The Mission Enabling Products (MEP) Business Unit is seeking a Design Engineering Manager 2 to join our team. Northrop Grumman MEP Business Unit designs, builds and delivers space, defense and aviation-related systems to customers around the world. Our main products include satellites and associated space components and services, launch vehicles and related propulsion systems, missile products, subsystems and defense electronics, precision weapons, armament systems and ammunition, and advanced aerospace structures.

This position is located in San Diego, CA. The Design Manager will provide both programmatic and technical design leadership to the Structures Operating Unit (OU) and will have responsibility for quality, technical execution, schedule, and cost. The role will lead a Design Engineering team, working closely with program leadership, manufacturing and testing teams, technical leaders, and functional subject matter experts.

This position is responsible for product performance and technical excellence for design engineering. This position is a combination of hands-on management of design activities and personnel management. A key responsibility is ensuring that all work products meet program requirements for quality, technical, schedule, and cost while being performed in accordance with engineering requirements and standards.

The Design Engineering Manager will report to the functional Design Engineering Manager. The successful candidate will have demonstrated experience in design engineering and leadership within an organization. The successful candidate should also have experience in management activities including employee staffing, recruiting and retention, employee career development, employee engagement and performance management, and annual performance review and merit review processes.

Job Responsibilities:

• Manage resources.  Own requisition process, manage direct labor yield (DLY) and training, and allocate resources. Conduct 1:1’s and reviews of design engineers and ensure direct reports have effective development plans and goals.
• Provide technical oversight. Provide technical oversight and guidance to design engineers. Review tooling and product design methodologies, drawings, and design review packages (PDR, CDR, MRR) to ensure operational success of flight hardware. Coordinate with other functional groups throughout the design and manufacturing process.
• Monitor program performance. Daily management and escalation of all design issues (technical, schedule, and financial). Support Daily Management Review (DMR) and communicate status of design efforts, highlight conflicts, and recommend solutions. Monitor effectiveness and execution of daily management standards. Lead and/or support technical reviews at the design level. Lead, plan and schedule design activities working with program management, analysis value stream leaders, engineering functional leaders, and chief engineers. Track and improve First Pass Yield (FPY) and On Time Delivery (OTD). Generate proposal Bases of Estimates (BOE) for both design labor and tooling costs.
• Standardize and improve design processes. Develop and ensure consistent execution of standard practices, methods, and design software and analytical tools within the Design department. Implement lessons learned, standard practices, best practices, and continuous improvement plans. Lead projects and plans to improve design technology, strategic capability, and capacity.

Competencies:

• Customer Focus - Building strong internal and external customer relationships through execution and teamwork
• Decision Quality - Making good and timely risk-conscious decisions that keep the organization moving forward
• Optimize Work Processes - Knowing the most effective and efficient processes to get things done, with a focus on continuous improvement
• Ensures accountability - Holding self and others accountable to meet commitments
• Builds effective teams - Building strong teams that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals. Strong communication and collaboration skills.
• Drives engagement - Creating a climate where people are motivated to do their best to help the organization achieve its objectives
• Demonstrates self-awareness - Using a combination of feedback and reflection to gain productive insight into personal strengths and weaknesses
• Instills trust - Gaining the confidence and trust of others through honest, integrity, and authenticity

Basic Qualifications:

• Requires Bachelor's of Science degree in Engineering with 9+ years working in a structural design engineering environment
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing an engineering team on structural design efforts
• Aerospace experience with product definition (specifications, SOW's, drawings, ICD compliance) and design and verification processes is required
• Ability to oversee and review the design of composite products and tooling to ensure successful execution of manufacturing and test plans
• Understanding of aerospace composite tooling, including layup molds, assembly fixtures, test fixtures, and Ground Support Equipment (GSE)
• Experience with composite manufacturing processes and applications
• Proficiency in CAD and PLM systems is required. Siemens NX and Teamcenter experience is preferred
• Strong proficiency in drawing generation, with the ability to apply and review GD&T
• A broad understanding of engineering, manufacturing, cost and schedule execution, scope management, and risk management is required.
• Demonstrated experience in Design for Manufacturability (DFMA) principles and mistake-proofing is required.
• Must be a US citizen

Preferred Qualifications:

• Should be a self-starter and possess strong interpersonal, and leadership skills with the ability to work independently or as part of a team
• Has the ability to prioritize and manage time effectively
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills are preferred
• End item test design and support experience including static load testing and dynamic testing is preferred
• Ability to receive Top Secret clearance