Senior Principal Mission Planner

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance 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.

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 seek innovators with bold new ideas, courage, and a pioneering spirit to help us invent the future while having fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity, and bringing your whole self to work—we are driven to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history; they’re also making history.

Northrop Grumman Space Systems is currently seeking a Senior Principal Mission Planner at our Chandler AZ facility.

This position is 100% on-site.

Job Duties

Oversee and manage the mission execution aspects of ongoing targets programs, while serving as a liaison between project management, planning, project teams, and line management. Review mission status and budgets; manage schedules and prepare status reports. Assess mission execution issues and develop solutions to meet mission readiness requirements and customer goals and objectives. Implement mechanisms to monitor project progress and manage intervention strategies and problem resolution efforts with project managers, line managers, and customer.

Job Responsibilities

• Execution Planning: Lead internal mission planning, target and support equipment hardware readiness assessments, and any mission specific kit requirements using industry-standard tools and Agile frameworks to ensure asset readiness for mission milestones

• GFX Management: Ensure program GFX hardware is being tracked and managed to meet contractual requirements and ensure equipment readiness is aligned with target, support equipment, and mission specific kit availability NLT BETD minus 90 days

• Process Improvement Management: Conduct mission Concept of Operations (CONOPS) reviews and streamline processes to improve mission execution efficiency to meet program ROS commitments

• Hardware Utilization Matrix: Ensure maintenance and optimization of the Hardware Utilization Matrix using relevant tools (e.g., Excel, Tableau, JIRA) to manage mission asset allocation and maximize hardware reuse across the program

• Software Integration Lab (SIL) Hardware Manager: Serve as the central point of contact for lab organization and hardware movement into and out of the Bullpen, ensuring on-time availability for test execution. Expedite approvals with relevant stakeholders for CCN and closed-area operations

• Program Coordination: Collaborate with other programs to identify opportunities for shared use of MGSE and EGSE hardware, enabling cost savings and schedule alignment for concurrent development needs

• Independent Software IV&V Management: Partner with NG Software Engineering and external IV&V agencies for test asset deliveries, management, and refresh requirements throughout the contract period of performance (PoP)

• Readiness Tracking: Implement tools and procedures to monitor mission hardware readiness through missionization testing and Pre-Ship Readiness Review

• Testing Facilitation: Manage hardware flow for any delta mission specific Engineering and DVT tests (e.g., wind tunnel, arcjet, radar cross-section, infrared, and structural testing) throughout contract PoP, ensuring seamless test execution

• Material Storage Management: Ensure proper management of mission assets, including solid rocket motors, ordnance, Carriage Extraction Systems (CES), etc., and conduct periodic reviews to ensure storage environments are being actively monitored and recorded according to requirements. Initiate and drive engineering disposition of environmental exceedances

• Digital Thread: Ensure execution of part serialization and manage digital threads using PLM systems to ensure traceability of mission assets from missionization through launch execution

• Process Flow: Identify and implement enhancements to workflows for document approvals, hardware movement into classified areas, and overall hardware execution processes across team.

• Program Metrics: Provide real-time transparency into hardware health and material readiness using visualization platforms like Tableau, Power BI, and other dashboard tools

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering with 9 years’ experience supporting launch vehicle programs and mission planning and execution

• Project/program management experience

• Active Secret Security clearance is required at the time of application

• US Citizenship is required

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Department of Defense (DoD) missile defense programs, including knowledge of mission requirements and mission execution

• Familiarity with design, manufacturing, and testing of complex missile hardware components.

• Extensive experience interfacing with US Government customer counterparts and ensuring mission asset readiness to meet mission-critical timelines

• Proven ability to solve multifaceted challenges, covering technical, schedule, cost, and resource management

• Strong understanding of mission and test hardware integration processes, including effective coordination with launch range personnel

Primary Level Salary Range: $101,400.00 - $152,200.00

The 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.