Mod/Sim Engineering Manager 2: Strategic Programs (Secret) Chandler

Northrop Grumman • Chandler, AZ

5d • $139,100 - $208,700 • Onsite

About The Position

Northrop Grumman Space Systems is seeking a Modeling and Simulation Manager 2 in Chandler, Arizona, to support the Weapons Prime Strategic initiative, initially serving the SBI and GPI mission areas. The role leads an engineering organization spanning modeling and simulation, GNC, software, and AI, while remaining closely engaged in hands-on technical execution. The manager will help shape an AI-native modeling-and-simulation development plan and deliver a minimum viable product for an efficiency initiative supporting SBI and GPI.

The position leads and develops approximately 22–26 engineers and owns the delivery of high-fidelity modeling-and-simulation products for requirements development, analysis, technical decisions, and program outcomes. It includes technical review and execution, engineering efficiency initiatives, verification and validation, cross-disciplinary integration, system-of-systems analysis, and communication with engineering leaders, program stakeholders, and customers.

This is a 100% onsite position in Chandler, Arizona, with no telecommuting. The schedule is 9/80, with every other Friday off, and the role requires first-shift availability and travel up to 10% of the time. An active U.S. Government DoD Secret clearance is required at application; final clearances and program access must be obtained within a reasonable period as determined by the company.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and 8 years of professional experience, or a master’s degree and 6 years of professional experience; an additional 4+ years of experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• Active U.S. Government DoD Secret security clearance at the time of application.
• Professional, hands-on experience delivering modeling-and-simulation work in an aerospace or defense environment; academic or research-only simulation experience is not sufficient.
• Demonstrated experience leading technical GNC, software, modeling-and-simulation, or closely related engineering projects or workstreams, with accountability for execution and outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability to standardize and execute engineering efficiency improvements, such as process, tool, workflow, automation, or analysis improvements.
• Experience supporting program execution in a complex aerospace, defense, or similarly regulated engineering environment, including at least 5 years of real-world program execution experience.
• Ability to work onsite in Chandler, Arizona.
• Ability to support a first-shift schedule and travel up to 10% of the time.

Nice To Haves

• Functional people-management experience, including coaching, mentoring, performance management, staffing, and development planning; strong technical leaders with meaningful smaller-scale leadership experience may be considered.
• Experience with system-of-systems analysis across vehicles, sensors, ground segments, command-and-control systems, and mission architecture.
• Strong familiarity with missile programs, including missile defense, interceptor, strike, advanced weapons, or related strategic-defense development.
• Experience with MATLAB, Simulink, Python, C++, and Linux-based analysis environments.
• Experience with Monte Carlo simulation, high-performance computing, distributed computing, cloud-enabled analysis environments, or large-scale execution frameworks.
• Experience with verification and validation planning, regression automation, and mission-critical model assessment.
• Experience with surrogate modeling, AI or machine-learning-enabled analysis acceleration, advanced analytics, or AI-native engineering development approaches.
• Experience working effectively across multidisciplinary engineering organizations and communicating with technical and program stakeholders.
• Active DoD Top Secret clearance or higher.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop approximately 22–26 engineers across modeling and simulation, GNC, software, and AI; align staffing, assignments, recruiting, retention, and development with program execution and strategic growth needs.
• Provide performance management, coaching, mentoring, feedback, and development planning; foster an inclusive, accountable, high-performing engineering environment.
• Own and deliver high-fidelity modeling-and-simulation products supporting systems requirements development, decomposition, analysis, technical decisions, and program-relevant outcomes.
• Lead hands-on technical execution and review of modeling-and-simulation work, including high-fidelity simulations, analysis environments, complex data analysis, trade studies, and conclusions for leadership and customers.
• Drive standardization and execution of modeling-and-simulation efficiency initiatives, including automation, advanced analytics, surrogate modeling, and large Monte Carlo campaigns; establish an AI-native development plan and early MVP.
• Develop, maintain, and apply verification-and-validation procedures, scripts, automation, and regression assessment for mission-critical models and analysis products.
• Partner with chief engineers, program leaders, and multidisciplinary teams across systems, propulsion, structures, avionics, software, and GNC to integrate solutions into vehicle and mission architectures.
• Support system-of-systems analysis involving vehicles, sensors, ground segments, and command-and-control networks as needed for mission and program decisions.
• Communicate technical findings, execution status, risks, and recommendations to engineering leadership, program stakeholders, customers, and cross-functional partners.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Total Rewards and benefits package.
• 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