Business Development Manager 3 ( TS/SCI)

0090 CORP-Corporate Office; United States; On-site; USD 175,000 - 263,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental & Vision coverage

401k

Educational Assistance

Life Insurance

PTO and holidays

Job summary

Northrop Grumman seeks a strategic Business Development Lead for the AC&S unit, merging leadership with deep technical engagement in space and ground-based optical/RF communications.

The role requires 10+ years in BD/capture/proposal leadership in defense, Top Secret/SCI clearance, and ability to travel up to 25%. You’ll steer multi‑domain campaigns, coordinate across engineering, program management, finance, and legal teams, and engage senior government decision-makers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field, business, engineering, or related discipline.
• 10+ years in roles spanning business development, capture management, proposal development and optical/RF communications.
• 5+ years of direct capture management, business development, or proposal leadership in defense/aerospace or national security space programs.
• Experience with CRM tools and data-driven BD decisions.
• Active Top Secret/SCI clearance at time of application.
• Ability to travel up to 25%.

Responsibilities

• Lead BD for a portfolio of advanced communications programs within AC&S.
• Grow opportunity pipeline through strategic outreach and campaign planning across DoD, USSF, MDA, IC, commercial, and international markets.
• Oversee all aspects of the BD process, including growth strategy, qualification, pursuit prioritization, and capture plan development.
• Engage customers and translate requirements into discriminating solutions in optical/RF communications.
• Develop and execute BD and capture strategies for target markets like national security space and multi-domain integration.
• Influence internal investment planning and align with roadmaps.
• Lead multi-functional teams to develop mission discriminators and innovative architectures.
• Shape government relations and advocacy plans to support campaigns.

Skills

CRM tools (Salesforce)

Security clearance (Top Secret/SCI)

Travel up to 25%

Strategic leadership

Technical engagement (optical/RF)

Stakeholder communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in STEM, business, or engineering

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes CLEARANCE TYPE: Top Secret TRAVEL: Yes, 25% 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.

We are currently seeking a strategic and results‑driven Business Development Manager 3 to serve as a Business Development Lead within the Advanced Tactical Missions Business Unit, with primary responsibility for the Advanced Communications & Sensing (AC&S) Operating Unit. This position is contingent upon customer final approval. This role blends strategic leadership with deep technical engagement in space‑and ground‑based optical and RF communications.

Key Responsibilities

Portfolio & Pipeline Leadership

Lead business development for a portfolio of advanced communications programs and pursuits within AC&S, with coordination across Multi‑Domain Systems and Mission Exploration.

Manage and grow the opportunity pipeline through strategic customer outreach and targeted campaign planning in DoD, USSF, MDA, IC, commercial, and international markets.

Oversee all aspects of the Business Acquisition Process (BAP), including growth strategy development, opportunity qualification, pursuit prioritization, capture plan development, and progression through internal BAP/review gates.

Customer Engagement & Technical Outreach (Optical / RF)

Actively engage and follow up with advanced communications acquisition customers, US Government and international stakeholders, and Northrop Grumman leaders.

Conduct independent initial technical and concept discussions with customers in space‑and ground‑based optical and RF communications, helping translate mission needs into discriminating solutions.

Drive customer engagement through development of briefings, white papers, and RFI responses that clearly articulate mission value and technical advantages.

Strategy, Capture & Investment Shaping

Develop and execute comprehensive BD and capture strategies for key target markets, including national security space, advanced communications, and multi‑domain integration.

Influence internal investment planning and shape business priorities aligned with pipeline opportunities and customer roadmaps.

Convene and lead multi‑functional teams (engineering, program management, finance, legal, government relations) to develop mission discriminators through innovative architectures, payloads, technology strategies, management approaches, and competitive cost solutions.

Devise and help execute government relations and legislative advocacy plans to support key campaigns and opportunities.

Market & Competitive Intelligence

Conduct ongoing market research in advanced communications, monitor industry and technology trends, and analyze competitors to refine strategy and identify new growth areas.

Use CRM tools and data analysis to track opportunity health, inform decision‑making, and drive disciplined BD execution.

Relationships & Representation

Build and sustain trust‑based relationships with senior government and military decision‑makers, program offices, contracting officers, and international partners.

Represent Northrop Grumman at conferences, trade shows, and other industry events to increase market visibility and build key customer and partner relationships.

Leadership & Mentoring

Mentor and guide a multidisciplinary team of BD and capture professionals, setting performance expectations and fostering strategic career development.

Promote BD and capture best practices across the portfolio and contribute to a high‑performance, mission‑focused culture.

Compliance & Acquisition Discipline

Ensure that all business development initiatives comply with Northrop Grumman standards, ethics, and applicable government regulations.

Leverage deep familiarity with defense and national security space acquisition processes, including traditional and non‑traditional pathways, to guide capture and bid decisions.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field, business, engineering, or a related discipline.
• 10+ years of combined experience with a bachelor’s degree, or 8+ years with a master’s degree, in roles spanning: Business development, capture management, and proposal development, and Space‑or ground‑based optical or RF communications or closely related fields.
• 5+ years of direct experience in capture management, business development, and/or proposal leadership for defense/aerospace or national security space programs.
• Demonstrated ability to: Conduct independent initial technical and concept discussions with optical/RF communications customers.
• Identify and qualify new business opportunities (including new customer sets, domestic and international).
• Shape customer requirements, write white papers, develop talking points, and represent the company at trade shows/conferences.
• Experience with customer relationship management (CRM) tools (e.g., Salesforce) and using data to inform BD decisions.
• Current and active Top Secret/SCI security clearance at time of application.
• Ability to travel up to 25%.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in a STEM discipline or an MBA.
• Deep domain expertise in space‑or ground‑based optical/RF communications, including experience in: Communication system design and development, Payload design and mission architecting, Requirements and architecture development, Program or campaign management.
• Demonstrated experience: Leading and growing business development and capture teams and implementing BD/capture best practices.
• Building and maintaining relationships with senior executives and decision‑makers across DoD, USSF, MDA, IC, commercial, and international communities.
• Strategic planning, profit and loss (P&L) responsibility, and investment planning/resource allocation.
• Strong communication skills, including experience briefing executive leadership and senior customer audiences.
• Firm grasp of U.S. Government procurement processes, including PPB&E, FAR‑based acquisitions, and non‑traditional contracting mechanisms (e.g., OTA, other flexible instruments).
• Experience in international business development and familiarity with export and regulatory considerations for advanced communications systems.

Why Join Northrop Grumman?

This is an opportunity to shape the way we connect with and engage employees across the enterprise.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental & Vision coverage
• 401k
• Educational Assistance
• Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Programs & Work/Life Solutions
• Paid Time Off
• Health & Wellness Resources
• Employee Discounts
• Flexible Schedules: For example the ability to work a 9/80 work schedule, which allows an employee to work a nine-hour day Monday through Thursday and take every other Friday off of work

For more details, please view Northrop Grumman Benefits.

Primary Level Salary Range: $175,400.00 - $263,200.00

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.

U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.

We are a pioneering company. With careers across all areas: air, cyber, land, sea and space – our 90,000 employees work as one to defend and define the future. Northrop Grumman careers and internships are as varied as your interests, with a lifetime of potential that will give you every opportunity to do your best work. Working together with people from many backgrounds, personal passions and disciplines, we share a drive to push the boundaries of science, technology and engineering to meet the ever evolving needs of our customers worldwide.