Systems Engineering Section Lead Manager 3 - Global Mission Solutions

Northrop Grumman; United States; On-site; USD 184,000 - 277,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off

Job summary

Northrop Grumman is seeking an experienced Airborne Platform Sensors – Systems Engineering Section Lead in Baltimore, MD. You will head the SIT&E department, guiding systems integration, test architecture, and data-driven design decisions.

You will mentor engineers, manage cross-functional programs, and ensure mission success while maintaining strict security clearances. This role requires onsite presence and a strong track record in defense environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 8+ years of experience in a technical field or Master’s with 6+ years or PhD with 4+ years.
• Active DoD Secret Clearance with ability to obtain SAP.
• Experience leading engineering teams, including managers and indirect staff.

Responsibilities

• Lead a systems integration department of ~70–80 engineers within SIT&E.
• Develop organizational strategy, training and career development aligned with goals.
• Present analysis results to senior leaders and customers with recommendations.
• Design workflows to automate testing with minimal manual effort.
• Ensure readiness and risk mitigation across programs in the BaPs portfolio.

Skills

Leadership

Systems engineering lifecycle

Staff mentoring

Program management

DoD clearance

EO/IR experience

Radar systems

Education

Bachelor’s degree in STEM

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

DOORS

MBSE (Cameo)

Jira

Confluence

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes CLEARANCE TYPE: 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. Northrop Grumman Mission Systems’ Engineering & Sciences (E&S) Baltimore and Partnered Sites (BaPs) Division is seeking an experienced Airborne Platform Sensors – Systems Engineering Section Lead. This section supports the Global Mission Solutions business unit within the Airborne Multifunction Sensors division. The Baltimore and Partnered Sites (BaPs) organization advances engineering capabilities and scientific innovation across a diverse portfolio. In this role, the selected candidate will lead the department responsible for systems integration and test architecture, design, analysis, and implementation.

What You’ll Get to Do:

Lead a Systems Integration department of approximately 70–80 engineers within the Systems Integration Test & Engineering (SIT&E) organization, reporting directly to the SIT&E Director. The department includes multiple disciplines spanning systems integration and test architecture, design, and analysis in support of programs across the BaPs division. As a Section Lead, this role will establish clear operating objectives and provide leadership and mentorship to front‑line managers, aligning team execution with engineering goals, corporate policies, and strategic priorities. This position will also oversee and support programs across the business unit portfolio, ensuring the appropriate people, training, and processes are in place to enable successful outcomes. Building on these leadership responsibilities, the Section Lead will drive risk identification and mitigation planning to protect technical performance, schedule fidelity, and execution excellence. This role will proactively address technical and operational challenges to ensure uninterrupted progress. In addition, this position will partner with engineers and program staff to recruit, develop, and retain top talent while building a strong pipeline of skilled professionals. Frequent collaboration with peer managers, program leaders, and senior business‑unit leaders will help strengthen the health and performance of the overall portfolio.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop organizational strategy, training and career development approaches, and an innovation roadmap aligned with enterprise objectives and organizational goals.
• Create data analysis products that directly support customer integration and test programs.
• Analyze complex test data to uncover insights that drive innovation, system improvement, and technical excellence.
• Develop data analysis tools that transform data into actionable insights and inform system design decisions.
• Mentor junior engineers to strengthen technical capability and help cultivate future leaders.
• Present analysis results to senior leaders and customers, clearly communicating impact and recommendations.
• Design and implement workflows that automate testing activities with minimal manual intervention.
• Execute tests on the unit under test (UUT) to collect artifacts and evidence supporting verification activities.
• Manage test execution across Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) and Software-in-the-Loop (SIL) environments.
• Review test artifacts to determine whether the UUT satisfies system requirements.
• Work independently with minimal direction, exercising considerable latitude in determining technical objectives and methods.

Basic Qualifications

Basic Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree with 8 years of experience, Master’s degree with 6 years of experience, or Ph.D. with 4 years of experience in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, or a related technical field. U.S. citizenship. Current/active DoD Secret Clearance with the ability to obtain SAP. Proven ability to lead and develop engineering teams, including managers and indirect staff, while overseeing people, processes, and tools and managing recruiting, staffing, retention, and mentorship. Strong knowledge of the systems engineering lifecycle and development phases, enabling effective technical reviews, proposal support, engineering change coordination, and integration with quality, support, and manufacturing functions. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a demonstrated track record of collaborating with senior leadership, peers, and cross‑functional stakeholders to improve engagement, training, and mission outcomes. Experience integrating, testing, and troubleshooting EO/IR, electronic warfare, and radar systems. Experience analyzing performance and test data from EO/IR, EW, and radar platforms. Ability to work onsite full time in Baltimore, MD

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications: Advanced degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, or a related technical field. Active DoD Top Secret Clearance or higher. Demonstrated engineering leadership across all acquisition phases—design, integration, and execution with a proven record of building or expanding teams and sections. Strong systems engineering expertise, including requirements development and management using DOORS or equivalent tools, and hands‑on experience with Model‑Based Systems Engineering tools such as Cameo. Proficiency with Agile methodologies and tools such as Jira and Confluence, with the ability to rapidly assess projects and provide technical guidance across disciplines. Broad technical background across electrical, mechanical, or environmental systems, along with a strong history of mentoring and developing engineers in multidisciplinary environments.

Security Clearance

This position is contingent upon the successful transfer of an active DoD Secret Clearance and the ability to obtain Special Program Access (SAP). U.S. citizenship is required.

Primary Level Salary Range

Primary Level Salary Range: $184,300.00 - $276,500.00

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.

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.

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.