Mechanical Engineering Manager 2

Northrop Grumman; Redondo Beach (CA); On-site; USD 146,600 - 219,800; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental & Vision coverage

401k

Educational Assistance

Life Insurance

Employee Assistance Programs & Work/Li

Paid Time Off

Health & Wellness Resources

Employee Discounts

Job summary

Northrop Grumman in Redondo Beach, CA is seeking a Mechanical Engineering Manager 2 to lead a team within the Space Systems division. The role requires TS clearance and oversight of mechanical design, analysis and test across the polar program lifecycle.

The position emphasizes leadership, strategic planning, and collaboration with program management, systems engineering, and production to deliver reliable space hardware. Expect a dynamic 9/80 schedule and rigorous technical leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in a STEM discipline with 5+ years of experience OR Master of Science in a STEM discipline with 2+ years of experience.
• Active Top Secret clearance required at time of application.
• Experience leading multi‑disciplinary teams, preferably within IT&L campaigns.
• 3+ years minimum of hands-on experience developing Support Equipment designs for SV integration.
• Strong long‑term planning, resource allocation, scheduling and workforce development.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of ~15 MGSE RDEs supporting the Next Gen Polar Program through all phases of SV Assembly, Integration & Test.
• Oversee all phases of mechanical integration and test for Bus and Payload systems.
• Provide mentorship, coaching and development opportunities for engineers.
• Drive product readiness and ensure first‑time quality on test equipment and processes.
• Interface with program leadership to communicate progress, risks, and opportunities.

Skills

Leadership

Program management

Space systems

Communication

Education

Bachelor of Science in STEM

Master of Science in STEM

Tools

3D CAD software

GD&T

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes

CLEARANCE TYPE: Top Secret

TRAVEL: Yes, 10% 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.

Embark on a career putting innovative, reliable, and agile products and ideas into orbit, and beyond. Northrop Grumman has opportunities waiting for you that play a vital role in human space exploration, national defense, and scientific discovery, supporting multiple programs across the universe. With us, you’ll discover a culture of curiosity and collaboration that will have you defining possible from the day you start. Our space systems connect and protect millions of people on earth every day, now and for the future. Explore your future and launch your career today.

Space Systems is an industry‑leading provider for prime satellite and payload capabilities and directed energy and electronics solutions for national security, military, and civil customers. We are built on a heritage of providing innovative, affordable and reliable aerospace and defense products that our customers rely on to achieve mission success. Join the Space revolution and make the impossible, possible.

Northrop Grumman, Western Region Manufacturing and Operations (M&O), Mechanical & Environmental Test Engineering (M&ETE) Dept, has an opening for a Mechanical Engineering Manager 2 to join our team of highly qualified and diverse individuals. This position will be located in Redondo Beach, CA.

As a leader, you always act with integrity, and the highest ethical standards characterize everything you do. You enable your team to achieve predictable and balanced results, while satisfying the needs of internal and external partners. You treat all people with respect, and you model personal growth and continuous development. You know how to build an inclusive environment that attracts, retains, and inspires a diverse and engaged team. You develop trusted and valued customer relationships and communicate effectively, so that people throughout the organization feel engaged and connected to their work. You deliver excellence, strive for continuous improvement and respond vigorously to change.

You ensure that your team has the information and tools needed to perform at their best. You demonstrate our committed pursuit of applying innovation to meet the requirements of our customers. You craft and execute strategies that result in sustainable value creation that delivers measurable results.

These are highly dynamic, interactive positions. You will interact with numerous stakeholders including program management, systems engineering, flight hardware design engineers and logistical support services. Outstanding organizational and leadership skills are required to succeed in this role.

The M&ETE Department is looking for a functional section manager who will also provide technical leadership to space programs and the engineering team.

Responsibilities

• Design and Modeling in 3D CAD (Computer‑Aided Design) software
• Fundamental structural analysis techniques
• Drafting using ANSE Y14.5 Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing (GD&T)
• Fabrication support at vendors including acceptance testing and inspection
• End‑user support during integration operations
• Conceptual design
• Requirements definition
• Integration & Test process flow development

A qualified candidate is expected to be knowledgeable and proficient in design and analysis principles, processes, and tools.

Functional Responsibilities

• Staffing support to space systems programs
• Conducting quarterly performance evaluations and annual reviews
• Providing technical leadership and guidance to the staff
• Managing indirect, program direct, and capital needs
• Professional development and mentoring of direct reports
• Supporting Functional Homeroom initiatives and projects which include process improvement, Event Response Teams, Corrective and Preventive Action implementation, & Proposal efforts

Program / Technical Responsibilities

• Leadership and Management: Lead and manage a team of approximately 15 MGSE RDEs supporting the Next Gen Polar Program (NGP) through all phases of Space Vehicle (SV) Assembly Integration & Test. Partner closely with other functional managers and stakeholders to execute program objectives.
• Test Campaign Execution Support: Oversee all phases of mechanical integration and test for Bus and Payload systems.
• Long‑Term Planning:
  • Team Development: Provide mentorship, coaching, and developmental opportunities for engineers to ensure their ongoing skill growth and technical depth. Focus on fostering expertise and developing future technical leaders.
  • Product Readiness: Drive the team toward safe and successful first‑time execution of factory support equipment. Ensure product and test readiness to meet rigorous program standards and deliverables.
  • Collaboration and Communication: Interface with program leadership to communicate test progress, risks, and opportunities. Resolve risks and roadblocks by leveraging cross‑discipline collaboration across engineering, operations, and IT&L functions.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental & Vision coverage
• 401k
• Educational Assistance
• Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Programs & Work/Life Solutions
• Paid Time Off
• Health & Wellness Resources
• Employee Discounts

This position’s standard work schedule is a 9/80. The 9/80 schedule allows employees who work a nine‑hour day Monday through Thursday to take every other Friday off.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science Degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM) discipline plus 5 years of experience OR Master of Science Degree in a STEM discipline plus 2 years of experience
• Proven leadership experience in multi‑disciplinary teams, preferably within IT&L campaigns.
• 3 years minimum of hands‑on experience developing Support Equipment design solutions of various integration phases of an SV.
• Strong capability in longer‑term planning—resource allocation, schedule execution, and workforce development.
• Extensive technical experience with space vehicle mechanical systems, architecture, and testing procedures.
• Excellent communication, decision‑making, and conflict resolution skills.
• Active Top Secret (TS) clearance required at time of application.

Preferred Qualifications

• Active Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) clearance
• Experience leading teams through highly demanding test environments.
• Balance technical execution with a focus on skill development and team morale, especially in high‑intensity work schedules or mission‑critical program phases.
• Drive alignment across various program functions to meet ambitious deadlines while prioritizing first‑time quality and organizational sustainability.

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

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.