Manager Systems Engineering - Configuration Management 3 (AHT)

Northrop Grumman • Los Angeles, CA

2d • $193,000 - $289,600 • Onsite

About The Position

Northrop Grumman Defense Systems is hiring a Manager Systems Engineering - Configuration Management 3 to lead a team of Configuration Analysts, Data Managers, Technical Writers, and Engineering Liaisons. The manager partners with Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, and Quality to support disciplined change management and timely product delivery. This position is 100% onsite at the Northridge, California location and requires an active Secret clearance. Travel is 10% of the time.

The manager is responsible for leading and developing approximately 16–18 configuration management, data management, and technical writing professionals. The position oversees configuration management plans and processes, configuration baselines and changes, configuration data and audits, and coordination across multiple programs. It also manages team staffing, training, performance, workload, priorities, and commitments.

The role supports program and functional leadership with configuration status, risks, and issues; ensures contract and standards compliance; and drives improvements to processes, tools, data integrity, and user experience. The stated primary salary range is $193,000–$289,600. Employees may also be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary annual bonus. Benefits include health insurance, life and disability insurance, a savings plan, company-paid holidays, and paid time off.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Technical, Business, or a related field and 8 years of relevant configuration management, product data management, or engineering experience; alternatively, a Master’s degree with 6 years of experience, or 4 additional years of experience in lieu of a degree.
• Prior experience in configuration management, engineering change management, product data management, or a closely related discipline in aerospace/defense or a similar complex hardware/software environment.
• Working knowledge of configuration management principles and practices, including configuration identification, change control, configuration status accounting, and configuration audits.
• Experience using PLM/PDM tools such as Teamcenter, Windchill, or Enovia and associated ERP/MRP systems.
• Ability to interpret and apply engineering drawings, specifications, and bills of material.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities in a schedule-driven environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to interface effectively with engineering, operations, supply chain, quality, and program management.
• Active government-issued Secret clearance.

Nice To Haves

• Experience managing or supervising a configuration management, product data management, or engineering data management team, ideally in aerospace/defense.
• In-depth knowledge of configuration management standards and best practices, such as EIA-649, and quality frameworks such as AS9100.
• Experience planning and conducting functional and physical configuration audits (FCA/PCA).
• Hands-on experience with PLM/PDM tools such as Teamcenter or Windchill, including data model understanding and workflow configuration.
• Experience supporting complex hardware–software systems, multi-site programs, or production environments with high change volume.
• Familiarity with Earned Value Management (EVM) concepts, program performance metrics, and cost/schedule integration.
• Demonstrated success driving process improvement initiatives and implementing new tools or workflows.
• Demonstrated understanding of PLM data models and workflow configurations.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of professionals through workload planning, performance management, mentoring, and skills development.
• Establish, maintain, and continuously improve configuration management plans, processes, and work instructions for assigned programs.
• Own functional, allocated, and product configuration baselines and ensure changes are accurately and promptly incorporated into product structures and documentation.
• Oversee configuration identification, change control, configuration status accounting, and applicable functional and physical configuration audits.
• Support program Change Control Boards (CCBs) and ensure proposed changes are assessed for cost, schedule, technical risk, and downstream impacts.
• Ensure configuration data is accurate and current in PLM/PDM tools and related ERP/MRP systems, including applicable COTS parts.
• Coordinate with Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, Contracts, and Program Management to align configuration baselines with build, test, and delivery schedules.
• Manage alignment and cleansing between Engineering Bills of Material and Manufacturing Bills of Material.
• Develop and track configuration management metrics, including change cycle time, data quality, and audit findings, to drive continuous improvement.
• Support internal and external audits and customer reviews, ensuring configuration records and evidence are complete, accurate, and retrievable.
• Apply and ensure configuration management practices comply with contractual requirements, SOW commitments, and applicable standards.
• Identify and implement process and tool improvements to increase configuration management efficiency, data integrity, and user experience.
• Prepare and deliver configuration management status, risks, and issues to program and functional leadership.
• Ensure CDRLs are scheduled and delivered on time and that weekly and monthly reporting is accurate.
• Ensure Technical Writers follow the Technical Writing Review Checklist when reviewing program documents routed through the PLM system.
• Develop the Engineering Liaison role to improve collaboration and efficiency between Configuration Management and other functions.
• Manage team staffing, training, performance management, recognition, and discipline.
• Manage team workload, priorities, and commitments across multiple programs in alignment with functional expectations and program needs.

Benefits

• Health insurance coverage
• Life insurance
• 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 annual bonus

What This Job Offers

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