Program Manager 2 - ESPAStar Product Line

Northrop Grumman; United States; On-site; USD 139,000 - 209,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

None

Job summary

Northrop Grumman is seeking a Program Manager Level 2 for the ESPAStar Product Line within the Space Sector. The role requires leading diverse teams and delivering complex aerospace programs under government contracts.

The successful candidate will manage investments across the portfolio, collaborate with senior engineering and program teams, and ensure alignment with cost, schedule, and technical objectives while operating in both classified and unclassified environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree with extensive defense contracting experience.
• Active Top-Secret/SCI clearance required at time of application.
• 5+ years of program or project management experience in aerospace.
• Experience managing technical projects and investment portfolios.
• Ability to work in a matrixed organization and influence without direct authority.
• Experience delivering status, risks, and recommendations to leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead diverse, cross-functional project teams to meet objectives.
• Plan, budget, and track execution against cost, schedule and technical goals.
• Coordinate with senior engineering teams to transition technologies to contract work.
• Communicate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Skills

Program management

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication skills

Aerospace contracts experience

Matrixed organization experience

Performance metrics tracking

Spacecraft/space system knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Physics/Math/CS/Business or related

Master's degree in a related field

Tools

EVMS concepts

Budgeting tools

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes

CLEARANCE TYPE: SCI

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.

Northrop Grumman's Space Sector is looking for a Program Manager Level 2 to support the Space Superiority Division, ESPAStar Product Line Organizatio n NCTA and Proposal Manager . This position requires a broad understanding of U.S. Government aerospace products/systems and/or missions/operations as well as experience in leading project teams. The ideal candidate will possess knowledge and experience in at least one of the following: Spacecraft Design, Spacecraft/Component Integration and Test (I&T), Payload design and I&T, Launch Vehicle Integration, Space Mission Operations, or Space Ground Systems.

This role serves as the ESPAStar Product Line focal point for planning and executing NCTA investments across the portfolio while providing program management leadership for key technology maturation and demonstration efforts. A key aspect of this influential position will involve collaborating with senior engineering teams to identify, prioritize, and guide internal research and development efforts to successfully transition advanced technologies into solutions ready for customer funded research and development efforts or direct implementation on contract s .

The successful candidate will have demonstrated experience leading diverse teams, communicating effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders, and operating successfully within both classified and unclassified environments.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering , Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Business, or related discipline with 8 years of supporting U.S. Government contracts and customers, or Masters Degree with 6 years of experience supporting U.S. Government contracts and customers.
• Must possess an active/current Top-Secret/SCI at time of application.
• 5+ years of relevant experience in engineering, project management, or program management supporting complex aerospace or space systems.
• Experience managing technical projects or investment portfolios, including planning, budgeting, and tracking execution against cost, schedule, and technical objectives.
• Solid technical background with the ability to understand spacecraft/space system architectures, payloads, and subsystem-level trade studies (or similar complex technical domains).
• Demonstrated ability to work in a matrixed organization, build relationships, and influence without direct authority.
• Demonstrated experience leading cross functional teams (engineering, operations, business management, supply chain, etc.) to deliver on project or program objectives.
• Experience applying project performance management tools and methods (e.g., schedules, metrics dashboards, EVMS concepts, or equivalent) to monitor health of projects.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience presenting status, risks, and recommendations to leadership and technical teams.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proven ability to challenge existing processes and documentation practices constructively, and to drive consensus toward more efficient, modern ways of working.
• Demonstrated experience identifying and implementing process improvements or affordability initiatives (e.g., cycle time reductions, waste elimination, standardization of templates/workflows).
• Experience with agile or incremental development approaches (e.g., iterative design reviews, backlog management, sprints, or Kanban) in a hardware or mixed hardware/software environment.

Primary Level Salary Range: $139,100.00 - $208,700.00

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