineering (MBSE) or model-based definition (MBD) in a production environment.
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.
We work a 9/80 schedule (9 hours per day Mon-Thurs, 8 hours every other Friday with the alternate Friday off)
Primary Level Salary Range: $151,500.00 - $227,300.00
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 candidate27s 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.
