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Program Manager 1

Northrop Grumman

Commerce, CAFull-time$133–200K/yrSeen 1w agoSeen in employer's feed 2 days ago

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At a glance

Compensation
$133–200K/yr
Location
Commerce, CA
Schedule
Full-time
Work Authorization
US work authorization required

Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.

Job overview

Northrop Grumman seeks a Program Manager Level 1 to lead its Propulsion portfolio program management organization in Commerce, California. The role oversees program execution across cost, schedule, staffing, technical objectives, and customer satisfaction, leading cross-functional teams through the full program life cycle. The position is 100% on-site and requires U.S. citizenship.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Program ManagementU.S. Government ContractsAerospace IndustryFunctional LeadershipTechnical LeadershipProgram ExecutionTeam BuildingMentoringCoachingConflict ResolutionMS Office SuiteMS ProjectLeadershipDecision-MakingNegotiationProblem-SolvingProcess StandardsBusiness DevelopmentRisk ManagementEarned Value ManagementIntegrated Master PlanningIntegrated Master SchedulingStakeholder CollaborationProduct StrategyCustomer RelationshipsCapture PlanningOrganizationCommunicationPresentation DevelopmentPresentation Briefing

Qualifications

Bachelor's and 5 Years or Master's and 3 Years3 Years Leadership ExperienceU.S. Citizenship

Benefits

Medical Insurance
401(k) Match
Paid Time Off

Full job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No

CLEARANCE TYPE: None

TRAVEL: No

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.

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.

NG Space Systems is looking for a Manager, Program Level 1, to provide leadership as the manager of the Program Management organization for the Propulsion portfolio supporting the Mission Enabling Products (MEP) Business Unit in the fast-growing Intelligence Systems Division (ISD) in Commerce, California.

This position is 100% On-Site

(MEP) is a leading designer, producer, and supplier of spacecraft components that power and enable satellites of all classes. Products include spacecraft panels, bus structures, precision optical structures, deployable structural systems and mechanisms, solar arrays, antenna reflectors and propulsion tanks. Our products are on virtually every U.S. satellite built in the last 20 years.

Learn more about Mission Enabling Products at our website: https://www.northropgrumman.com/space/spacecraft-components

Overview

The selected candidate will serve as a key member of the evolving Propulsion portfolio. The candidate selected will be involved in program execution, cost, schedule, staffing, team building, customer satisfaction, ensuring compliance with organizational processes and procedures, maintaining relationships with and providing status to program leadership and customers. The individual will lead a matrixed-functional team aligned to common program performance goals from inception of an idea through program completion.

As a program manager, the primary objective will be the delivery of all contractual requirements on cost and schedule, while achieving all technical objectives and creating customer intimacy to support value creation strategies and actions. Program Managers are responsible for leading all phases of the program life cycle from inception (proposal development) through startup, execution, and completion (contract closeout). The individual will lead a cross-functional organization aligned to common program performance goals.

The candidate must be able to effectively communicate complex concepts, have a successful track record of program performance, and possess interpersonal team building skills. The selected candidate for this position must work full-time, on-site at the Northrop Grumman Commerce, CA site.

Role and Responsibilities:

Besides functional responsibilities, primary program responsibilities are the management of cost, schedule, and technical performance of company programs and include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Interface directly with the Customer, Business Management, Contracts, Engineering, and other functional/support teams in support of program objectives, technical integrity, customer expectations, and schedule

  • Develop and implement team structures, organizational framework, and processes to optimize productivity and foster a high-performing, cohesive, and collaborative team environment

  • Developing new business opportunities through long term strategic planning, capture planning, and development of proposals and business plans

  • Identify, allocate, and manage program resources, including workforce planning

  • Adhere to all internal processes, policies, and applicable industry standards

  • Manage proposals, negotiation of contracts, contract changes, specifications, operating budgets, schedule milestones, and key terms and conditions

  • Cultivate customer relationships and intimacy to develop further opportunities within the customer community

  • Establish a program organization that effectively addresses customer requirements and incorporates the necessary internal and external sub-organizations

  • Establish design concepts, criteria, and engineering efforts for product research, development, and integration and test

  • Conduct thorough risk & opportunity management

  • Lead and direct cross-functional Integrated Program Teams (IPT) to meet program cost, schedule and technical performance objectives

  • Ensure the program team understands and adheres to contract scope, and implements changes through a control board

  • Measure and report program performance to internal and external customers

  • Demonstrate a commitment to ethics and integrity, and the capability to innovate while challenging traditional ways of doing business

  • Deliver clear and compelling presentations to customers, executive management and other program stakeholders

  • Develop and adhere to budget baselines utilizing Earned Value Management (EVM) or similar cost & schedule control methodologies and tools

  • Manage customer supplied property or information (GFE, CFE, etc.)

Our Leaders at Northrop Grumman live our values daily and encourage our teams to do the same. We do the right thing : upholding the highest ethical standards and facilitating a safe and respectful environment that attracts, retains, and inspires a diverse and engaged team. We do what we promise : holding yourself and others accountable to meet predictable and balanced results. We commit to shared success : operating as OneNG and removing barriers for our teams. Finally, We pioneer : setting a vision that shapes the future and inspires others.

Basic Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s Degree and 5 years, or master’s and 3 years’ experience supporting U.S. Government contracts and customers and/or project management in the Aerospace Industry

  • Minimum 3 years’ of experience with functional and/or technical leadership experience

  • US Citizenship is a requirement for employment

  • Experience leading the performance of program tasks on schedule, at cost, and achieving all requirements as either a program manager, project lead, integrated program team (IPT), or cost account manager (CAM)

  • Experience building and leading diverse and inclusive teams with high levels of engagement, including mentoring, coaching, and conflict resolution

  • Advanced MS Office Suite and MS Project skills

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Passion and relentless drive to achieve results, exceptional leadership skills, effective and timely decision-making, negotiation skills, and problem-solving skills

  • Knowledge and experience with implementation and execution of process standards focused on program execution, business development, and risk management

  • Experience establishing organizational and execution methods using program management tools such as Earned Value Management System (EVMS), Integrated Master Plan (IMP), Integrated Master Schedule (IMS), and Risk and Opportunity Management

  • An effective collaborator who can develop and maintain good working relationships with internal and external stakeholders

  • Proven track record of developing product strategy and developing stakeholder/customer relationships, pursuit capture, and shaping requirements

  • Experience in Program Management, Engineering and Manufacturing, and/or IPT roles

  • Broad skill set that is balanced between interpersonal, business, and technical capabilities

  • Strong organization skills in both independent and team environments

  • Effective communicator (verbal and written) with proven experience with developing and briefing presentations

  • Ability to adjust communication to an audience (from manufacturing technician up through customer and executive management)

#LosAngelesSpace

#SPProgMgmt

#SpacePMERAP

Primary Level Salary Range: $133,000.00 - $199,600.00

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 http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.

Job Category: Program Management

How this job compares

Set against the 11,396 open Program Manager jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 3, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$133–200K/yr
  • California median$146–220K/yr1,133 salary ranges
  • US median$120–205K/yr8,988 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $166K, is 10% below the California median midpoint ($185K) — in the middle half of Program Manager salary ranges in California.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 1,437 open Program Manager jobs in California and 11,396 across the US. 4% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in California
Experience
This posting asks for at least 3 years of experience — less than three in four Program Manager postings that state a minimum ask for (median 7 years, across 9,612 postings).
Education
4,811 of the 11,396 open Program Manager jobs (42%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 3, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

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