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Manager Software Engineering 2

Aurora, Colorado, United States
Full Time On-site
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes

CLEARANCE TYPE: Top 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.

Northrop Grumman is seeking a forward‑thinking leader to join the engineering team in Aurora, Colorado as a Functional Software Engineering Manager Level 2. The selected individual will be tasked with developing high‑performing Software and DevOps teams while driving initiatives across the organization. This dual‑track role blends people‑leadership with direct execution supporting strategic engineering projects, business‑development (BD), and ensuring program performance. The manager will report directly to the SW Department Manager and will be accountable for a diverse group of 15‑20 engineers across the SW Engineering organization (SW, DevOps, AI/ML).

Core Responsibilities

  • Team Coaching & Development – Lead, mentor, and grow a team of software, DevOps, and AI engineers; hold regular 1:1s, staff meetings, and career‑development workshops. Identify and develop top performing talent across the organization.
  • Staffing & Talent Acquisition – Own the full hiring lifecycle: workforce planning, recruiting (including external hires), re‑assignment, onboarding, and retention strategies.
  • AI Solution Development – Help identify and implement AI solutions to accelerate daily tasks, improve organizational effectiveness, and drive data-driven talent development. Drive organization‑wide standardization and promote its adoption.
  • Performance Management – Set clear goals, conduct performance assessments, coordinate compensation reviews, and recognize high‑impact contributions.
  • Process Rigor – Enforce engineering‐process standards, agile/lean practices, and continuous‑improvement initiatives.
  • Employee Relations – Partner with HR Business Partner on HR matters, resolve personnel issues, and ensure compliance with corporate policies (goal setting, performance reviews, etc.).

Basic Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s Degree in STEM related discipline and a minimum of 8 years related experience in Software Engineering, DevOps, or AI Engineering; Master's degree and 6 years of related experience; or a PhD and 4 years of related experience
  • Active Top-Secret clearance and SCI eligibility required at time of application
  • Minimum of 5 years direct technical execution experience in Software Engineering, DevOps, or AI/ML related position
  • Demonstrated leadership skills and the ability to work effectively in a team environment
  • Effective verbal and written communication skills
  • Strong practical knowledge of Engineering Process and Management
  • Ability to resolve conflicts and negotiate with positive outcome
  • Experience working with both internal and external customers and partners

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Direct supervisory experience and/or significant team leadership such as IPT or equivalent role; Functional management experience
  • Experience with Business Development and capture-related activities
  • Process improvement experience
  • Breadth of software engineering lifecycle experience on large or small programs
  • Strong understanding of agile principles as well as other lean methodologies
  • Experience working with system requirements and architecture
  • Experience with DoD programs and processes

Primary Level Salary Range: $161,100.00 - $241,700.00

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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