Director 2 - Systems Engineering Discipline Lead

Northrop Grumman • Redondo Beach, CA

3d • $266,300 - $399,500 • Onsite

About The Position

Northrop Grumman Space Systems is seeking a Director 2 – Systems Engineering Discipline Lead, located in Redondo Beach, California. The role reports to the Vice President of Western Region Engineering and leads the Systems Engineering organization across locations in California and Arizona. The organization encompasses Communication Systems Engineering, Mission Payload Systems Engineering, Space Vehicle Systems Engineering, Specialty Engineering (including Radiation and Reliability), Mission Systems Engineering, Modeling and Simulation, Cyber Systems Engineering, Requirements & Verification, and Flight Operations.

The position provides strategic leadership, people management, and day-to-day operational oversight. The director aligns technical capabilities with program requirements, long-range sector priorities, and corporate objectives, drawing on expertise in Systems Engineering, system architecture, SEIT leadership, integration and test, and verification and validation. The role also drives organizational planning, develops people and capabilities, supports program captures and execution across the lifecycle, and manages organizational resources and risks.

The position requires an active Top Secret and SCI clearance at application, with a recent Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI), and the ability to travel 25% of the time. Relocation assistance may be available. The primary salary range is $266,300 to $399,500. Employees may also be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus; employees in Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. Benefits include health insurance, life and disability insurance, a savings plan, company-paid holidays, and paid time off.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM) discipline.
• Twelve years of engineering, project management, and/or functional management experience.
• Demonstrated Systems Engineering experience, including system architecture, SEIT leadership, and development programs through system integration and test, verification, and validation.
• Experience leading large SEIT teams.
• Proven ability to lead and develop high-performing teams and collaborate across organizations to achieve shared objectives.
• Active Top Secret and SCI clearance at the time of application, with a recent Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI).
• Ability to travel 25% of the time.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree in Engineering or another STEM field.
• Fifteen years of experience in engineering, project management, and/or functional management roles.
• Significant experience leading a large functional or program organization of approximately 1,000 or more personnel and successfully implementing strategic goals.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills, including experience preparing and delivering executive-level presentations and briefings.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical and people leadership, strategic direction, and oversight of major disciplines and functions within the Systems Engineering organization.
• Drive long-range strategic planning and align the organization with sector goals, program needs, future technology requirements, and critical skills and infrastructure needs.
• Optimize people, processes, and tools to support captures and program execution throughout development, qualification, manufacturing, integration, test, and flight operations.
• Own the people, processes, and tools supporting Systems Engineering recruiting, employee development and engagement, skills development, NCTA efforts, staffing, and process and product development.
• Ensure sound Systems Engineering processes are applied during capture, conceptual design, design, qualification, manufacturing, integration, and test of Space Systems portfolio programs.
• Oversee program and project reviews, including leading Independent Review Teams for customer milestones such as SRR, SDR, PDR, and CDR; drive Systems Engineering process improvement plans, proposal reviews, and commitment authority for Systems Engineering scope of work.
• Identify and diagnose program challenges across development, hardware/software integration, production, and test, and enable decisive resolution.
• Oversee special assignments, including proposal development, independent technical reviews, program standup reviews, anomaly resolution, and technical audits.
• Drive innovation and support advanced research and technology development in Systems Engineering disciplines aligned with long-range sector priorities and Space Systems strategic roadmaps.
• Champion risk, issue, and opportunity management strategies to support operational success and mitigate technical and execution risks.
• Manage and optimize direct, indirect, NCTA, and capital budgets and resources to achieve organizational objectives and support sector and corporate priorities.
• Foster a high-performance, inclusive, continuously improving culture with disciplined execution, communication, collaboration, and employee engagement.

Benefits

• Health insurance coverage
• Life and disability insurance
• Savings plan
• Company-paid holidays
• Paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business
• Potential eligibility for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus, depending on the position
• Potential eligibility for Long Term Incentives for employees in Director positions
• Relocation assistance may be available

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director