Manager Tool Engineering 3

Northrop Grumman • Palmdale, CA

3d • $175,400 - $263,200 • Onsite

About The Position

Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems is seeking a program Manager Tool Engineering to lead the Tooling organization supporting the Strike program onsite in Palmdale, California. The role provides the people, processes, and technology needed to support the program and leads multidisciplinary teams across multiple projects and sites, ensuring processes and procedures remain compliant and that quality, cost, schedule, and customer-satisfaction targets are met.

Areas of responsibility include Tool Engineering and Design; Assembly and Composite Tool Fabrication; Metrology; Prototype and Developmental Tooling; Assembly and Composite Tooling Maintenance; Tool Control and Accountability; and Tooling Procurement. The manager leads large-scale tooling engineering projects from concept through implementation, develops long-range affordability plans, and partners with program, production, IPT, and functional leadership. The role also carries Cost Account Manager responsibility for program tooling activities and ensures compliance with EVMS for direct budgets.

The manager develops staffing and skills forecasts and training plans; coaches and mentors employees; supports succession, performance, and career development; and collaborates across programs and the Aeronautics Systems sector to establish consistent processes and deploy best practices. Responsibilities also include coordinating accurate data and timely execution, identifying and mitigating technical, cost, and schedule risks, maintaining risk and opportunity registers, and preparing data-driven briefings for organizational leaders, program leaders, and customers.

The position offers a 9/80 work schedule with every other Friday off, flexible work arrangements, learning opportunities, educational assistance, exposure to a variety of projects and customers, and a team-oriented environment. Relocation assistance may be available. Travel is 25%.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and 7 years of professional experience in tooling, manufacturing/operations, assembly lines, and/or implementing technology into a production environment; or a master’s degree and 5 years of such experience; or a Ph.D. and 2 years of such experience.
• At least 3 years of proven experience leading teams or projects.
• Active U.S. Government Secret Clearance.
• Ability to obtain any program access(es) required for the position within a reasonable period, as determined by the company.

Nice To Haves

• Active U.S. Government Secret Clearance.
• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics).
• Supervisory and/or management experience managing large projects, especially in tooling, manufacturing, assembly lines, and implementing technology into a production environment.
• Aerospace or aviation industry experience managing tool fabrication organizations and shops, and material procurement.
• Project management experience.
• Cost Account Manager (CAM) experience.
• Earned Value Management System (EVMS) experience.
• Experience with Microsoft Office tools, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Responsibilities

• Lead and provide oversight and guidance to the management team to meet program quality, cost, schedule, and customer-satisfaction objectives.
• Lead large-scale tooling engineering projects from concept through implementation and integrate them into production lines.
• Build and maintain partnerships with IPT, program, and production leadership to align work and deliver responsive engineering support.
• Develop long-range plans and strategies for affordable tooling products and services.
• Identify staffing and skills requirements, forecasts, and training plans.
• Drive employee development through coaching, mentoring, succession planning, performance management, and career development.
• Serve as Cost Account Manager for program tooling activities and ensure EVMS compliance for direct budgets.
• Collaborate with program and Aeronautics Systems sector tooling management to develop consistent processes and procedures and deploy best practices.
• Coordinate across program and functional teams to ensure accurate data and on-time execution.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate technical, cost, and schedule risks.
• Document and manage risk and opportunity registers from identification through assessment, mitigation planning, and closure.
• Analyze data and prepare briefings for Homeroom leaders, program leaders, and customers.

Benefits

• Relocation assistance may be available.
• Flexible work arrangements and a 9/80 schedule with every other Friday off.
• Learning opportunities and educational assistance.
• Health insurance coverage.
• Life and disability insurance.
• Savings plan.
• Company-paid holidays.
• Paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.
• Employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus, depending on the position.

What This Job Offers

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