Manager Manufacturing Engineering 1

Northrop Grumman Corporation; Rolling Meadows (IL); On-site; USD 105,000 - 158,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Plan

Savings Plan

Paid Time Off and Education/Training

Job summary

Northrop Grumman is seeking a Manufacturing Engineering Manager 1 to lead day‑to‑day operations in Rolling Meadows, IL. The role partners with production and engineering to drive troubleshooting, process improvements, and ensure hardware and software excellence.

The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's degree and at least 5 years in production/manufacturing, DoD clearance eligibility, and leadership experience with MES/ERP systems. U.S. citizenship is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and minimum 5 years of engineering experience in production assembly/fabrication.
• Ability to formulate, communicate, and execute complex project plans and initiatives.
• U.S. Citizenship is required and ability to obtain DoD clearance.
• Experience collaborating with manufacturing, quality, design engineering, and program teams.

Responsibilities

• Manage day‑to‑day operations of the Material Evaluation Lab and related teams.
• Prioritize, assign, and track requests with data‑driven reporting.
• Set work priorities based on program needs and drive continuous improvement.
• Lead, coach, and mentor engineers and technicians; provide performance feedback.
• Deliver clear technical and program status to leadership and stakeholders.

Skills

Excellent communication

Leadership

Project management

DoD clearance eligibility

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Tools

MES

ERP

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret TRAVEL: No

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 seeking a Manufacturing Engineering Manager 1 to join our team in Rolling Meadows, IL. This is a full‑time, on‑site position. Our manufacturing team thrives in an environment of daily unique challenges and close proximity to products. Partnering with production, successful process / test / industrial engineers lead troubleshooting and ensure excellence in hardware and software. Engineers who do well in this setting enjoy seeing their work perform in a test or a product, collaborate and communicate well across functions, and are innovative problem solvers.

Best suited to this role are those who enjoy learning and bring a sense of urgency and energy to their tasks.

What you will get to do:

• Manage day‑to‑day operations of the Material Evaluation Lab and the test/measurement equipment tracking team.
• Prioritize, assign, and track requests; ensure timely execution with clear, data‑driven reporting to internal and external stakeholders.
• Set work priorities based on program and business needs, balancing near‑term deliverables with long‑term capability development.
• Manage and resolve multiple simultaneous technical and programmatic challenges in a fast‑paced environment.
• Own earned value management responsibilities for assigned scope, including cost/schedule management, variance analysis, and development of recovery plans as needed.
• Establish, monitor, and report key performance indicators (KPIs) for lab throughput and measurement/test equipment.
• Drive continuous improvement in lab operations, including development of standard work, templates, and best practices.
• Develop and manage capital equipment roadmaps, operating budgets, and resource plans to support current programs and future growth.
• Lead, coach, and mentor a diverse team of engineers and technicians; provide regular feedback, quarterly connections, performance reviews, and development planning.
• Communicate technical and program status clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing; prepare and deliver high‑quality presentations to executive leadership, peers, customers, and all levels of the organization.
• Collaborate closely with manufacturing, quality, design engineering, and program teams to align priorities, resolve issues, and meet cost, schedule, and performance objectives.

The Ideal Candidate Will Possess:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with technicians, support personnel, functional management, and related groups.
• Strong interpersonal and critical thinking skills, with the ability to effectively communicate with all levels of leadership, shop floor employees, and support functions.

Basic Qualifications for the Manufacturing Engineering Manager 1:

• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 5 years of engineering experience in production assembly/fabrication, including composites, metallics, coatings application, and/or production manufacturing.
• Experience formulating, communicating, and executing complex project plans and initiatives.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Clearance.
• U.S. Citizenship is required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Aerospace or defense product experience.
• Experience with a Manufacturing Execution System (MES) and/or ERP system.
• Minimum of 2 years of prior management/leadership experience in a related field.
• LEAN/Continuous Improvement experience and root‑cause problem‑solving skills.
• Strong business and financial acumen, including capital and talent budgeting, estimate‑at‑completion (EAC), and understanding of Operations Review processes.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Understanding of AS9100/ISO 9001.

What We Can Offer You:

Northrop Grumman provides a comprehensive benefits package and a work environment which encourages your growth and supports the mutual success of our people and our company. Northrop Grumman benefits give you the flexibility and control to choose the benefits that make the most sense for you and your family.

Your benefits will include the following:

• Health Plan
• Savings Plan
• Paid Time Off and Additional Benefits including Education Assistance, Training and Development, 9/80 Work Schedule (where available), and much more!

#MPR Primary Level Salary Range: $105,000.00 - $157,600.00 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.

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.