Please note that this opportunity is contingent on program funding.  Start dates are determined after funding confirmation.

Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems is seeking a Senior Principal Contracts Administrator to join its team of qualified and diverse individuals. This position will be located on-site at the Melbourne, FL offices and required to be full-time in office due to program need.

The Senior Principal Contracts Administrator is a senior-level contracts professional responsible for exhibiting the highest form of professionalism while leading the formation, negotiation, and administration of complex defense acquisition contracts. This role serves as the primary contracting advisor to program leadership, ensuring compliant, competitive, and executable business arrangements aligned with corporate objectives (Northrop Grumman Principles and Operating Practices) and U.S. Government regulations (FAR, DFARS, and agency supplements).

This position requires a solution-oriented, strategic contracting leader—not merely a transactional “paper pusher.” The successful candidate will actively shape business deals, influence program strategy, and ensure that the contractual documents reflect and support both.

Senior Principal Contracts Administrator (Key Characteristics/Traits for Success)

• Professionalism & Integrity – Models the highest standards of ethical conduct, objectivity, and confidentiality; communicates clearly and respectfully, follows through reliably, and consistently represents the Contracts function and the company with polish and credibility.

• Leadership Qualities – Demonstrates ownership, accountability, and calm, confident presence with customers and internal stakeholders.

• Knowledgeable – Strong working knowledge of FAR, DFARS, and DoD acquisition processes; contract types, incentives, proposal development, cost principles, and contract financing; program management concepts (cost/schedule/performance, EVM awareness); export controls, security requirements, and small business/socioeconomic contracting.
• Solution Oriented – Focuses on practical, compliant ways forward; problem solving to bring options, not just issues.
• Courage to Respectfully Disagree – Willing to challenge assumptions and positions, professionally and constructively, when risk or compliance is at stake.
• Business–Program–Contract Integration Mindset – Seeks to understand and articulate the relationships between the business deal, program strategy, and contractual document.
• Beyond “Paper Pusher” – Adds value through insight, analysis, and judgment; does not view the role as purely administrative.
• Willingness to Learn – Embraces continuous learning, regulatory changes, and new acquisition approaches.
• Talent Orientation – – Works collaboratively with peers and cross‑functional partners building trust; Invests in mentoring, coaching, and developing junior contracts staff.

Key Responsibilities:

Contract Strategy & Formation

• Lead development of contract strategies in partnership with capture, program management, finance, legal, and supply chain.
• Analyze RFPs/RFQs for contractual, financial, and performance risk; recommend shaping strategies and clarification questions.
• Develop negotiation objectives, positions, and “deal structures” for complex prime and subcontract arrangements.
• Draft and review contract language, terms and conditions, and special provisions (IP/data rights, warranties, indemnities, limitation of liability, etc.).
• Lead negotiations with Government contracting officers and major prime/subcontractors, documenting positions and outcomes.
• Ensure the contract structure and language support the business deal and program strategy, not just administrative requirements. “Contract Administration is your job, but our business mindset is driving profitability!”

Contract Administration & Lifecycle Management

• Manage full life cycle of contracts from proposal through closeout, including awards, modifications, options, and funding actions.
• Oversee compliance with contractual requirements, including deliverables, CDRLs, data submittals, reporting, and milestones.
• Coordinate and process requests for equitable adjustment (REAs), claims, and other formal contractual actions.
• Support program’s change management, including scope changes, schedule impacts, and associated price adjustments.
• Ensure timely and accurate maintenance of contract files, records, and internal approvals, while adding value through analysis and judgment—not just processing paperwork.

