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Senior Program Director - Distributed Systems

Linthicum Heights, MD

Job Description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be availableCLEARANCE TYPE: SecretTRAVEL: Yes, 50% of the Time 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 and technology that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our work preserves freedom and democracy, and advances human discovery and our understanding of the universe. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have a lot of 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 are making history.
Northrop Grumman Mission Systems sector is seeking a Senior Program Director - Distributed Systems to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals located in Linthicum, MD.
In this role you will lead a team of dedicated professionals in the creation and execution of strategies focused on delivering mission capabilities at speed for distributed force structures. As a collaborative and cross-functional leader you will interface with multiple business divisions, engineering, and manufacturing within the Mission Systems sector to identify and integrate key technologies and products and swiftly bring them to customers.  
Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Execution: Develop and implement strategies that enhance the speed and efficiency of bringing cutting-edge technologies to market. Champion "Go Fast" initiatives that enable rapid development and speed to market for distributed systems technology. Coordinating the preparation of proposals, business plans, proposal work statements and specifications, cost estimates, and financial terms/conditions of contract.
Leadership: Sector leadership for the capture and execution of programs developing mission systems for autonomous and distributed systems. Provide overall leadership of a team of Directors, Program Managers, and functional support staff. P&L leadership for the Distributed Systems business with responsibility for the creation of an annual operating plan for awards, sales, and margin. Directing the work of employees assigned to the program from technical, manufacturing, supply chain, mission assurance, business management, and other areas of the program.
Collaboration: Foster productive collaborations across various divisions, ensuring alignment and synergy in project execution.
Communication: Effectively convey complex technical concepts to stakeholders at all levels, from engineers to C-suite executives.
Customer Relations: Build and maintain strong relationships with customers, understanding their needs and aligning our solutions accordingly.
Integration and Prototyping: Utilize a strong understanding of rapid hardware and software integration to guide prototype development and capability enhancement with an emphasis on speed to initial operational capability.
Manufacturing Operations: Oversee manufacturing and production operations, navigating the complexities of defense contracting, including FAR and OTAs. Ensuring programs are meeting cost, schedule and technical performance objectives and participating in the negotiation of contracts and contract changes. Establishing milestones and monitoring adherence to master plans and schedules, identifying program problems, and creating solutions, such as allocation of resources or changing contractual specifications.
Distributed Systems: Expertise in distributed systems, with a focus on software-defined mission capability and rapid integration and prototyping.
Ideal Candidate: The ideal candidate will be a forward-thinking strategist with a strong background in both the technical and business aspects of technology implementation. The ability to navigate complex environments and drive impactful results, with speed, will be critical for this leader.
Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree and 12 or more years of relevant experience, a master's degree and 10 or more years of relevant experience
• 5 or more years of demonstrated success in managing projects to cost, performance, and schedule requirements.
• Experience with product line strategies and/or rapidly bringing hardware and software solutions to market.
• Demonstrated success in leading and developing cross functional teams.
• Strong interpersonal skills for effective collaboration and communication across diverse teams
• Ability to travel up to 50%.
• Ability to obtain US government Secret security clearance.
Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with Defense and Intelligence customers to include helping to create and/or guide acquisitions and position for capturing new programs
• Experience executing complex development programs for advanced mission system solutions, including electronic warfare, radar, EO/IR sensing, navigation and communication systems
• Familiarity with defense contracting frameworks and the nuances of Aerospace and Defense program management
• Active TS clearance with experience working in a classified environment to include classified networks and IT systems
• Detailed knowledge of the Aerospace and Defense planning, program creation, and program management processes
• Three years of functional/program management experience in military/defense systems
• Technical degree in engineering, mathematics, or physical sciences
Primary Level Salary Range: $254,200.00 - $381,200.00The 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 http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.PDN-a08253d8-cc30-4e38-8dc4-8b4a36c5c5d2
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be availableCLEARANCE TYPE: SecretTRAVEL: Yes, 50% of the Time 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 and technology that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our work preserves freedom and democracy, and advances human discovery and our understanding of the universe. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have a lot of 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 are making history.
