RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available
CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes
CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret
TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time
DescriptionNorthrop Grumman Aerospace Sector is seeking a Staff Engineer to lead our USAF Sub-IPT joining our team of qualified, diverse individuals within our Product Support organization in Rancho Bernardo, CA.
The Product Support IPT (Integrated Product Team) Lead is responsible for leading cross-functional efforts to plan, develop, and deliver product support solutions throughout the program lifecycle. This role ensures that supportability requirements are integrated into system design, that logistics and sustainment elements are aligned, and that the product meets operational availability, affordability, and customer support objectives. The Product Support IPT Lead serves as the primary interface between engineering, logistics, supply chain, program management, and the customer for all product support matters.
You are expected to be a highly motivated, resourceful, self-starter able to work collaboratively with internal teams and external customers in high-tempo environments. Under the direction and leadership of the RQ-4 Product Support IPT Lead and Program Manager, the Product Support Sub-IPT Lead will work with RQ-4 Product Support Team to ensure quality lifecycle development and logistics products and services are executed in accordance with the Program Statement of Work (SOW) and are within budget, schedule constraints, and closure criteria. You may lead internal and external Teammates/Suppliers to ensure Program Performance, cost/schedule and quality objectives are achieved in collaboration with the program team.
Role and responsibilities:• Lead the Product Support IPT, setting direction, priorities, and execution plans aligned with program objectives.
• Develop and maintain the Product Support strategy, roadmap, and associated plans (e.g., Integrated Logistics Support Plan / Product Support Plan).
• Facilitate regular IPT meetings, technical reviews, and decision forums; track and drive closure of actions.
• Coordinate with other IPTs (Systems Engineering, Manufacturing, Test, Vehicle Engineering etc.) to ensure product support requirements are integrated and balanced.
• Define and manage product support requirements, including reliability, maintainability, availability, sparing, repair, training, documentation, and support equipment.
• Develop and oversee the implementation of sustainment concepts (e.g., organizational/intermediate/depot-level maintenance, performance-based logistics).
• Lead supportability analyses (e.g., LORA, FMECA, reliability/maintainability analysis, sparing analysis) and ensure findings are incorporated into design and support concepts.
• Develop and maintain Life Cycle Product Support strategies to optimize total ownership cost and operational effectiveness.
• Customer & Stakeholder Engagement
• Act as the primary point of contact for customer product support queries and working groups.
• Coordinate with customer logistics and sustainment organizations to validate requirements and proposed support concepts.
• Prepare and deliver briefings, technical data, and status updates to internal leadership and external customers.
• Support proposal activities, customer reviews, and product support-related negotiations as required.
• Establish and manage product support budgets, schedules, and performance metrics.
• Monitor sustainment performance (e.g., mission-capable rates, mean time between failure/repair, supply performance) and drive corrective actions.
• Identify product support risks and opportunities; develop mitigation plans and track execution.
• Ensure product support deliverables (manuals, training, provisioning data, support equipment, spares, etc.) are produced on time and to quality standards.
Basic Qualifications- 12 Years with Bachelors in Science; 10 Years with Masters; 8 Years with PhD
- Demonstrated EVM skills including development, analysis, and control of program budgets, Estimate at Complete (EAC) analysis, Estimates to Complete (ETC)analysis, performance index assessment, and program variance analysis
- Demonstrated project management and program management experience
- Active US Government SECRET clearance
- Your ability to obtain and/or transfer and maintain the final adjudicated US 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 supporting defense/aerospace systems or other complex, long-life products.
- Familiarity with DoD product support guidance, performance-based logistics, or similar frameworks.
- Experience with supportability analysis tools and techniques (LORA, R&M, FMECA, reliability modeling, sparing models).
- Prior IPT lead or program leadership experience.
- Advanced degree in Engineering or Logistics.
- Strategic thinking and ability to translate strategy into actionable plans.
- Leadership and team-building in a multi-disciplinary environment.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Customer focus and relationship management.
- Results orientation with attention to detail and follow-through.
- Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional teams and managing scope, schedule, and budget.
- Strong understanding of product support disciplines (reliability, maintainability, provisioning, technical data, training, support equipment, spares, repair concepts).
- Experience working with customers and external stakeholders in a technical or sustainment-focused role.
- Proven ability to develop plans, track execution, and communicate status and risks clearly to leadership.
- Excellent communication, collaboration, and organizational skills.
Primary Level Salary Range: $161,000.00 - $241,400.00
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.
