Director Manufacturing Operations 1

Northrop Grumman Corp.; Linthicum (MD); On-site; USD 177,000 - 265,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Health insurance

Discretionary bonus potential

Job summary

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems is seeking an experienced Director of Manufacturing Operations to lead critical manufacturing operations at the Linthicum, Maryland facility. This site leader will oversee assembly, RF test, and advanced packaging with matrix alignment to FTAP across multiple divisions and external customers.

The role requires a strategic, collaborative leader who drives on-time, on-cost delivery while championing safety, inclusion, and high performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Operations/Business or related field.
• 10+ years leadership experience in manufacturing operations or related environment.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams across manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and program management.
• Ability to travel to Apopka, FL 25% (quarterly).
• US Citizenship is required and ability to obtain active Secret clearance.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership for manufacturing operations across assembly, RF test, and advanced packaging at the Linthicum site.
• Drive safety, quality, delivery, cost, and morale through operational excellence and KPI management.
• Lead cross-functional teams to resolve constraints and maintain flow.
• Ensure capacity, staffing, and resources align with current and future demand.
• Develop standard work and lean practices across the value stream.
• Interface with program and functional leadership to align priorities and communicate status.

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Analytical problem-solving

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Operations/Business

Tools

ERP/MES/PLM

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No

CLEARANCE TYPE: 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. Northrop Grumman Mission Systems is seeking an experienced and strategic Director of Manufacturing Operations to lead critical manufacturing operations at our Linthicum, Maryland facility. This leader will be a site lead and responsible for overall manufacturing operations performance with site leadership across assembly, RF test, and the advanced packaging cell. This role provides strategic and operational leadership to ensure on-time, on-cost delivery in support of business objectives for multiple internal MS divisions, multi-sector, and external customers. This role primarily supports the Foundries, Test and Advanced Packaging (FTAP); a key element of the Mission Next division within the Mission Systems sector. This role will have oversite supporting the work out of the Apopka, FL site as part of the matrix organization aligned to FTAP so partnership with Manufacturing leader at this site with be an essential part of the role. This person will report to the VP of Mission Next. The ability to communicate and lead teams across multiple internal organizations, functional teams and matrix environments is an execution requirement of this role.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership for manufacturing operations across assembly, RF test, and advanced packaging cells at the 900i site.
• Operational excellence meeting our customer commitments and protecting our people and products. This includes execution excellence and overall responsibility for Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost and Morale.
• Lead cross-functional teams (manufacturing, engineering, quality, supply chain, and program teams) to resolve constraints and maintain flow.
• Ensure capacity, staffing, and resources are aligned to support current and future business demand.
• Develop and deploy standard work, continuous improvement, and lean practices across the value stream.
• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and implement corrective actions to address gaps.
• Interface regularly with program and functional leadership across multiple divisions to align priorities and communicate status.
• Serve as primary operations leader for external customers visiting or engaging with the Linthicum site.
• Champion a culture of safety, inclusion, accountability, and high performance.
• Develop, mentor, and evaluate leaders and staff within the site operations organization.

Key Attributes

• Strategic thinker with strong execution discipline.
• Collaborative, inclusive leader who builds high-performing teams.
• Results-driven, with a focus on safety, quality, cost, and schedule.
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, multi-customer environment.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Business or related field and a minimum of 10 years related leadership experience in manufacturing operations, production, or closely related advanced manufacturing environments and/or program management
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing teams and/or managers in a complex manufacturing environment.
• Proven track record delivering on cost and schedule in support of multiple programs or customers.
• Experience working cross-functionally with engineering, quality, supply chain, and program management.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication, executive presence, and stakeholder management skills.
• Must be able to travel to Apopka, FL 25% (Once a quarter)
• US Citizenship is required
• Ability to obtain an active Secret security clearance

Preferred Qualifications

• Program Management experience
• Experience with industry and management methodologies focused on continuous improvement in manufacturing, such as ISO 9000, World Class Manufacturing and/or Six Sigma
• Experience with ERP/MES and PLM business systems
• Experience in electronics, aerospace/defense, or advanced packaging manufacturing environments.
• Prior responsibility for site-level or large-cell operations performance.
• Experience supporting both internal (multi-division) and external customers.
• Active Security Clearance

Primary Level Salary Range: $177,000.00 - $265,400.00

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.