Senior Director of Sector Engineering

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes

CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret

TRAVEL: Yes, 25% of the Time

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.

The Sector Engineering organization (formerly Strategy & Engineering Excellence [S&EE]) enables continuously improving engineering execution and deploys strategy in close partnership with division‑aligned engineering teams. We are a trusted partner in Engineering Discipline Execution, Technology Leadership, Engineering Strategy, Technical Talent, and Advanced Analytics. We create and deliver on initiatives that need a broad sector approach and scale outcomes achieved within a Division to the Sector. We define and enable commonality in tools and processes, merge insights across engineering and other functional areas, unify the broad engineering team, and act on near‑, mid‑, and long‑term plans to achieve our strategy.

The Senior Director of Sector Engineering reports directly to the VP of Engineering & Science and is responsible for leading an integrated organization that includes Engineering Discipline Execution, Engineering Strategy, Data & Analytics, and Field Engineering Logistics & Training. This leader sets vision and execution across the engineering ecosystem to drive Speed, Performance, Affordability, Commonality, and Mission Perspective for the Mission Systems sector.

This critical role requires a strong technical background, a strategic mindset, and the ability to influence across Divisions, functions, and external partners. The Director will partner with executive leadership, division engineering, programs, and corporate functions to deliver differentiated engineering capability, robust processes and standards, and data‑driven insight that improves cost, schedule, technical performance, and competitiveness.

The preferred candidate is an accomplished engineering leader with demonstrated success in complex systems, digital transformation, and talent development, who can both define the future state and realize that vision through execution and pragmatically driving change.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the Sector Engineering Organization
  • Provide overall leadership for Engineering Discipline Execution, Engineering Strategy, Data & Analytics, and Field Engineering Logistics & Training.
  • Translate sector and E&S objectives into an integrated engineering roadmap with clear near‑, mid‑, and long‑term priorities.
  • Serve as a trusted partner to division engineering, Strategy & Mission Solutions, CIDO, and cross‑functional leaders to align engineering capability with business growth and profitability.
• Set and Execute Engineering Strategy
  • Drive long‑term engineering strategy through market assessments, technology roadmaps, and investment recommendations.
  • Shape Talent & Fellow Strategy, ecosystem and tool strategy, digital ecosystem and AI strategy, and IP/export approaches in support of sector competitiveness.
  • Maintain a forward‑looking engineering pipeline and ensure adequate funding and sponsorship for key strategic initiatives.
  • Partner with CIDO and sector leadership to advance digital thread/MPLM, automation, and AI‑enabled engineering workflows.
  • Lead investment management for key engineering initiatives and critical skills infrastructure.
  • Build role‑based development paths, technical leadership programs, and training courseware aligned to current and future mission needs.
  • Drive workforce planning, staffing, retention, and engagement for the Sector Engineering organization.
• Discipline Excellence and Assured Practice
  • Establish predictable, repeatable engineering execution across major disciplines (e.g., systems, software, hardware/design, I&T, cybersecurity).
  • Define and govern sector‑wide processes, standards, and metrics, including PrOP, audits, IRTs, RCCAs, and compliance.
  • Balance commonality and local tailoring to drive consistent quality, manage risk, and improve cost and schedule performance.
  • Foster collaboration through reusable asset authorities, advisory boards, communities of practice, and centers of excellence.
  • Establish governance that aligns project‑level needs with enterprise‑level efficiencies and commonality.
  • Champion change across the sector, including adoption of new tools, digital practices, and AI, and consistently communicate strategy, performance, and priorities to senior leadership and the broader engineering community.
• Field Engineering, Logistics & Training
  • Ensure engineering support and expertise for fielded systems and mission operations, including integration/test, mission planning, sustainment, and product support.
  • Drive E&S‑developed automation, tools, and technical training into field environments to improve mission effectiveness and affordability.
  • Integrate field feedback and mission lessons learned back into engineering strategy, standards, and investment priorities.
• Data Analytics
  • Establish and execute the Data & Analytics for Sector Engineering, including tools, data integration, metrics, and analytics enablement.
  • Provide advanced analytics and insight on program performance and organizational health to inform decisions and investments.

Organizational Scope

• Lead a geographically distributed team of approximately 600 engineering and analytics professionals (direct and matrixed) located across key sector sites.
• Solid‑line report to the Sector VP of Engineering.
• Partner extensively with division-aligned engineering leaders and cross‑functional stakeholders.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM‑related technical field with 10 or more years of experience; or a Master’s degree with 8 or more years of experience; or a PhD with 6 or more years of experience.
• Demonstrated success leading and managing diverse technical teams working on large and/or complex systems with mechanical, electrical, and software elements with increasing responsibilities.
• Demonstrated experience in systems development across the product development lifecycle (from concept and design through integration, test, deployment, and sustainment) as a lead systems engineer, chief engineer, product IPT lead, or program manager.
• Technical experience in any combination of Systems, Software, Hardware/Design, Integration & Test, or Cybersecurity engineering within the aerospace and/or defense industry.
• Demonstrated knowledge of engineering processes, metrics, tools, hiring, staffing, and training resources, with working familiarity with ISO 9001, AS9100, and CMMI.
• Demonstrated ability to innovate and implement change while challenging traditional ways of doing business.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including experience briefing senior leadership.
• Ability to operate independently based on strategic objectives and to collaborate across the corporation to accomplish team goals.
• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Current/active US Government Secret clearance is required, with the ability to obtain and maintain Special Program Access (SAP) as needed; OR DoE equivalent, with the ability to obtain and maintain Special Program Access (SAP) as needed

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree(s) in a STEM technical field.
• Active US Government Top‑Secret clearance or higher, with the ability to obtain and maintain TS/SCI and Special Access Clearance.
• Program management experience with profit and loss accountability, preferably for large or complex programs.
• Demonstrated knowledge of NGMS products, culture, and organization.
• Prior experience in engineering strategy and/or market development, and experience working across multiple lines of business and functional disciplines (e.g., manufacturing, supply chain, business management, strategy & business development).
• Strong project/program management skills and experience with internal (corporate) initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience leading engineering transformation, including digital engineering, MPLM/digital thread, analytics, or AI/ML integration.
• Strong background in Systems Engineering and/or multi‑discipline integration on complex mission systems.
• Demonstrated success in creating and executing affordability initiatives and commonality strategies.
• Experience leading geographically dispersed functional and matrixed teams, including remote team members.
• Proven ability to partner with stakeholders to achieve an optimum balance between project‑level execution and enterprise‑level efficiencies that improve sector performance and competitiveness.
• Experience engaging with external partners (industry, academia, suppliers) to shape engineering ecosystem and talent pipelines.

Primary Level Salary Range: $0.00 - $0.00

The 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.