Engineering Manager 2 - Material and Process (M&P)

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 Aeronautics Systems (NGAS) has an opening for a Section Manager - Material and Process (M&P) to join our team. The selected candidate will support the functional homeroom in execution to their respective statement of work within the Vehicle Structures Design and Materials and Processes Department (VSDMP) as part of the South Bay Vehicle Engineering Directorate. The selected candidate will manage a Materials and Processes (M&P) laboratory. The position will be located onsite in El Segundo, CA. The selected candidate will spend 80% of their time balancing technical tasks and laboratory operations and the remaining 20% of their time supporting functional homeroom tasks.
Functional Homeroom
Section manager duties include attending functional staff meetings, management of personnel (performance review, direction & coaching), and coordination of job assignments, staffing, recruiting and developing CRAD/IRAD projects and process improvement. The selected candidate will:

Develop and maintain a strong, high performing team with diverse technical, experience and educational backgrounds

Provide leadership and direction to section members including day-to-day support for the operation of the functional organization

Be committed to employee development and engagement with discussions through regular staff meetings, one-on-ones discussions and/or with quarterly connections discussions

Lead people with empathy and accountability

Manage employee performance (including engagement strategies for higher performers and corrective actions for lower performers)

Ensure the team is familiar and use required engineering processes and tools

Coordinate and collaborate with programs to ensure adequate staffing to support current and future statement work

Quickly execute and adapt when leadership/program priorities shift or urgent actions are required

Ensure transparency and critical thinking in resolving team challenges

Navigate and manage interpersonal and cross-functional situations with diplomacy

Technical and Lab Operations
The selected candidate should understand materials, processes, chemicals, and mechanical engineering including knowledge of composites and coupon fabrication, bonding principles, coatings and sealants, and testing materials. Experience in these areas is preferred. Technical and lab operations tasks include:

Balance of immediate operational demands with long-term strategic priorities

Promotion of safety-first culture in all aspects of laboratory operations and be complaint to all local, state and federal regulations and Northrop Grumman ethics and policies

Management and leadership of daily laboratory operations including regular tag-ups with area leads

Technical oversight to ensure team delivers quality results with a safety-first mindset through task closure in laboratory management system

Prioritization of work and resolution of competing priorities

Providing estimates and bids for potential statement of work

Developing and managing a laboratory budget, including cost estimations, aging equipment risks and mitigation planning, and capital asset planning

Documentation of knowledge including processes, standard operating procedures and desktop work instructions

Communicating openly, respectfully and tactfully with team members, cross-functional partners and leadership to exceed customer requirements and expectations

Support National Parts, Materials, and Processes Technical Discipline initiatives

Continuously identify opportunities for continuous improvement

Our leaders at Northrop Grumman live our values daily and encourage our teams to do the same. We do the right thing: upholding the highest ethical standards and facilitating a safe and respectful environment that attracts, retains, and inspires a diverse and engaged team. We do what we promise: holding yourself and others accountable to meet predictable and balanced results. We commit to shared success: operating as OneNG and removing barriers for our teams. Finally, We pioneer: setting a vision that shapes the future and inspires others.
Basic Qualifications:

Bachelor of Science degree in a related Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) discipline from an accredited institution and 9 years of relevant professional/military experience; OR Master of Science degree from an accredited institution in a relevant STEM discipline and 7 years of relevant professional/military experience

Laboratory experience

Proven leadership experience on a project and/or team

Demonstrated strong verbal and written communication skills

Must have the ability to obtain and maintain an active, in-scope DoD Secret (or higher) security clearance prior to start.

Must have the ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) clearance prior to the commencement of employment. This must be obtained within a reasonable amount of time as determined by the company to meet its business needs.

Preferred Qualifications:

Active U.S. Government DoD Secret clearance with current or previous access to Special Programs.

Strong leadership qualities, strong verbal, and written communication skills with the ability to manage and leverage various communication styles.

A current active U.S. Government DoD issued Secret security clearance

* Experience in laboratory environment and/or laboratory management

Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.
Primary Level Salary Range: $142,200.00 - $213,400.00The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions.Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.

Client-provided location(s): El Segundo, CA

Job ID: NorthropGrumman-R10208727

Employment Type: OTHER

Posted: 2025-09-27T20:13:03