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Manager Programs 1

Rolling Meadows, Illinois, United States
Full Time On-site

Summary

Job Description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes

CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret

TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time

Description

At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.

The Program Manager (M1): Electronic Warfare will lead the delivery of state‑of‑the‑art RF Electronic Warfare (EW) systems for a portfolio of classified programs. Reporting to the Low Band Portfolio Manager, the Program Manager will drive program success from proposal development through contract closeout, while maintaining continuous alignment with customers, suppliers, and internal stakeholders.

 

The role is 100 % onsite and requires extended work in closed, secure areas. The site is located at 500 S. Hicks Rd in Rolling Meadows, IL.

Primary Responsibilities and Expectations

  • Customer Relationship Management – Cultivate and expand opportunities within the customer community.
  • Integrated Program Team (IPT) Leadership – Direct cross‑functional teams to meet cost, schedule, and technical performance targets. Manage multiple priorities while maintaining clear, consistent communication across all stakeholder groups.
  • Contract & Scope Management – Negotiate schedule, payment, and key terms; manage scope through control board activities and ensure compliance with contract requirements.
  • Proposal Development – Lead capture efforts and develop proposals for follow‑on business.
  • Risk & Opportunity Management – Identify, mitigate, and realize risks and opportunities throughout the program lifecycle.
  • Presentation & Communication – Deliver concise status reporting and timely escalations to external customers, senior leadership, and other stakeholders.
  • Statement of Work (SOW) Management – Review, finalize, and enforce the program SOW.
  • Government‑Supplied Property (GFE/GFI) – Oversee compliance with property and information handling requirements.
  • Self-Motivated, fast learning with enthusiastic outlook to increase and expand responsibility

Basic Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree 5-years, or Master’s degree 3-years of relevant experience.
  • Current SECRET clearance with ability to obtain and maintain TOP SECRET and SAP access.
  • Prior project/program management experience on DoD or other government contracts.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects within defined constraints.
  • Success aligning cross‑functional teams and building effective internal/external relationships.
  • Proven Earned Value Management (EVMS) experience.
  • Ability to establish and apply technical performance baselines and KPIs.
  • Up to 10 % travel may be required.

 

 

Preferred Qualifications

  • Current TOP SECRET clearance with existing SAP and/or SCI eligibility.
  • Experience with a variety of contract types (FFP, CPFF).
  • Strong business acumen and strategic thinking.
  • Experience leading cross‑discipline technical teams and balancing skill sets across multiple projects.
  • Direct customer‑interface experience.
  • Technical background or demonstrated ability to execute complex development/integration projects.
  • Proven ability to identify and implement strategic solutions or process improvements for long‑term objectives.

Primary Level Salary Range: $127,000.00 - $190,600.00

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.

Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.

About Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman is one of the largest aerospace and defense companies in the United States, building advanced systems across space, air, land, sea, and cyber domains. The company is known for some of the most complex defense programs in the world, including stealth aircraft, autonomous systems, missile defense technologies, satellites, and space-based intelligence platforms that support U.S. national security operations.

For job seekers, Northrop Grumman offers careers across a wide range of high-impact fields including aerospace engineering, software development, cybersecurity, systems engineering, manufacturing, program management, and intelligence support. The company is especially attractive to veterans, cleared professionals, and engineers who want to work on mission-critical systems that directly support the Department of Defense and intelligence community. Many roles involve long-term programs with significant technical depth and real-world operational impact.

Unlike smaller defense startups focused on narrow capabilities, Northrop Grumman operates across multiple major mission areas, giving employees exposure to highly advanced programs such as stealth platforms, space systems, autonomous vehicles, and next-generation command-and-control systems. The company is also a major leader in classified space and intelligence systems, where cutting-edge engineering and secure infrastructure play a critical role in national defense.

As global competition in space, cyber, and advanced military systems continues to intensify, Northrop Grumman remains one of the most strategically important employers in the defense industry. For professionals seeking stable, highly technical careers with long-term impact on national security, Northrop Grumman continues to stand out as a leading destination in aerospace and defense.

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