Ground Test Engineering Manager 2

Northrop Grumman • Edwards AFB, CA

2d • $146,600 - $219,800 • Onsite

About The Position

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.
The Flight Test Operations Team (FTO) is seeking a highly qualified Test Engineering Manager 2 to lead the Ground Test Engineering team at Edwards AFB, CA.
The selected candidate will primarily work 2nd shift on a 9x80 schedule (9 hour work days with every other Friday off). Starting at 2:00pm.
The Ground Test Engineering (GTE) Manager will work with multiple test disciplines in a Combined Test Force (CTF) environment to conduct air vehicle and mission system ground testing on multiple flight test aircraft.
The selected candidate will manage a team supporting shift work including extended shifts, shift rotations, weekends, and holidays as needed. The candidate must also be willing to travel domestically as required to support testing operations.
The role blends Section Manager (functional) and Test Engineering Manager (program) duties, with about 20% of time directed to functional management and workforce development and 80% dedicated to program execution.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Science, Technical, Engineering or Math (STEM) and a minimum of 9 years of engineering experience with a BS Degree, 7 years engineering experience with a MS degree in STEM Field, or 5 years with a PhD in STEM Field
• Must have experience in a systems test environment
• Strong communication skills (written and verbal) and proven ability to interact with employees and management at all levels
• Must have an Active U.S. Government Secret Clearance or higher
• Must have ability to obtain and maintain Program Access (PAR) within a reasonable period, as determined by the company to meet its business needs
• Willingness to work overtime, odd‑hour shifts, and occasional weekends to support test schedules

Nice To Haves

• Current active U.S. Government DoD Top Secret clearance
• Active Special Program Access (SAP)
• Experience as a Test Engineer or Test Conductor that includes test development, planning, and execution
• Experience in a production test or military aircraft maintenance environment
• Experience leading test teams on an operational flight line
• Prior experience working in classified environments and implementing Safety Management System (SMS) processes for flight test operations
• Familiarity with USAF 412th Test Wing processes
• Capability to comprehend and analyze complex problems and develop solutions
• Proven ability to communicate clearly, collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary teams, and bring differing perspectives into sound engineering decisions
• Experience presenting technical briefings to senior leadership, contractors, and customers
• Skilled at setting and revising priorities, providing direction to align tasks, and focusing team efforts to achieve project goals

Responsibilities

• Provide people and discipline leadership to a team of 10-15 ground test engineers
• Lead all aspects of personnel management, including workforce planning, hiring, retention, engagement, redeployment, and succession planning
• Ensure talent is staffed and trained to meet program delivery and employee growth
• Work closely with government counterparts at the CTF to understand combined staffing profile
• Assign GTEs to shifts to best balance execution of flight operations, maintenance support, and workforce development
• Manage performance and career growth of assigned ground test engineers
• Provide technical oversight and programmatic leadership to GTE team throughout the flight test campaign
• Coordinate daily and long-term tasking of assigned ground test engineers
• Apply ground test technical expertise to lead team to discover and solve complex issues in a flight test environment
• Knock down obstacles to allow team to execute efficiently and effectively
• Work collaboratively in an Integrated Product Team (IPT) environment to plan and execute ground testing as well as unscheduled maintenance and anomaly resolution
• Communicate test risks, issues, and opportunities to internal and external stakeholders
• Provide first line engineering support for maintenance, repairs, troubleshooting, and modifications to systems under test

Benefits

• Relocation assistance may be available
• health insurance coverage
• life and disability insurance
• savings plan
• Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business
• overtime
• shift differential
• discretionary bonus

What This Job Offers

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