Missile Production Program Director I

About this role

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.

Northrop Grumman’s Defense Systems Sector is looking for a Missile Production Program Director for our advanced missile programs within the Air Warfare Systems (AWS) Operating Unit, located in the heart of Northridge, CA .

This is a rare opportunity to lead at the intersection of advanced weapons, digital manufacturing, and national security—where disciplined execution and modern production approaches directly enable mission success.

This role sits at the cornerstone of Northrop Grumman’s advanced weapons product lines, shaping how next-generation missile capabilities transition from development into scalable, rate production. The production systems, factories, and supplier partnerships you build will directly influence the affordability, availability, and readiness of critical missile capabilities for the U.S. Department of Defense and allied partners.

This position is required to be full-time, on-site in the Northridge, CA location. No remote/telework arrangement is available for this position.  Applicants must have an active US Government DoD Secret security clearance with ability to get cleared for SAP .

We are intentionally seeking leaders who bring fresh perspective and proven execution strength, including those from non-traditional but highly relevant industries such as advanced manufacturing, automotive, space, industrial automation, and high-reliability technology environments. If you have led complex products from prototype to scaled production—and are energized by applying modern manufacturing and digital tools to mission-critical systems—this role offers a unique and meaningful challenge.

As Program Director of production, you will lead the transition from development to production, guide production start-up, and scale execution across a portfolio of advanced missile programs. You will be responsible for establishing production excellence as a strategic advantage—leveraging automation, digital transformation, advanced analytics, and emerging machine learning capabilities to deliver speed, quality, and affordability at scale.

Reporting directly to the AWS Operating Unit Director, you will be a key member of the senior leadership team, executing an ambitious strategic plan supported by significant technology, capital, and workforce investments.

Key Responsibilities: • Own end-to-end production execution for advanced missile programs, from late-stage development and transition to production through start-up, ramp, and sustained-rate delivery

• Provide full P&L leadership across multiple production programs, ensuring cost, schedule, quality, and performance commitments are met or exceeded

• Lead industrialization and scale-up efforts for cornerstone advanced weapons product lines, including factory readiness, capacity planning, workforce growth, and capital deployment

• Drive automation and digital manufacturing transformation, applying digital thread concepts, advanced analytics, and machine learning to improve throughput, predictability, and quality

• Build resilient supplier and industrial base partnerships, collaborating across the value chain to ensure capacity, affordability, and long-term sustainability for missile production

• Lead and develop high-performing, multidisciplinary teams, fostering a culture of ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement

• Navigate and resolve complex technical, manufacturing, and supply chain challenges inherent to advanced missile production with speed, clarity, and disciplined execution

• Partner seamlessly across engineering, quality, supply chain, finance, contracts, and program management to deliver integrated, executable production strategies

• Execute disciplined risk and opportunity management, proactively mitigating production risk while capturing productivity and cost-reduction opportunities

• Support capture and proposal activities, shaping production strategies, schedules, and cost positions that strengthen competitive posture

• Communicate with confidence and transparency to customers, senior leadership, and enterprise stakeholders

• Ensure compliance with contract requirements, internal processes, and applicable regulatory and industry standards

Basic Qualifications: • Bachelor’s degree with 10 years of experience in production, operations, manufacturing, and program execution; or Master’s degree with 8 years of the same experience mentioned

• 5 years of experience leading high performing, production or operational, cross-functional teams within the aerospace/defense sector with accountability for cost, schedule, and quality

• Experience in successfully transitioning advanced products from development or pilot phases into scaled production with ability to manage revenue, profit, and cash performance

• Experience in managing and partnering with suppliers and industrial partners

• Strong judgment and decision-making skills that balance execution urgency with long-term business outcomes

• Active US Government DoD Secret security clearance with ability to get

Similar jobs

• Missile Development Program Manager 3 — Northrop Grumman · United States-California-Northridge
• Technical Program Manager -Missile Defense — Trueanomalyinc · Long Beach, CA or Washington DC or Denver, CO
• Production Supervisor, Missiles — Andurilindustries · Santa Ana, California, United States
• Production Coordinator, Missiles — Andurilindustries · Costa Mesa, California, United States
• Lead Manufacturing Engineer, Missiles — Andurilindustries · Costa Mesa, California, United States
• Production Technician, Missiles — Andurilindustries · Santa Ana, California, United States
• Production Scheduler, Missiles — Andurilindustries · Santa Ana, California, United States
• Lead Manufacturing Engineer, High-Speed Missiles — Andurilindustries · Costa Mesa, California, United States