Sr. Engineering Design Manager – 3

About this role

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No

CLEARANCE TYPE: None

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 Space Sector is seeking a  Sr. Engineering Design Manager – 3  to join the  Mission Enabling Products (MEP) Business Unit  in San Diego, CA, supporting the  PASS operating unit . This position is  100% onsite  and reports to the  Director of Engineering .

The MEP Business Unit designs, builds, and delivers space, defense, and aviation‑related systems for customers worldwide. Our products include satellites and associated space components and services, launch vehicles and propulsion systems, missile products and subsystems, defense electronics, precision weapons, armament systems, and advanced aerospace structures.

As Sr. Engineering Design Manager – 3, you will provide both  technical and programmatic leadership  for a  multi‑disciplined Design Engineering and Configuration Management team , with responsibility for  product performance, quality, technical execution, schedule, and cost . You will lead a team of  Mechanical Design Engineers, Tool Engineers, and Configuration Management professionals , ensuring the team has the people, tools, skills, and culture needed to support current programs and enable future growth.

The ideal candidate is a  positive, visible leader  who can  develop talent, build an engaged, high‑performing team, and enhance our design and configuration management capabilities  in a healthy, high‑impact organization.

Job Responsibilities include (but are not limited to) the following:        

People Leadership & Culture • Lead a  multi‑discipline engineering team  (Mechanical Design, Tooling, Configuration Management) supporting critical PASS programs.

• Manage staffing, resource allocation, and development plans; conduct regular  1:1s, performance reviews, and career development discussions .

• Foster a  positive, inclusive, high‑trust culture  where team members can do their best work and collaborate effectively across disciplines.

• Drive  employee engagement, retention, and talent development  through clear expectations, feedback, and coaching.

• Implement  succession and talent development plans , building a strong leadership bench across Mechanical Design, Tooling, and Configuration Management.

• Lead the team through  evolving priorities and growth , setting clear direction, communicating transparently, and helping engineers navigate shifting demands while maintaining engagement and focus.

Engineering Operations & Execution • Provide  technical oversight and guidance  to design activities across multiple programs, ensuring robust product definition and design/verification practices.

• Review product and tooling designs, drawings, and design review packages (PDR, CDR, MRR) to support successful execution of  flight hardware and ground support equipment .

• Partner closely with  Configuration Management  to ensure robust control of  product baselines, engineering changes, and documentation  throughout the product lifecycle.

• Coordinate cross‑functionally with  analysis, manufacturing, quality, program management, and chief engineers  to manage workload and priorities.

• Support daily management of design activities and issues (technical, schedule, financial), including appropriate  escalation and cross‑functional coordination .

• Track and drive improvements in  First Pass Yield (FPY)  and  On‑Time Delivery (OTD) ,

• Generate proposal Bases of Estimates ( BOEs)  for design labor and tooling costs.

• Ensure consistent execution of  standard practices, methods, and design software  (e.g., Siemens NX, Teamcenter) within the Design and Configuration Management organization.

• Lead  continuous improvement  initiatives in design technology, capability, and efficiency, including  DFMA  and mistake‑proofing, and promote  knowledge sharing  across disciplines.

Basic Qualifications • Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline with 8 years of experience in mechanical, structural, or related engineering disciplines (e.g., aerospace, space, or other mission‑critical hardware domains).

• Demonstrated leadership experience managing an engineering team on structural or mechanical design efforts.

• Aerospace experience with product definition (specifications, SOWs, drawings, ICD compliance) and design and verification processes .

• Understanding of aerospace composite tooling , including layup molds, assembly fixtures, test fixtures, and Ground Support Equipment (GSE).

• Experience with composite manufacturing processes and applications .

• Proficiency in CAD and PLM systems (e.g., Siemens NX and Teamcenter) and in drawing generation, including GD&T .

• Demonstrated experience with Design for Manufacturability (DFMA) principles and mistake‑proofing.

• Demonstrated ability to build engagement and foster a positive, inclusive team culture .

• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance .

Preferred Qualifications • 5 years of management experience leading structural or mechanical design efforts.

• Extensive experience with composite/metallic assemblies and associated materials,

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