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Flight Sciences and Vehicle Controls Section Manager 2 (VMS)

El Segundo, California, 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.

Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems (NGAS) has an exciting career opportunity for a Flight Sciences and Vehicle Controls Section Manager 2 to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals working at our Research and Advanced Design, Engineering Integration and Execution team. This hands-on leadership position is located onsite in El Segundo, CA.

As an Engineering Manager of a Flight Sciences and Vehicle Controls section, you will be a functional manager reporting to the Flight Sciences & Vehicle Controls Department of the Research and Advanced Design, Engineering Integration and Execution team in the Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems sector. You will be responsible for the people, processes, tools, and technology to meet the current and future Vehicle Management Systems analysis needs of unclassified and classified programs in El Segundo and Redondo Beach, CA. In this role, you will support program activity and perform the functional management role at approx. 20% and concurrent ~80% engineering responsibilities.

Essential Functions:

  • Provide technical oversight to a discipline team of Vehicle Management Systems (VMS) engineers, provide technical oversight across the sector, including independent reviews of major programs, support of proposal, and identification of technology needs
  • Manage a team of engineers supporting people, processes, tools, and technology
  • Provide Vehicle Management Systems (VMS) technical and programmatic guidance to programs
  • Provide leadership, mentorship, and direction to team members
  • Coordinate staffing with IPTs and support staffing processes, review resumes and conduct interviews, and grow and maintain critical skillsets
  • Establish and maintain processes, design manuals, and common tools for programs across the discipline Center of Technical Excellence (COTE)
  • Identify capital assets, indirect, and training budgets required for personnel to perform statements of work
  • Facilitate and promote improvement initiatives, and sharing of lessons learned and best practices between programs and engineering teams
  • Administer Quarterly Connections performance reviews, bonus plan, and salary review processes in conjunction with program IPT leaders and the Flight Sciences and Vehicle Controls functional homeroom
  • Interface with customers to define study areas and report status on current programs and technology development efforts
  • May interface with management and technical teams to define business relationships and technology initiatives for both IRAD (Internal Research and Development) and CRAD (Contractual Research and Development) efforts

Our leaders at Northrop Grumman live our values daily and encourage our teams to do the same. We do the right thing: upholding the highest ethical standards and facilitating a safe and respectful environment that attracts, retains, and inspires a diverse and engaged team. We do what we promise: holding yourself and others accountable to meet predictable and balanced results. We commit to shared success: operating as OneNG and removing barriers for our teams. Finally, We pioneer: setting a vision that shapes the future and inspires others.

Basic Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's degree in a relevant Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) discipline and 9 years of relevant professional/military experience; OR Master's degree in a relevant STEM discipline and 7 years of relevant professional/military experience
  • Must have a background in Flight Sciences and Vehicle Controls Design & Analysis
  • Must have Vehicle Management Systems (VMS) and/or other Flight Sciences Discipline knowledge with experience analyzing either subsonic, supersonic or hypersonic aircraft or missile systems
  • Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a US Government Secret clearance prior to start.
  • Must have the ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) clearance

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Current, in-scope Secret clearance (or higher) (Highly Preferred)
  • Experience in technical leadership and guidance to Flight Sciences & Vehicle Controls discipline areas
  • Experience in Flight Sciences & Vehicle Controls processes and products throughout the program life cycle
  • Demonstrated ability to and/or experience leading an engineering or cross-functional team
  • Prior leadership experience within an engineering team environment

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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