Pricing, Cost & Risk Analysis

• Support and Understand cost and price analysis (cost realism, price reasonableness, fee/profit analysis).
• Evaluate, Recommend, and Educate (ERE) your program team on the  appropriate contract types (FFP, CPFF/CPIF/CPAF, T&M, IDIQ, UCAs, etc.), explain the pros and cons of the customer’s selected contract type and ERE your program team on incentive structures based on risk profile.
• Identify, assess, and communicate contractual, financial, schedule, and regulatory risks; propose solution‑oriented mitigation strategies.
• Partner with estimating and finance teams to ensure alignment between proposals, cost volumes, and contractual commitments.
• Demonstrate a desire to understand the relationships between the business deal, program strategy, and contractual documents, and use that understanding to guide recommendations.

Stakeholder Engagement, Leadership & Talent Development

• Act as the primary contract’s advisor to program leadership, providing clear, concise guidance on contractual constraints and options.
• Prepare and deliver briefings to senior management on major proposals, negotiations, risks, and recommendations.
• Collaborate across legal, program management, engineering, supply chain, and business development to achieve balanced solutions.
• Exhibit strong leadership qualities, including ownership of outcomes, proactive issue resolution, and calm under pressure.
• Serve as a talent developer: mentor and coach junior contracts personnel, provide constructive feedback, and help build the next generation of contracts professionals.
• Model the courage to respectfully disagree with proposed approaches when warranted by contract risk, compliance, or long‑term business impacts—while maintaining professionalism and constructive dialogue.

Compliance, Ethics & Continuous Learning

• Ensure adherence to FAR, DFARS, agency supplements, export control requirements (ITAR/EAR), and internal NG guidelines.
• Promote high standards of integrity and ethical behavior; escalate potential compliance issues appropriately.
• Support internal and external audits and reviews related to contracts and pricing.
• Demonstrate a strong willingness to learn and adapt to changes in regulations, acquisition approaches, and corporate processes.
• Stay current on regulatory changes, evolving DoD acquisition pathways, and best practices in defense contracting.

Ideal Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge

• FAR, DFARS, and DoD acquisition processes, including major phases of the acquisition lifecycle.
• Contract types, incentives, cost principles, and contract financing.
• Program management concepts, including cost/schedule/performance and EVM awareness.
• Familiarity with export controls and security requirements (ITAR/EAR) and small business/socioeconomic contracting requirements.

Skills

• Solution‑oriented problem solving with the ability to design and advocate for practical, compliant paths forward.
• Proven ability to lead complex contract negotiations and achieve balanced, risk‑managed outcomes.
• Strong drafting and redlining skills for complex terms and conditions.
• Advanced analytical skills for cost/price analysis and risk assessment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including executive-level briefings.
• Strong relationship-building and collaboration skills across functions and with customers.
• Demonstrated capability as a leader and talent developer, including mentoring, coaching, and elevating team performance.

Abilities

• Think strategically about how the business deals, program strategy, and contract documents interrelate, and act accordingly.
• Exercise extreme professionalism, sound judgment under ambiguity and time pressure.
• Influence stakeholders without direct authority; respectfully challenge assumptions and decisions when needed.
• Maintain high attention to detail while preserving a big-picture view of program and business impacts.
• Operate as a proactive, valued business partner—not merely an administrative processor of paperwork.
• Maintain a growth mindset with a willingness to learn and adapt to evolving mission and customer needs.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Finance, Accounting, Law, Engineering, or related field required with 8 years of progressive experience in defense/government contracts management.
• OR Master's degree in business, finance, accounting, law, engineering or related field of study with 6 years of progressive experience in defense/government contracts management.
• Your ability to obtain and/or transfer and maintain the final adjudicated government Secret clearance and any program access(es) required for the position within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the Company.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience as lead contracts professional on major or complex programs and/or competitive captures.
• Progressive experience in defense/government Major Weapons System (e.g. FAR/DFARS Part 34 Major Systems Acquisition) contracts management and a proven track record of leading major negotiations and guiding cross‑functional teams.
• DAWIA or equivalent Defense Acquisition/Contracting certification preferred.
• Professional certifications (e.g., NCMA CPCM, CFCM, CCCM) strongly preferred.

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