Test Equipment & Flying Test Bed Manager 2 (AHT)

Northrop Grumman•Los Angeles, CA

7d•$146,600 - $219,800•Onsite

About The Position

Northrop Grumman Defense Systems in Northridge, CA is currently seeking a Manager Test Engineering 2 - Special Test Equipment & Flying Test Bed Manager to support various programs within the Advanced Weapons Business Unit. The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site at our facility in Northridge, CA and support regular travel to Baltimore, MD to support FTB operations. There is no remote / hybrid / telework available for this position. Relocation assistance, although not guaranteed, may be available. This position reports directly to the Director of Systems Integration, Verification & Validation (SIV&V). The Manager of Special Test Equipment (STE) and Flying Test Bed (FTB) will be responsible for supporting the implementation of strategic goals and objectives as applicable to the Test Equipment & FTB Department to support business objectives while managing the Advanced Weapons flying testbed in support of ongoing Research and Development (R&D) activities. The role will ensure engineering projects, initiatives, and processes are in conformance with the organization's established policies and procedures. The Manager of STE and FTB is responsible for overseeing the lifecycle management of test equipment used in missile programs, spanning from requirements definition through design, manufacturing, sustainment, and disposal. This role involves leading a team to ensure that test equipment and FTB meets the rigorous standards required for development and production use. The manager will collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop and implement strategies for the design, procurement, and maintenance of test equipment and FTB material, ensuring compliance with industry regulations and company policies. Additionally, the role requires the ability to drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance the efficiency and reliability of test equipment and FTB throughout its lifecycle. Strong leadership, technical expertise, and communication skills are essential to successfully coordinate with stakeholders and support the overall mission of the organization.

Requirements

BS degree in Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, Physics, Mathematics or equivalent with 8+ years of experience; or MS 6+ years of the same experience.
4+ years in a leadership role overseeing test equipment and integration & test with a multi-disciplinary team of 10+ engineers
Prior experience in leading departments, teams, or projects focused on Test Engineering, Integration, or Operations.
Experience maintaining and operating a Flying Test Bed in accordance with FAA Part 91 standards
Experience with military electronics or related aerospace products and associated test methods.
Experience conducting Technical Review Boards
Experience complying with Cyber and Information Assurance requirements
Experience with estimating tasking including authoring and approving Basis of Estimates (BOEs) for Proposals.
Active US Government Secret Security Clearance prior to start and ability to get cleared to SAP Access level.

Nice To Haves

Experience in program technical leadership or integrated product team leadership (IPTL).
Experience complying with airworthiness requirements 14 CFR Part 91
Experience with Multi-disciplinary engineering.
Demonstrated history of technical progression leading to engineering leadership position.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate effectively with related disciplines and teams.
Experience in Missile Development and/or Airborne Systems.
Experience in transition from Technology Development to EMD, EMD to Limited Rate Production and product life-cycle engineering.

Responsibilities

Lead and manage an Engineering Department of up to 15 engineers focused on Special Test Equipment Development and Sustainment.
Safely integrate and operate experimental R&D payloads on the test bed aircraft to include, conducting flight profiles that meet the specific altitude, air speed, and maneuvering parameters required for R&D data collection.
Maintain and operate Advanced Weapons Business unit system-under-test equipment on FTB
Coordinate target requirements with DOD ranges, to include ATR, Echo Range, NTTR, and others
Prepare, peer review, and submit test plans as required by each range
Work with Engineering Leadership, Peer Managers and Program Management to ensure programs are adequately and appropriately staffed.
Coach and develop staff by providing an environment that encourages ongoing professional growth. Ensure staff receives the appropriate training and skill development opportunities to be successful in their roles.
Act as resource to the department staff by providing guidance, interpretation, training and key input regarding operating procedures and processes.
Champion and participate in engineering process improvement initiatives to ensure alignment of operations initiatives.
Support the Business Unit’s initiative to adopt Design for Manufacturability and Test practices.
Develop and administer budgets and standards of performance.
Participate in Peer Reviews and Major Design Reviews.
Support proposal development and substantiation of related contract activities.
Identify capital, facility, and other resource requirements to secure discretionary funding to support development and transition to production needs.