The Northrop Grumman Propulsion, Aerospace Services and Structures (PASS) Operating Unit is a leading supplier of composite structures for optical benches and telescope structures, spacecraft structures, aircraft components, and ceramic matrix composites, as well as other air- and space-related applications. We are seeking a Principal Project Manager to support the Program Management team on-site at our San Diego, California facility.
Learn more about Spacecraft Components at our website: Mission Enabling Products | Northrop Grumman
Overview
Reporting to the Space Director of Programs in San Diego, the Project Manager will support key programs within the Space business portfolio, with particular emphasis on composite panels for solar arrays and spacecraft structures. This role requires experience in a manufacturing environment, strong leadership potential, and collaborative interpersonal skills, along with proven experience working in a dynamic, high-growth, fast-paced, and strategically important operating unit.
Responsibilities:
- Serve as a liaison between program management and cross-functional teams during proposal, design, procurement, manufacturing, test, and delivery phases
- Work with the Program Management team to establish milestones and monitor adherence to master plans and schedules
- Anticipate and identify potential issues, including understanding impacts to adjacent areas
- Review and manage budgets, schedules, critical path activities, Estimates at Completion (EACs), and workload forecasts; support preparation of status reports for customers and management
- Assess project issues and develop resolutions to meet productivity, quality, and customer satisfaction objectives
- Participate in root cause analysis and corrective actions, failure review boards and material review boards as needed
- Support transition of designs into manufacturing by working with technical teams to identify opportunities to streamline manufacturing and assembly processes, achieve required delivery rates, and reduce costs
- Support proposal development for change orders, new business opportunities, capture efforts, and strategic planning
- Develop strong customer and supplier relationships to facilitate open communication regarding project requirements and supplier capabilities
Basic Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering or another technical discipline with 5 year related experience; OR 3 years with a Master's degree, an additional four years' experience may be considered in lieu of a degree
- 2 years of project management experience, or experience leading task execution on schedule as a project lead or integrated program team lead
- Experience supporting customers in a project or technical lead role
- Ability to communicate effectively across multiple levels of the organization, including strong presentation skills
- Strong interpersonal, written, verbal, and presentation skills
- Proven analytical, technical, strategic, and problem-solving abilities
- High proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and Microsoft Project
- Ability to obtain and maintain a secret clearance
- U.S. citizenship required
Preferred Qualifications:
- 2+ years of Program or Project Management experience or similar (e.g. Lead IPT (Integrated Product Team), or Lead NPT (New Product Team) or Systems Engineering lead
- Experience with earned value management
- Aerospace or defense industry experience
- Experience with Composite Manufacturing and testing
- Program execution experience
- Gated design development experience (PDR, CDR)
- Active US Government security clearance
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