Director – Aircraft Business Unit – NGAS Research & Advanced Design

Description

At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon.

We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.

Northrop Grumman’s Aeronautics Systems (NGAS) Sector is looking for a Director, Programs 1 to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals to lead the newly formed Research & Advanced Design (R&AD) Division Future Aircraft Business Unit (BU). This new role will lead a key element of R&AD’s mission for NGAS – capturing, designing, building, and flight-testing advanced prototypes and transitioning new lines of business to our partner Divisions in NGAS.

This leadership position will be based in El Segundo, California or Redondo Beach, California on our Space Park Campus with frequent travel to other NGAS sites and customer locations throughout the United States.

In this role the candidate will report directly to the Sector Vice President of R&AD and will have profit & loss (P&L) responsibility for the shaping, capture, and program execution of a portfolio of early-stage Mobility, Vertical Lift, and emerging Vehicle Technology CRAD / IRAD. Success in this role will be measured by meeting or exceeding R&AD AOP awards for this new portfolio, increasing portfolio CAGR, meeting partner NGAS Division award targets, and minimizing schedule variance on first-flight dates.

This role will partner closely with our counterpart NGAS Division business development, production, and program management teams to establish footholds in new lines of business for Northrop Grumman.

Relationship management, capture and program management acumen, and unquestionable integrity and transparency are vital skills necessary for success in this role. This leadership position will manage a matrixed and direct-report workforce deployed at multiple sites across the continental United States, coordinate closely with R&AD Technology Directorates and Business Units.

The program leader is responsible for leading all phases of the program life cycle from inception (marketing, sales, and proposal development) through execution of technology maturation and risk reduction (TMRR), and transition of P&L to our partner NGAS Divisions.

• Cultivating customer relationships and intimacy to develop new aircraft concepts that align with emerging mission needs

• Developing winning business deals in a competitive new aircraft markets for prototype development and flight test contracts

• Obtaining early customer funding for aircraft technology maturation efforts

• Optimizing a program organization for lean operations that effectively addresses customer requirements and incorporates the necessary internal and external sub-organizations

• Leading and directing cross-functional Integrated Program Teams (IPT) to meet program cost, schedule, and technical performance objectives

• Driving predictable program performance, including regular measurement and management of key performance metrics

• Delivering presentations to customers, executive management, and other program stakeholders

• Identifying, allocating and managing program resources, including workforce planning

• Participating in the negotiation of contracts, contract changes, specifications, operating budgets, schedule milestones, and key terms and conditions

• Development and adherence to program, business, and technical baselines

• Ensuring program team understands and adheres to contract scope, and manages change through control board activities, and drives performance towards first-flight milestones

• Conducting…