Engineering Manager – Commerce Propulsion Tanks

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE:
Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START:
No

CLEARANCE TYPE:
None

TRAVEL:
Yes, 10% of the Time

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 invites you to bring your pioneering spirit to our collaborative teams. As Engineering Manager – Commerce Propulsion Tanks
, you will lead the multidiscipline engineering organization responsible for designing, analyzing, testing, and supporting propulsion tanks produced at our Commerce, CA site.

You will manage a team of 14+ engineers and technical staff (structural analysis, materials & processes, test engineering, mechanical design, tooling, a test technician, and the Chief Engineer). You will ensure the team has the people, tools, skills, and culture needed to support current programs and execute the propulsion tank technology roadmap. This role reports to the Director, Western Region Vehicle Engineering – Propulsion and Structures.

The ideal candidate is a positive, visible leader with strong engineering management experience who can improve morale, develop talent, and build an engaged, high performing team.

The Engineering Manager is accountable for the performance and health of the Commerce propulsion tank engineering organization, including:

• Providing engineering leadership to a multidiscipline team of structural analysis, M&P, mechanical design, tooling, and test personnel.
• Owning people leadership, staffing, development, and engagement.
• Ensuring engineering processes, tools, and skills support cost, schedule, and quality commitments, and leading continuous improvement initiatives focused on process effectiveness, design and analysis rigor, and manufacturability of propulsion tanks.
• Collaborating with senior technical leaders to enable execution of the propulsion tank technical roadmap and adoption of new technologies.

• Lead the Commerce propulsion tank engineering team (structural analysis, M&P, mechanical, tooling, test, and Chief Engineer).
• Own hiring, staffing, performance management, and development plans for the engineering team; share day-to-day technical coaching with senior technical leaders.
• Foster a positive, inclusive, high trust culture in a small team, with a focus on improving morale and psychological safety.
• Model Northrop Grumman’s leadership behaviors: set a clear vision, build a high performing team, take ownership, lead with courage, respond with resilience, and act with speed.
• Lead the team through significant change, setting clear priorities, communicating transparently, and helping engineers navigate shifting demands while maintaining engagement and focus.
• Implement succession and talent development plans, ensuring engineers are growing in technical depth and leadership capability.
• Identify and develop technical and team leads within the organization, building a sustainable leadership bench and reducing single point dependencies.
• Promote knowledge sharing, mentoring, and best practice adoption across analysis, M&P, test, mechanical, and tooling disciplines.

• Establish and maintain a highly effective engineering organization capable of supporting propulsion tank programs across multiple locations, divisions, and customers.
• Ensure the team is equipped with the training, tools, and staffing…