Hardware Test Engineering Manager 2

About the role

• RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available
• CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No
• CLEARANCE TYPE: None
• TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time

About the role

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.

Expand your horizons, advance your career, and contribute to a secure future for generations. Northrop Grumman’s Space Sector invites you to bring your pioneering spirit to our collaborative teams. As a Hardware Test Engineering Manager 2 for the Deployables group located in Goleta, CA, you’ll be a linchpin in missions of paramount importance, defining the art of the possible from day one.

Northrop Grumman Mission Enabling Products (MEP) Business Unit designs, builds, and delivers space, defense and aviation-related systems to customers around the world. Our main products include satellites and associated space components and services, launch vehicles and related propulsion systems, missile products, subsystems and defense electronics, precision weapons, armament systems, and advanced aerospace structures.

The Hardware Test Engineering Manager  2 leads a diverse team of test engineers and technicians, ensuring the test needs of multiple programs are met. This role blends functional management (staffing, performance reviews) with program‑level support (delivering test engineering products that satisfy cost and schedule objectives).

The selected candidate will lead a group of approximately 10-15 engineers and technicians responsible for space hardware testing. The selected candidate is expected to dedicate approximately 20% of their time to functional responsibilities, with the remaining time focused on providing direct support to various space programs.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following

Program Test Engineering Management

• Direct test engineers and technicians assigned to concurrent space programs
• Ensure that day to day test execution aligns with program cost and schedule goals
• Provide technical oversight to guarantee the quality of all test engineering deliverables, i.e. procedures and GSE requirements.
• Ensure product and test readiness to meet rigorous program standards and deliverables.
• Serve as the primary technical liaison between test engineering and system, design, and other engineering groups to resolve test‑related issues.

Functional Test Engineering Management

• Define and execute staffing strategies for test engineers and technicians
• Set clear performance goals, deliver regular feedback, and conduct performance reviews
• Support the annual salary review process.
• Enforce, refine, and improve Test Engineering processes.
• Foster a culture that empowers individuals, promotes high performance, and establishes shared accountability with program teams
• Occasionally contribute to proposal activities, continuous‑improvement initiatives, Root Cause and Corrective Action (RCCA) and Failure Review Board (FRB) investigations
• Driving to rapid resolution and effective corrective actions

Additional information

The successful candidate must also be able to support multiple shift schedules (including 1st and/or 2nd shift) and supervise technicians who operate on a 24/7 schedule.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Math) discipline with 8+ years of engineering experience OR a Master's degree in a STEM discipline with 6+ years of engineering experience
• Experience with testing space hardware in the aerospace and defense industry
• Experience in leading, mentoring, and developing engineering teams to deliver technical solutions, within cost and schedule constraints
• Knowledge of workforce and resource planning, including allocating resources across programs, managing workloads and priorities, and forecasting staffing needs
• Must be able and willing to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret clearance

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior leadership experience in Functional Management
• Demonstrated experience in environmental (thermal cycling and vibration) and deployment testing of space hardware
• Hands on experience with Earned Value Management (EVMS), Integrated Master Schedules (IMS), and Basis of Estimate (BOE) development.
• Direct involvement in the System Engineering Technical Review process (SRR, PDR, CDR, and TRR).
• Strong background in technical planning, risk & opportunity management, and driving project outcomes across cost, schedule, and technical quality.
• Experience partnering with customers to negotiate test requirements and ensure mutual alignment.

Additional information

Working at Northrop Grumman is more than just a paycheck. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards and benefits package designed to help you thrive at work and in life. For more information on our Total Rewards package, please visit our Total Rewards site.

Northrop Grumman Total Rewards

• #LosAngelesSpace
• #SpaceEngJobs
• #SpaceGNCJobs

Primary Level Salary Range

$146,600.00 - $219,800.00

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.