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Manager Digital Engineering 3

Manhattan Beach, California, United States
Full Time On-site

Summary

Job Description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No

CLEARANCE TYPE: None

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.

Digital Space Technology (DST) Department Manager

Northrop Grumman is seeking a highly motivated and experienced leader to serve as the Digital Space Technology (DST) Department Manager, leading an organization of more than 100 engineers responsible for the design and development of advanced digital electronics for Space Systems. The department encompasses a broad range of technical disciplines, including digital circuit card assemblies, electronic units and sub-systems, FPGA development, ASIC design, digital architecture, and verification.  

The role is responsible for the technical health, talent development, staffing, strategic planning, and execution support of a highly skilled engineering organization that delivers mission-critical space hardware to program across the enterprise.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Lead and develop a department of over 100 engineers specializing in digital electronics, FGPA, ASIC, and embedded hardware technologies.

  • Establish and execute workforce, staffing, recruiting, retention, and succession planning to maintain critical technical capabilities.

  • Partner with program leadership to ensure successful execution of cost, schedule, and technical baseline.

  • Drive technical excellence and engineering rigor across digital hardware, FPGA, ASIC, board and unit development activities.

  • Develop and maintain critical skill roadmaps, ensuring the organization is prepared to meet current and future business needs.

  • Support business growth through proposal development, technology roadmaps, customer engagement, and strategic capture activities.

  • Foster innovation through investment planning, technology maturation, and transition of research and development efforts into flight products.

  • Build Inclusive, collaborative, and high-performing culture focused on employee engagement and leadership development.

  • Partner across engineering disciplines, sites and regions, including RF, Power, Laser Sensors, Product Engineering, microelectronics, research labs, software, and Manufacturing and Ops to deliver integrated solutions.

  • Champion engineering productivity initiatives, digital transformation efforts, and the adoption of advanced design methodologies and tools.

Basics Qualifications:

  • Bachelors of Science degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math) field from an accredited institution and 8+ years of experience in Engineering.

  • Demonstrated leadership experience managing large engineering organizations or technical teams (minimum of 5 years).

  • Experience in program execution, including cost, schedule and technical performance, risk management, and earned value management (minimum of 5 years).

  • Strong background in digital electronics, FPGA, ASIC, embedded systems or related disciplines.

  • Experience supporting complex aerospace, defense or space programs through development, integration, test, and production (minimum 8 years).

  • Proven ability to lead organizational change, talent development, and workforce planning initiatives.

  • Experience with proposal development, business growth, and customer engagement activities.

  • Ability to balance near-term execution with long-term capability development.

  • Excellent communication, collaboration, and strategic planning skills.

  • Ability to obtain and maintain government security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related technical field.

  • Experience leading managers and multi-disciplinary engineering organization larger than 100 personnel.

  • Prior experience in space systems, satellite payloads, spacecraft electronics, or other mission-critical hardware development.

  • Experience with the design, development, integration, and test of space-qualified digital hardware, FPGA, ASIC, or microelectronics products.

  • Proven track record of developing talent, building technical depth, and establishing succession plans for critical skill areas.

  • Strong understanding of program execution, including cost, schedule and technical performance, risk management, and earned value management.

  • Active TS/SCI and SSBI clearance.

Primary Level Salary Range: $193,000.00 - $289,600.00

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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