Program Manager 3 – Ceramic/Aero Composites

Relocation assistance may be available. Secret clearance required. Travel: 25%.

About the role

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. 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.

The COI Ceramics (COIC) and Aeronautical Product organization within Northrop Grumman Intelligence Systems division’s Mission Enabling Products is a leading producer of Ceramic Matrix and Polymer Composites components. The organization is seeking a highly qualified, mission-oriented Program Manager 3 to join our team in San Diego, CA. This role supports various markets with critical Ceramic Composite Matrix (CMC) oxide and non-oxide products, including applications in commercial power, exhaust systems, thermally resistant structures, aero structures, and radome applications.

• Learn more about our components: Mission Enabling Products and COI Ceramics.

Responsibilities

• Lead product line and direct program oversight to deliver on all contractual requirements, including cost, schedule, technical requirements, and customer intimacy to support value creation strategies.
• Support overall product line financial strategic planning, marketing development, Annual Operating Plan (AOP) development (including cost models), and product line Order/Sales/EBIT target achievement.
• Lead a cross-functional organization aligned to common program and product line performance goals.
• Manage all phases of the program life cycle from inception (proposal development) through startup, execution, and completion (contract closeout).
• Establish a product line and program organization that effectively addresses customer requirements and incorporates necessary internal and external sub-organizations.
• Direct cross-functional Integrated Program Teams (IPT) to meet program cost, schedule, and technical performance objectives.
• Manage and resolve escalated program issues and operational constraints.
• Oversee product line resource and execution planning, including direct report management (assignments, training/mentorship, oversight, career development).
• Track and report detail Orders, Sales, Operating Margin (OM) metrics for product line and individual programs, including executive briefings.
• Develop and manage discretionary plans, including IRAD and capital expenses.
• Cultivate customer relationships to develop further opportunities within the customer community.
• Develop new business opportunities through long-term strategic planning, capture planning, and proposal/business plan development, including forecast updates and new business capture.
• Coordinate product line proposals and serve as Capture Manager for strategic pursuits.
• Update and report on key pursuit forecast and new business pipeline opportunities.
• Collaborate on strategic technical roadmap development.
• Deliver presentations to customers, executive management, and other stakeholders.
• Participate in contract negotiations, including contract changes, specifications, operating budgets, schedule milestones, and key terms and conditions.
• Establish design concepts, criteria, and engineering efforts for product research, development, integration, and test.
• Create, review, and finalize the program Statement of Work.
• Identify, distribute, track, and complete program requirements.
• Establish and manage program and subordinate baselines.
• Develop and adhere to budget baselines utilizing Earned Value Management (EVM) or similar cost & schedule control methodologies.
• Identify, allocate, and manage program resources, including workforce planning.
• Manage Government/customer-supplied property or information (GFE, CFE, etc.).
• Manage suppliers to meet program objectives.
• Ensure adherence to internal processes, policies, and applicable industry standards.
• Ensure the program team understands and adheres to contract scope and manages change through control board activities.
• Develop and adhere to master plans and schedules (program and product line level).
• Conduct thorough risk and opportunity management practices, including identification, mitigation, and realization.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree and 10 years’ experience supporting customers in a project/technical lead role in an aerospace/defense manufacturing environment.
• Experience managing all aspects of program execution, including planning, implementation across Integrated Product Teams (IPT), and contracting.
• Ability to manage external customers and internal functional teams through engineering, development, hardware fabrication, and testing/validation.
• Experience growing existing business and/or new business with current customers, including customer relationships, proposal development, capture planning, and strategy.
• Demonstrated financial management skills, including development and control of program budgets, schedules, Estimate at Complete (EAC), EVMS, and recognizing/capturing program changes.
• Experience developing and managing Basis of Estimate (BOE), Statement of Work (SOW), Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL), Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM), and Firm Proposals.
• Proven analytical, technical, strategic, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience in design for manufacturing, transition to production programs, and mature production programs.
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills.
• Ability to create and update Integrated Master Schedules (IMS).
• Detail cost evaluations, including labor and non-labor analysis for programs and product line performance.
• Ability to travel up to 25%.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a US Government Secret clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proven leadership, including coaching and building effective teams, demonstrated interpersonal and communication skills, and ability to work across departments, sectors, and suppliers.
• Knowledge and execution of various proposal and contract types (CPFF, FFP, T&M) and experience in contract negotiations.
• Background in material systems, Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMC), and polymer composites.
• CAM experience.
• Business discretionary investment planning experience.
• Demonstrated ability to multi-task in a challenging environment with competing priorities in a positive manner.
• Experience managing multi-contract product line(s).
• Experience with detail program financial and schedule modeling for program, multi-program, and multi-year procurement (MYP) contract scenarios.
• Direct report management experience.
• Production product line management experience.
• Active Security Clearance (Secret or above).

Pay

Primary level salary range: $193,000.00 - $289,600.00. The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers factors such as scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's experience, education, skills, and current market conditions when determining base salary offers. 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.

Benefits

• Health insurance coverage.
• Life and disability insurance.
• Savings plan.
• Company-paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.