Principal / Senior Principal Project Management

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.

Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems is seeking a highly capable F-35 Principal Project Management/ Sr Principal Project Management to lead and support cross-functional initiatives within the F-35 Program Operations & Integration team.

This role is 100% on-site in Redondo Beach, CA or Palmdale, CA.

This role requires not only strong project management, but also strong business acumen to bridge strategy and execution, and the discretion to handle highly visible initiatives. The selected individual will need to effectively communicate with internal/external stakeholders (senior executives, customers, and suppliers) ensuring alignment to broader enterprise goals.

Strategic Business Initiatives:

The individual will dedicate a significant portion of their time to supporting enterprise-level strategic initiatives across the broader F-35 business unit. These initiatives will vary in scope and may span areas such as operational efficiency and improvement plans, customer engagements, and executive-level priorities. The position offers a unique opportunity to gain high visibility and build trusted relationships across the business. This aspect of the role is ideal for a driven individual looking to demonstrate leadership and create impact beyond immediate project scope.

The ideal candidate for this Program Integration role supporting the F-35 Program Office will play a pivotal role through strong program leadership abilities, strategic initiative management, and cross-functional collaboration. This highly visible position requires exceptional organizational skills, business acumen, and the ability to drive results in a fast-paced environment. Key responsibilities include:

• Program & Project Leadership
  • Lead project planning, execution, and delivery across multiple functional areas to ensure alignment with program goals, development objectives, and business strategies.
  • Support the assigned Operating Unit (OU) Program Manager and their leadership team in achieving precise, time-sensitive deliverables, metrics, and presentations.
  • Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned initiatives, engaging with senior executives, customers, suppliers, and internal teams.
  • Collaborate across functions to meet OU objectives.
• Strategic Rhythm & Executive Review Coordination
  • Proactively manage the organizational rhythm to maintain preparedness for program and customer deadlines.
  • Prepare, integrate, and coordinate executive reviews (e.g., Monthly Program Manager’s Meeting), including scheduling, agenda setting, leadership messaging, and stakeholder input collection.
  • Ensure accurate input and reporting of contractual performance metrics in the Intranet Program Review System (IPRS).
• Resource, Risk, Issue & Opportunity Management
  • Facilitate and track risks, issues, and opportunities within the Tracking Risks, Issues, and Opportunities (TRIO) tool to drive actions to closure.
  • Monitor progress, assess project issues, and drive timely resolution.
• Data Analysis & Communication
  • Aggregate, synthesize, analyze, and communicate data to support decision-making, executive briefings, and stakeholder presentations.
• Knowledge Sharing & Team Engagement
  • Organize knowledge sharing and continuous improvement activities, including SharePoint enhancements, engagement events (e.g., lunch and learns, recognition), and organizational highlights.
• Stakeholder Alignment & Business Acumen
  • Communicate and align initiatives to broader enterprise goals with discretion and strong business acumen.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead project planning, execution, and delivery across multiple functional areas, ensuring alignment with program goals and business strategy

• Act as the primary point of contact for assigned initiatives, engaging directly with senior executives, external customers, and suppliers – effectively communicating to maintain momentum

• Capable of supporting chief of staff duties as necessary for executive leaders such as but not limited to the following: managing strategic initiatives, coordinating cross-functional projects, and enhancing operational efficiency, while ensuring effective communication and alignment across the organization.

• Support broader business unit initiatives, contributing to the development and execution of high-impact strategies that require trust, discretion, and cross-functional collaboration

Basic Qualifications(Principal):

• Must have a Bachelor's Degree with 5 years, Master's Degree with 3 years, PhD with 1 year, OR High School Diploma/Equivalent with 9 years of experience

• Experience must be in the following: Project Management, Business Strategy, Finance, Proposals and/or Capture Efforts, Resource Planning, Accounting, Program Management, Program Scheduling, Program Cost Analysis, Subcontracts Administration, Procurement, Business Management, or Contracts

• Experience in Microsoft Office

• Ability to obtain/maintain a DoD Secret Clearance in reasonable time frame deemed by business needs

Basic Qualifications(Sr Principal):

• Must have a Bachelor's Degree with 8 years, Master's Degree with 6 years, PhD with 4 years, OR High School Diploma/Equivalent with 12 years of experience

• Experience must be in the following: Project Management, Business Strategy, Finance, Proposals and/or Capture Efforts, Resource Planning, Accounting, Program Management, Program Scheduling, Program Cost Analysis, Subcontracts Administration, Procurement, Business Management, or Contracts

• Experience in Microsoft Office

• Ability to obtain/maintain a DoD Secret Clearance in reasonable time frame deemed by business needs

Preferred Qualifications:

• Aerospace/defense experience

• Consulting background

• Supply chain, financial management, business strategy and/or contracts experience in aerospace/defense

• Familiarity with the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Program

• Intermediate to advanced Microsoft Excel skills (e.g., pivot tables, lookups, conditional formatting, and dashboards)

• Control Account Management (CAM) experience

Salary Range

Principal Level: 94,200-141,200

Sr Principal Level: 117,500-176,300

Primary Level Salary Range: $94,200.00 - $141,200.00Secondary Level Salary Range: $117,500.00 - $176,300.00The 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 U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.