Manager Manufacturing Systems Engineering 3 – Production Lead for Large Scale System Development & Production

Northrop Grumman • Dulles, VA

2d • $193,000 - $289,600 • Hybrid

About The Position

Northrop Grumman's Space Sector is seeking a Manufacturing Systems Engineering (MSE) Manager – Level 3 to join their team. The primary location(s) of the work will be in Dulles, VA and Gilbert, AZ. Alternate locations will be considered. Primary objectives will include the leadership of program manufacturing strategy and execution from requirements development and demonstration through large-scale production at full rate requiring the delivery of a significant number of space vehicles on an annual basis. This individual will need to work collaboratively with all elements of the organization to achieve production throughput objectives. Organizational elements include but are not limited to: Capture, Profit & Loss, Business Development, Engineering, Manufacturing, Integration & Test, Operations, Facilities, Safety & Mission Assurance, and Global Supply Chain. This position requires following projects through all manufacturing readiness level phases: Concept development, Design, fabrication/assembly/test at lab level, Production environment demo, Full production operations implementation, Sustainment, Maintenance, and Continuous improvement. The individual fulfilling this position is responsible for the Manufacturing ownership and oversight of designs (drawing packages) for a portfolio of products. The individual will engage in the Engineering change process and has ownership and approval authority for all changes involving Manufacturing scope. This position provides the leadership and management of Non-Recurring Engineering (NRE) efforts from the preparation of proposals through execution with responsibility for cost, schedule, and performance to contract requirements. The individual selected for this role will provide management of Continuous Improvement (CI) projects and drive resolution of technical issues in manufacturing. This position may require performing the manufacturing portion of a Manufacturing Readiness Assessment (MRA) as well as assisting other functions in their assessments. The MSE is responsible for leading cross-functional teams to develop the Manufacturing Plan per AS6500, which includes but is not limited to executing Affordability, Operations Planning, and Strategic Sourcing Efforts. The Manufacturing Plan also involves the alignment of Manufacturing Capital, Internal Research and Development (IRAD), Manufacturing Technology Advancement (MTA) resources to the development of discriminating technologies including, automation/robotics, data analytics, and digital fabric.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science degree in engineering, science or other relevant STEM area and 10 years or more of related experience OR a Master’s degree and 8 years of related experience as defined below
• Requires an active U.S. Government Secret security clearance at time of application, current and within scope
• Related experience includes professional and/or military experience to include a background in project management, program management, engineering, capture efforts, supply chain, and/or business management related functions
• Experience leading the Production Operations, Design to Cost, Subcontract Management, Full-Rate Production, Supplier sourcing acting as either project lead or integrated program team lead
• Demonstrated success leading teams/and or organizations to achieve a common goal
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including presentation experience and the ability to work seamlessly with a diverse community of engineers and customers
• Experience with the full lifecycle of aerospace hardware development and builds

Nice To Haves

• Minimum 5 years of experience in production (manufacturing and/or integration and test)
• Minimum 5 years of experience in development or sustainment management
• Minimum 5 years of experience in integration of complex weapon systems
• Experience engaging in supplier oversight and management
• Proven performance as an engineering leader in all phases of acquisition, design, integration, and execution
• Working knowledge and/or experience across engineering disciplines
• Experience managing production, manufacturing, manufacturing operations, or test engineering teams.
• Experience with use and integration of AI and automation tools to support scalability and production
• Ability to obtain Top Secret security clearance level and SAPs as determined by the company to meet its business needs
• The ability to identify and proactively address organizational and program impacts through a systematic, proactive, approach to issue and problem resolution in keeping with industry practices (e.g. Nishikawa diagram, 5 Whys, etc.) that identifies, communicates, monitors, and promptly resolves conflicts across all levels of the organization.
• The ability to support the identification, selection, and management of subcontract and supply chain elements of the program in a manner that supports program goals and company strategy.
• As a leader with integrity, you ensure ethical conduct, balanced results, and partner satisfaction. You respect and nurture growth, fostering a culture of excellence. Skilled in building collaborative teams and customer trust, you communicate well, foster strong teams, and embrace change.

Responsibilities

• Rapidly assess and lend guidance to projects assigned to the program capture team to define strategy and architecture consideration to support LRIP production and scale, delegating appropriately to the rest of the program team
• Owning the full development lifecycle of the assigned programs, inclusive of tracking subcontractors/partners, Design To Cost (DTC), sourcing/alternative suppliers
• Develop overall production strategy scenarios to include multiple classification and SAP levels
• Support customer Questions & Answers related to Production activities
• Cultivate customer relationships and intimacy to develop further opportunities within the customer community
• Partner with Global Supply Chain organization to cultivate subcontractor and partner relationships to maximize strategic sourcing and throughput goals
• Develop new business opportunities through long term strategic planning, capture planning, and development of proposals and business plans
• Deliver presentations to customers, executive management, and other program stakeholders
• Establish design concepts, criteria, and engineering efforts for product research, development, integration, and test
• Actively support management of suppliers to meet program objectives, including cost, schedule, and technical requirements
• Adhere to all internal processes, policies, and applicable industry standards
• Conduct thorough risk & opportunity management practices including identification, mitigation, and realization
• Lead the formation of Manufacturing Technical Strategy to support Proposals
• Lead the development of MRAs and Manufacturing Plans
• Recommend design improvements to produce lower cost/higher performing products
• Understand and translate state-of-the-art process capabilities and guidelines for product designers by interfacing with manufacturing subject matter experts
• Develop discriminating IRAD and capital investment plans
• Lead IRAD Projects
• Develop cost models and perform affordability assessment efforts to meet program cost targets
• Work with Sector Infrastructure team to determine manufacturing locations for future program phases and develop Facility Transition Plans

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
• Annual bonuses
• Long Term Incentives (for VP or Director positions)

What This Job Offers

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