Hardware Test Engineering Manager 2

Northrop Grumman; United States; On-site; USD 147,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Life and disability insurance

Savings plan

Paid holidays and PTO

Job summary

Northrop Grumman located in Goleta, CA, is seeking a Hardware Test Engineering Manager 2 to lead and oversee test engineering for concurrent space programs. The role requires directing test engineers and technicians, ensuring quality and readiness of tests, and coordinating with design and system teams.

The ideal candidate has a STEM degree with extensive engineering experience and a proven record in space hardware testing, staffing leadership, and involvement in cost/schedule governance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a STEM discipline with 8+ years of engineering experience OR a Master's degree in a STEM discipline with 6+ years of engineering experience.
• Experience with testing space hardware in the aerospace and defense industry.
• Experience in leading, mentoring, and developing engineering teams to deliver technical solutions, within cost and schedule constraints.

Responsibilities

• Direct test engineers and technicians assigned to concurrent space programs, ensuring day-to-day test execution aligns with program goals.
• Provide technical oversight to guarantee quality of test engineering deliverables (procedures and GSE requirements).
• Serve as primary technical liaison between test engineering and system/design/other engineering groups to resolve test-related issues.
• Define staffing strategies for test engineers and technicians; set performance goals and conduct reviews.
• Support annual salary review, enforce processes, and foster high-performance accountability.

Skills

Engineering leadership

Team mentoring

Resource planning

DoD clearance eligibility

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM

Master's degree in STEM

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No CLEARANCE TYPE: None TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time

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. Expand your horizons, advance your career, and contribute to a secure future for generations.

Hardware Test Engineering Manager 2

located in Goleta, CA

Responsibilities

• Program Test Engineering Management Direct test engineers and technicians assigned to concurrent space programs Ensure that day to day test execution aligns with program cost and schedule goals Provide technical oversight to guarantee the quality of all test engineering deliverables, i.e. procedures and GSE requirements. Ensure product and test readiness to meet rigorous program standards and deliverables. Serve as the primary technical liaison between test engineering and system, design, and other engineering groups to resolve test‑related issues.
• Functional Test Engineering Management Define and execute staffing strategies for test engineers and technicians Set clear performance goals, deliver regular feedback, and conduct performance reviews Support the annual salary review process. Enforce, refine, and improve Test Engineering processes. Foster a culture that empowers individuals, promotes high performance, and establishes shared accountability with program teams.
• Occasionally contribute to proposal activities, continuous‑improvement initiatives, Root Cause and Corrective Action (RCCA) and Failure Review Board (FRB) investigations Driving to rapid resolution and effective corrective actions.
• The successful candidate must also be able to support multiple shift schedules (including 1st and/or 2nd shift) and supervise technicians who operate on a 24/7 schedule.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Math) discipline with 8+ years of engineering experience OR a Master's degree in a STEM discipline with 6+ years of engineering experience
• Experience with testing space hardware in the aerospace and defense industry
• Experience in leading, mentoring, and developing engineering teams to deliver technical solutions, within cost and schedule constraints
• Knowledge of workforce and resource planning, including allocating resources across programs, managing workloads and priorities, and forecasting staffing needs
• Must be able and willing to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret clearance

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior leadership experience in Functional Management
• Demonstrated experience in environmental (thermal cycling and vibration) and deployment testing of space hardware
• Hands on experience with Earned Value Management (EVMS), Integrated Master Schedules (IMS), and Basis of Estimate (BOE) development.
• Direct involvement in the System Engineering Technical Review process (SRR, PDR, CDR, and TRR).
• Strong background in technical planning, risk&opportunity management, and driving project outcomes across cost, schedule, and technical quality.
• Experience partnering with customers to negotiate test requirements and ensure mutual alignment.

Benefits

• Health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.

Working at Northrop Grumman is more than just a paycheck. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards and benefits package designed to help you thrive at work and in life. For more information on our Total Rewards package, please visit our Total Rewards site.

Primary Level Salary Range: $146,600.00 - $219,800.00 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.

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.

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.