Director of Engineering II

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE:
Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START:
Yes

CLEARANCE TYPE:
Secret

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 Defense Systems is seeking a Senior Director of Engineering to lead the Engineering function for the Armament Systems Business Unit (AS BU) in Plymouth, MN. Reporting to the Weapon Systems Division Engineering Director and matrixed to the BU Vice President, this role is instrumental in shaping the vision, strategy, and growth of the organization while fostering a culture of execution excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement.

The Senior Director of Engineering provides overall leadership to the ASBU Engineering team, which is responsible for all aspects of systems engineering, integration, and test; system design and development activities; as well as production/product engineering support for the Armament Systems business unit products.

• Oversee engineering execution across the Armament Systems (AS) portfolio
• Lead and develop a cohesive engineering organization aligned with the unit’s strategic goals
• Drive innovation and best practices, leveraging digital engineering advancements and corporate-wide expertise
• Provide guidance and mentorship to senior engineering leadership, fostering talent engagement and career development
• Execute workforce planning, including recruiting, retention, talent management, and competency development
• Identify and develop new engineering capabilities to support future business opportunities
• Ensure adequate staffing, tools, processes, and infrastructure to support both current execution and business growth
• Define and implement clear engineering processes, procedures, and performance metrics to ensure successful program execution
• Establish strong partnerships between Engineering, Program Management, Global Supply Chain, Mission Assurance/Quality Assurance, and Operations to enhance efficiency and delivery
• Provide technical leadership in identifying and mitigating risks while serving as the top escalation point for engineering concerns
• Drive technology advancements to enhance business objectives and competitive positioning
• Support business development efforts, contributing technical expertise to capture and execution strategies
• Foster cross-functional collaboration across business units, divisions, and sectors to achieve strategic goals

• 20+ years of professional experience (BS); 18+ years (MS); 15+ years (PhD)
• 15+ years of leadership experience in functional management, program management, or technical leadership within the aerospace/defense industry
• Aerospace/Munitions/Armaments systems background
• Proven ability to set strategic direction, establish priorities, and drive accountability
• Experience building and leading high-performing engineering teams
• Expertise in product development, technology roadmaps, and strategic technology execution
• Strong critical thinking, decision-making,…