Manager Manufacturing Engineering 1

Northrop Grumman • Rolling Meadows, IL

4d • $105,000 - $157,600 • Onsite

About The Position

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems is seeking a Manufacturing Engineering Manager 1 to work full-time onsite in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. The role oversees the Preventative Maintenance team and the Test Equipment Custodian team, which handle maintenance schedules for equipment, machinery, and facilities and the tracking and management of equipment requiring calibration.

The manager leads day-to-day operations of the Material Evaluation Lab and test/measurement equipment tracking team. The role involves setting priorities, managing requests and technical or programmatic challenges, overseeing cost and schedule performance, and reporting results to stakeholders. The manager also drives continuous improvement, develops equipment and resource plans, and leads and develops engineers and technicians. Close collaboration with manufacturing, quality, design engineering, and program teams is required to meet cost, schedule, and performance objectives.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree.
• At least 5 years of engineering experience in production assembly/fabrication, including composites, metallics, coatings application, and/or production manufacturing.
• Experience formulating, communicating, and executing complex project plans and initiatives.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD clearance.
• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal and critical-thinking skills, including the ability to communicate with leadership, shop-floor employees, and support functions.

Nice To Haves

• Aerospace or defense product experience.
• Experience with a Manufacturing Execution System (MES) and/or ERP system.
• At least 2 years of prior management or leadership experience in a related field.
• LEAN/continuous improvement experience and root-cause problem-solving skills.
• Strong business and financial acumen, including capital and talent budgeting, estimate-at-completion (EAC), and understanding of Operations Review processes.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Understanding of AS9100/ISO 9001.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day operations of the Material Evaluation Lab and test/measurement equipment tracking team.
• Prioritize, assign, and track requests, ensuring timely execution and clear, data-driven reporting to stakeholders.
• Set work priorities according to program and business needs, balancing near-term deliverables with long-term capability development.
• Manage and resolve multiple simultaneous technical and programmatic challenges.
• Manage earned value for assigned scope, including cost and schedule management, variance analysis, and recovery plans as needed.
• Establish, monitor, and report key performance indicators for lab throughput and measurement/test equipment.
• Drive continuous improvement in lab operations, including developing standard work, templates, and best practices.
• Develop and manage capital equipment roadmaps, operating budgets, and resource plans.
• Lead, coach, and mentor engineers and technicians; provide feedback, quarterly connections, performance reviews, and development planning.
• Communicate technical and program status verbally and in writing, and prepare and deliver presentations to leadership, peers, customers, and organizational stakeholders.
• Collaborate with manufacturing, quality, design engineering, and program teams to align priorities, resolve issues, and meet cost, schedule, and performance objectives.

Benefits

• Health plan and health insurance coverage
• Savings plan
• Paid time off for vacation and/or personal business
• Company-paid holidays
• Education assistance
• Training and development
• Life and disability insurance
• 9/80 work schedule where available
• Potential eligibility for overtime, shift differential, and discretionary bonus depending on the position

What This Job Offers

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