SDS Propulsion SMT Technical Lead

Position Summary

Northrop Grumman Defense Systems is seeking a Supplier Management Team Technical Lead for the Aerojet (Propulsion) Subcontract, located at the Strategic Deterrence Division headquarters in Roy, UT. The role may also be based in Manhattan Beach, CA or Huntsville, AL.

• Partner with Program Element and Segment Executives, Global Supply Chain, Mission Assurance, Office of the Chief Engineer, and lead a cross‑functional technical team managing major supplier efforts with a focus on technical excellence and rigor.
• Serve as the main engineering point of contact for the Program, aligning supplier technical activities with the overall program technical baseline.
• Travel up to 50% or more to interface with leadership, customers, suppliers, and program milestones.
• Develop Aerojet Statements of Work (SSOW) in collaboration with key technical and programmatic stakeholders.
• Assist the Program and Supplier Management Team Lead (SMTL) in generating technical content for Aerojet Requests for Information (RFI), Requests for Proposals (RFP), and related documents.
• Evaluate Aerojet proposals technically and support the SMTL in negotiations.
• Review and approve Aerojet’s technical subcontractor deliverables (SDRLs) with guidance from cross‑functional program subject‑matter experts.
• Align Aerojet technical objectives with program cost and schedule constraints in partnership with the SMTL.
• Establish and track technical goals and commitments to drive maturity and ensure high‑quality execution.
• Monitor Aerojet technical performance, mitigate execution risks, and address identified capability gaps.
• Maintain the SMT technical action‑item tracker to facilitate communication and accountability with Aerojet.

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline and 14 years of related engineering experience; or Master’s degree in STEM and 12 years; or PhD in STEM and 10 years.
• Willing and able to travel 50% or more between Roy, Huntsville, Manhattan Beach, and other locations.
• Five years of design and manufacturing experience in liquid propulsion systems.
• Experience working with technologies supported by Aerojet, including aerospace electronic systems, communications systems, and/or liquid propulsion systems.
• Experience with the systems engineering "V" and all phases of the acquisition lifecycle, from requirements development to acceptance testing.
• Experience managing a technical baseline.
• Active DoD Secret clearance with the ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret clearance.
• Ability to obtain and maintain Special Program Access (SAP/PAR).

• Active DoD Top Secret clearance with a recent background investigation or enrollment in Continuous Evaluation.
• Prior supplier‑management experience on a program in the development phase.
• Experience conducting technical evaluations of supplier proposals and leading contract negotiations.
• Experience managing technical risks and opportunities.
• Experience with Earned Value Management (EVM) or as a control account manager (CAM).

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• 401(k) plan.
• Educational assistance.
• Life insurance.
• Employee assistance programs and work‑life solutions.
• Paid time off.
• Health and wellness resources.
• Employee discounts.

Salary Range: $ – $ (subject to market, education, experience and other factors). The role may offer overtime, shift differential, discretionary bonuses, and Long‑Term Incentives for eligible positions. The standard work schedule is 9/80.

Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer. U.S. citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions. For full EEO and pay transparency statement, visit