Northrop Grumman Mission Systems sector is seeking a Senior Program Director - Distributed Systems to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals located in Linthicum, MD.
In this role you will lead a team of dedicated professionals in the creation and execution of strategies focused on delivering mission capabilities at speed for distributed force structures. As a collaborative and cross-functional leader you will interface with multiple business divisions, engineering, and manufacturing within the Mission Systems sector to identify and integrate key technologies and products and swiftly bring them to customers.  
Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Execution: Develop and implement strategies that enhance the speed and efficiency of bringing cutting-edge technologies to market. Champion "Go Fast" initiatives that enable rapid development and speed to market for distributed systems technology. Coordinating the preparation of proposals, business plans, proposal work statements and specifications, cost estimates, and financial terms/conditions of contract.
Leadership: Sector leadership for the capture and execution of programs developing mission systems for autonomous and distributed systems. Provide overall leadership of a team of Directors, Program Managers, and functional support staff. P&L leadership for the Distributed Systems business with responsibility for the creation of an annual operating plan for awards, sales, and margin. Directing the work of employees assigned to the program from technical, manufacturing, supply chain, mission assurance, business management, and other areas of the program.
Collaboration: Foster productive collaborations across various divisions, ensuring alignment and synergy in project execution.
Communication: Effectively convey complex technical concepts to stakeholders at all levels, from engineers to C-suite executives.
Customer Relations: Build and maintain strong relationships with customers, understanding their needs and aligning our solutions accordingly.
Integration and Prototyping: Utilize a strong understanding of rapid hardware and software integration to guide prototype development and capability enhancement with an emphasis on speed to initial operational capability.
Manufacturing Operations: Oversee manufacturing and production operations, navigating the complexities of defense contracting, including FAR and OTAs. Ensuring programs are meeting cost, schedule and technical performance objectives and participating in the negotiation of contracts and contract changes. Establishing milestones and monitoring adherence to master plans and schedules, identifying program problems, and creating solutions, such as allocation of resources or changing contractual specifications.
Distributed Systems: Expertise in distributed systems, with a focus on software-defined mission capability and rapid integration and prototyping.
Ideal Candidate: The ideal candidate will be a forward-thinking strategist with a strong background in both the technical and business aspects of technology implementation. The ability to navigate complex environments and drive impactful results, with speed, will be critical for this leader.
Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree and 12 or more years of relevant experience, a master's degree and 10 or more years of relevant experience
• 5 or more years of demonstrated success in managing projects to cost, performance, and schedule requirements.
• Experience with product line strategies and/or rapidly bringing hardware and software solutions to market.
• Demonstrated success in leading and developing cross functional teams.
• Strong interpersonal skills for effective collaboration and communication across diverse teams
• Ability to travel up to 50%.
• Ability to obtain US government Secret security clearance.
Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with Defense and Intelligence customers to include helping to create and/or guide acquisitions and position for capturing new programs
• Experience executing complex development programs for advanced mission system solutions, including electronic warfare, radar, EO/IR sensing, navigation and communication systems
• Familiarity with defense contracting frameworks and the nuances of Aerospace and Defense program management
• Active TS clearance with experience working in a classified environment to include classified networks and IT systems
• Detailed knowledge of the Aerospace and Defense planning, program creation, and program management processes
• Three years of functional/program management experience in military/defense systems
• Technical degree in engineering, mathematics, or physical sciences
Primary Level Salary Range: $254,200.00 - $381,200.00The 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 http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.PDN-a08253d8-cc30-4e38-8dc4-8b4a36c5c5d2

About Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman is a leading global aerospace and defense technology company. Our pioneering solutions equip out customers with the capabilities they need to connect and protect the world and push the boundaries of human exploration across the universe. Driven by a shared purpose to solve our customers’ toughest problems, our nearly 100,000 employees contribute to launching the technology of tomorrow, today.

© 2025 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.

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Senior Program Director - Distributed Systems
Northrop Grumman
Linthicum Heights, MD
Dec 4, 2025
$254,200 - $381,200 a year
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