SDS Director – Systems Engineering

Northrop Grumman

Director of Systems Engineering with a Systems Engineering background at Northrop Grumman Defense Systems. Leading common engineering processes and technical resources across the SDS Division portfolio.

Posted 6/13/2026full-timeManhattan Beach • Alabama, California, Utah • 🇺🇸 United StatesLead💰 $193,800 - $336,500 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead and direct an experienced and technically diverse engineering team responsible for planning, organizing, developing and managing the engineering processes that govern system development and sustainment across the SDS program portfolio
Accountable for assessment, consolidation, and development of common processes and trainings across all engineering disciplines in the Division.
Manage engineering tools and applications and develop the necessary engineering support team to sustain and evolve capabilities.
Coordinate with the broader Sector, Company, academia and industry to identify and leverage existing tools and practices and supplement as needed to provide applicable solutions to sustainably address Division requirements.
Ensure horizontally integrated and consistent expectation, development, and assessment of skill competencies across the Engineering disciplines within the Division.
Partner across organizations including program management, Human Resources, and Sector Engineering, to capture requirements and develop prioritized strategy to address critical skill needs.
Define and facilitate Division technical rotation programs and SME-selection processes
Emphasize development of processes around modern model-based methods and practices in support of a full digital engineering transformation
Own technical review authority, process audit and process enforcement across program activities to ensure engineering integrity
Lead the planning, budgeting staff forecasting for contract direct and indirect budgets supporting process development
Support industry technical conferences and academic partnerships and engagements to include STEM programs, university curricula, etc. in support of Division strategy

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor’s Degree in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) with at least 10 years of engineering experience
Minimum 3 years of formal leadership experience for multi-discipline engineering populations and teams
Experienced in product development life cycle and interactions among engineering disciplines
Experience with model-based engineering methods and tools
Must be a US Citizen with an active U.S. Government Secret clearance
Must have the ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program (SAP) clearance

Benefits

Comp & perks

Medical, Dental & Vision coverage
401k
Educational Assistance
Life Insurance
Employee Assistance Programs & Work/Life Solutions
Paid Time Off
Health & Wellness Resources
Employee Discounts

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

engineering processesmodel-based engineering methodsproduct development life cycleprocess auditprocess enforcementtechnical review authoritybudgetingstaff forecastingtraining developmentskill competency assessment

Soft Skills

leadershipteam managementstrategic planningcollaborationcommunicationorganizational skillsproblem-solvingcoordinationmentoringstakeholder engagement

Certifications

Bachelor’s Degree in STEMU.S. Government Secret clearanceSpecial Access Program (SAP) clearance