Northrop Grumman (SkillBridge) – Manager Programs 2

Northrop Grumman • Buffalo, NY

6d • Onsite

About The Position

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems is seeking a Manager Programs 2 for the Multidomain Sensing, Targeting, and Survivability Division's Amherst Systems Operating Unit in Buffalo, New York. Amherst Systems develops and delivers threat simulation systems for testing and training electronic warfare systems. This is a Northrop Grumman SkillBridge opportunity for eligible active-duty service members. Participants receive no compensation from Northrop Grumman and continue to receive their military compensation and benefits. The program provides on-the-job training on site, on a schedule equivalent to 40 hours per week, with hands-on experience and the potential to convert to a full-time opportunity at the conclusion of training.

The Program Manager reports to an Amherst Systems customer portfolio lead and is responsible for cost, schedule, technical, and contractual performance across one or more complex engineering development, production, lab infrastructure, logistics, and sustainment activities. The role integrates evolving hardware and software baselines, multiple contract vehicles, and interdependent development and production programs. The Program Manager establishes executable plans, manages cross-program dependencies and risk, and ensures engineering change, lab readiness, and logistics services support customer and business commitments.

The position requires an active Secret clearance. The posting gives a primary salary range of $146,500 to $219,700 and notes that eligible employees may also receive overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus. Northrop Grumman also lists health insurance, life and disability insurance, a savings plan, company-paid holidays, and paid time off.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree and at least 6 years of program management leadership experience, or a master's degree and at least 4 years of program management leadership experience, or at least 10 years of relevant experience in lieu of a degree.
• Experience leading complex development, engineering services, production, logistics, sustainment, or other technically complex programs, with direct ownership of cost, schedule, and technical requirements.
• Experience operating in a cross-functional execution environment.
• Experience managing programs using financial management and reporting tools, including Earned Value Management and Risk & Opportunity Management.
• Experience managing customer-facing execution.
• Active Secret-level government clearance.
• For SkillBridge participation: at least 180 days of active-duty service; within 12 months of separation or retirement; anticipated honorable discharge; completion of service TAPS/TGPS; attendance at or participation in an ethics brief within the past 12 months; and written authorization and approval to participate from the Unit Commander (first O-4/Field Grade commander in the chain of command) before the internship starts.
• U.S. citizenship is required for positions requiring a government clearance.

Nice To Haves

• Experience managing transitions of complex systems through development, production, fielding, and sustainment.
• Experience managing fixed-price and cost-type contracts and applying programmatic and contractual discipline amid evolving requirements.
• Experience integrating hardware and software development across multiple contracts or organizational boundaries.
• Experience planning and executing lab, integration, test, or other technical infrastructure.
• Program leadership experience using an Integrated Product Team (IPT)-focused execution framework.
• Experience with logistics, sustainment, and lifecycle support.
• Experience leading large-scale proposal development and contract change efforts.
• Experience leading complex programs with multifaceted scope, including production, fielding, and sustainment.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end execution of complex programs.
• Manage cross-program dependencies.
• Build customer relationships through transparency, disciplined execution, and clear communication about risks, dependencies, and tradeoffs.
• Serve as a senior leader in requirements definition, proposal development, contract negotiations, and change management.
• Establish disciplined programmatic control of engineering changes, assessing technical, cost, schedule, contractual, and downstream production impacts before commitments are made.
• Maintain awareness of execution across programs, remove barriers, resolve cross-program conflicts, and drive closure of critical issues.
• Forecast and achieve portfolio financial performance objectives while maintaining contractual scope discipline.
• Prepare and present briefings to senior internal and external stakeholders.
• Monitor program health across functions and proactively address issues before they affect customer or business commitments.
• Promote an outcomes-focused culture emphasizing execution discipline, open communication, cross-functional alignment, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Challenge requirements or commitments that create unacceptable program, technical, or business risk, while respecting organizational and contractual boundaries.
• Make timely, fact-based, risk-informed decisions when information is incomplete.
• Build customer confidence through transparency and consistent execution.
• Address difficult issues directly and professionally.

Benefits

• Health insurance coverage.
• Life and disability insurance.
• Savings plan.
• Company-paid holidays.
• Paid time off for vacation and/or personal business.
• Eligible employees may receive overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus.

What This Job Offers

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