Weapon Systems Development Lead Level 6 (AHT)

Northrop Grumman; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 193,000 - 289,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Health insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Savings plan

Paid holidays

PTO

Job summary

Northrop Grumman Defense Systems in Northridge, CA, seeks a Weapon Systems Development Lead Level 6 to spearhead cross-functional efforts across the full lifecycle of next-generation defense systems. The role requires a Secret clearance and on-site work in Northridge, CA.

You will coordinate hardware and software IPTs, manage IFC plans, and drive systems engineering leadership while delivering certification packages and risk-managed programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field with extensive defense/aerospace product development experience.
• 5+ years leading large, cross-functional teams in a matrix org.
• Experience coordinating complex multi-contract defense programs.
• Experience integrating software for real-time embedded systems.
• Strong requirements development, architecture, interface management and testing.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain the overarching IFC Plan for each product line.
• Align hardware and software IPTs with IFC schedule and milestones.
• Oversee integration across architecture, hardware, and software design phases.
• Lead certification activities and deliver the IFC system certificate package.
• Expand technical breadth across mission threads and drive lean-agile deployment.
• Own control account management: budget, schedule, and performance metrics.

Skills

Leadership of teams

Communication skills

Defense knowledge

Systems thinking

Security clearance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering/EE/CS/Defense Tech

Master’s degree (14+/- years)

PhD (10+ years)

Tools

DoDAF

MIL-STD-499B

Model-based engineering

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 Defense Systems

Weapon Systems Development Lead Level 6

will spearhead the definition, development, and delivery of cross-functional capabilities that enable the Advanced Weapons Business Unit (AWBU) to design, prototype, and field next generation defense systems in Northridge, CA.

Our Advanced Weapons team designs, develops, and manufactures weapon systems that support U.S. national and allied security objectives.

This position is required to be full-time, on-site in the Northridge, CA location. No remote/telework arrangement is available for this position. Applicants must have a current US Government Secret security clearance.

The Weapon Systems Development Lead 6 will lead cross-functional engineering teams across the full weapon system development lifecycle, using the Integrated Functional Capability (IFC) plan to align software, systems engineering, integration, and test activities with performance, schedule, and mission requirements. This position requires strong technical depth, systems thinking, and the ability to coordinate effectively with program leadership, customers, and partner engineering disciplines.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Planning

• Develop and maintain the overarching strategic IFC Plan for each product line.
• Translate the strategic vision into detailed IFC plans, schedules, and resource allocations.

Program Coordination

• Align the work of hardware and software IPTs with the IFC schedule and milestones.
• Synchronize development baselines across contracts to avoid conflicts and gaps.

Execution & Integration

• Oversee the evolution of the IFC plan through architecture, hardware, and software design phases.
• Manage functional activities such as testing, quality assurance, logistics support, and readiness for ground-and-flight-test phases.

Certification & Release

• Lead the IFC effort to certification, confirming that the integrated product set satisfies functional and performance requirements.
• Compile and deliver the IFC system certificate package for ground test, flight test, developmental/operational test, and evaluation.

Systems Engineering Leadership

• Expand technical breadth across a diverse portfolio of mission threads.
• Drive the transition from traditional systems engineering rigor to lean-agile, model-based processes.

Control Account & Risk Management

• Own Control Account Management responsibilities, tracking budget, schedule, and performance metrics.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate risks throughout the development lifecycle.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS Sr Staff Systems Development Lead Engineer

• Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Defense Technology or a related field, with 14 years of defense or aerospace product development; or a Master’s with 12+ years of the same experience; or Ph.D with 10+ years of the same
• 5+years of experience leading large, multidisciplinary, cross-functional teams of 20+ personnel in a matrix organization
• Experience coordinating complex, multi-contract development programs in a defense or aerospace environment.
• Experience integrating software for real-time, embedded, distributed, or mission-critical systems
• Strong knowledge with requirements development, system architecture, interface management and integration/testing of complex systems.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to brief technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Current US Government Secret security clearance

Preferred Qualifications

• Proven record delivering integrated weapon-system capabilities (e.g., missiles, directed-energy, unmanned platforms)
• Proficiency with systems
• Familiarity with DoDAF, MIL-STD-499B, ACAT acquisition processes
• Experience in model-based analysis, trade studies, and performance-modeling tools
• Demonstrated ability to lead large, cross-functional teams in a matrix organization
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with strong influencing and negotiation capabilities
• Experience in presenting complex technical concepts to senior military and industry stakeholders
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage requirements, schedules, and risk.
• Familiarity with lean-agile and model-based engineering frameworks.

Primary Level Salary Range: $192,800.00 - $289,200.00

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.