Principal Project Manager - PASS
Listed on Northrop Grumman’s official careers site. Posted October 15, 2026. Check that it is still open and apply there.
Apply on Northrop Grumman’s careers site →Job description
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE
No relocation assistance available CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret TRAVEL: Yes, 10% 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 Northrop Grumman Propulsion, Aerospace Services and Structures (PASS) Operating Unit is a leading supplier of composite structures for optical benches and telescope structures, spacecraft structures, aircraft components, and ceramic matrix composites, as well as other air- and space-related applications.
We are seeking a Principal Project Manager to support the Program Management team on-site at our San Diego, California facility.
Learn more about Spacecraft Components at our website
Mission Enabling Products | Northrop Grumman Overview Reporting to the Space Director of Programs in San Diego, the Project Manager will support key programs within the Space business portfolio, with particular emphasis on composite panels for solar arrays and spacecraft structures. This role requires experience in a manufacturing environment, strong leadership potential, and collaborative interpersonal skills, along with proven experience working in a dynamic, high-growth, fast-paced, and strategically important operating unit.
Responsibilities
- Serve as a liaison between program management and cross-functional teams during proposal, design, procurement, manufacturing, test, and delivery phases
- Work with the Program Management team to establish milestones and monitor adherence to master plans and schedules Anticipate and identify potential issues, including understanding impacts to adjacent areas
- Review and manage budgets, schedules, critical path activities, Estimates at Completion (EACs), and workload forecasts; support preparation of status reports for customers and management
- Assess project issues and develop resolutions to meet productivity, quality, and customer satisfaction objectives
- Participate in root cause analysis and corrective actions, failure review boards and material review boards as needed
- Support transition of designs into manufacturing by working with technical teams to identify opportunities to streamline manufacturing and assembly processes, achieve required delivery rates, and reduce costs
- Support proposal development for change orders, new business opportunities, capture efforts, and strategic planning
- Develop strong customer and supplier relationships to facilitate open communication regarding project requirements and supplier capabilities Basic Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in engineering or another technical discipline with 5 year related experience; OR 3 years with a Master's degree, an additional four years' experience may be considered in lieu of a degree
- 2 years of project management experience, or experience leading task execution on schedule as a project lead or integrated program team lead Experience supporting customers in a project or technical lead role
- Ability to communicate effectively across multiple levels of the organization, including strong presentation skills
- Strong interpersonal, written, verbal, and presentation skills
- Proven analytical, technical, strategic, and problem-solving abilities High proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and Microsoft Project
- Ability to obtain and maintain a secret clearance U.S. citizenship required Preferred Qualifications: 2+ years of Program or Project Management experience or similar (e.g.
Lead IPT (Integrated Product Team), or Lead NPT (New Product Team) or Systems Engineering lead Experience with earned value management Aerospace or defense industry experience Experience with Composite Manufacturing and testing Program execution experience Gated design development experience (PDR, CDR) Active US Government security clearance Primary Level Salary Range: $114,000.00 - $171,000.00 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.
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