Chandler, Arizona, United States
Onsite
Northrop Grumman’s Space Sector is seeking a Sr. Manufacturing Engineering Manager 3 to join our team in Chandler, AZ. This position is 100% onsite and cannot accommodate telecommute work.
Position Summary
The Sr. Manufacturing Engineering Manager 3 is a strategic, hands-on leader responsible for driving operational excellence across Launch Vehicle production lines through advanced manufacturing engineering, industrial engineering, human factors, and manufacturing systems engineering practices. This role leads a team of 5 managers, 60 engineers and technical specialists to develop, optimize, and sustain safe, efficient, and highly capable manufacturing processes for complex aerospace products (e.g., structures, avionics, cable assemblies).
The ideal candidate brings a strong background in lean manufacturing, production systems design, ergonomic workcell development, and data-driven decision making, with a proven track record leading cross-functional teams in a regulated aerospace environment.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Strategy
Lead, develop, and mentor a multidiscipline team of Manufacturing, Industrial, Human Factors, and Systems Engineers.
Define and execute the manufacturing engineering roadmap aligned with program, operations, quality, and business objectives.
Champion a culture of safety, continuous improvement, and accountability, leveraging lean and Six Sigma methodologies.
Serve as the primary technical and operational interface between Manufacturing Engineering and Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, Program Management, and Design Engineering.
Manufacturing Engineering & Production Support
Own manufacturing process definition and deployment for new and existing aerospace products, including build sequences, work instructions, tooling concepts, and process controls.
Ensure processes are robust, capable, repeatable, and compliant with customer, regulatory, and internal requirements (e.g., AS9100, AS6500 standards as applicable).
Drive root-cause and corrective action (RCCA) activities for production issues; implement sustainable corrective actions and process improvements.
Oversee manufacturing documentation (routing, BOM validation, work instructions, standard work, visual aids) and configuration control.
Industrial Engineering & Operations Optimization
Lead value stream analysis, capacity modeling, throughput optimization, and factory flow improvements for complex production lines.
Develop and maintain production standards (time studies, methods analysis, work measurement, labor standards) and translate them into achievable performance targets.
Optimize facility layout, equipment utilization, and material flow to reduce cycle time, WIP, and cost while improving on-time delivery and asset efficiency.
Establish and monitor KPIs (OEE, first-pass yield, productivity, scrap/rework, takt attainment) and drive action plans to meet or exceed targets.
Human Factors & Ergonomics
Integrate human factors and ergonomics principles into workstation and tooling design to ensure safe, efficient, and user-centered operations.
Conduct ergonomic risk assessments, task analyses, and usability reviews; implement design changes that reduce fatigue, error potential, and injury risk.
Collaborate with EHS and Occupational Health to support injury reduction initiatives, ergonomic training, and proactive hazard identification.
Promote human-centered design in digital work instructions, visual management, and human–machine interfaces.
Manufacturing Systems Engineering & Digital Transformation
Lead the design, selection, and deployment of manufacturing systems (e.g., MES, PLM integration, digital work instructions, data acquisition systems) to enable a connected factory environment.
Partner with IT, Quality, and Design Engineering to ensure seamless integration between ERP, MES, PLM, and shop-floor systems.
Utilize data analytics and model-based methods to improve process capability, predict bottlenecks, and inform capital and staffing decisions.
Drive adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies (e.g., automation, robotics, additive manufacturing, IIoT, AR/VR for work instructions) where justified by business case.
New Product Introduction (NPI) & Design for Manufacturability (DFM/DFA)
Lead manufacturing engineering input to new product development, ensuring ease of manufacture, assembly, test, and maintainability.
Own manufacturing readiness and producibility assessments, from concept through full-rate production.
Develop transition-to-production plans, including pilot builds, process validation, capability studies, and ramp-up strategies.
Influence design through structured DFM/DFA reviews, trade studies, and cost modeling.
Compliance, Quality, and Risk Management
Ensure manufacturing processes and systems comply with aerospace quality standards, customer requirements, and regulatory obligations.
Work closely with Quality Engineering to establish and maintain process controls, inspection plans, and qualification/validation requirements.
Identify and manage technical, schedule, and cost risks associated with manufacturing; develop and execute mitigation plans.
Support customer, regulatory, and internal audits; provide technical representation for manufacturing processes.
Basic Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial, Systems, or related degree.)
8 years of experience in manufacturing engineering within the aerospace or closely related high-reliability industry.
5+ years of leadership experience managing engineering teams or multi-disciplinary technical groups.
Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Secret security clearance
Demonstrated familiarity with:
Manufacturing process development and production support.
Industrial engineering methods (time studies, line balancing, facility layout, capacity modeling).
Manufacturing systems (MES, PLM, ERP integration, digital work instructions).
Proven experience with lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and problem-solving tools (e.g. value stream mapping, 5S, Kaizen, DMAIC, 8D).
Strong knowledge of aerospace quality and regulatory standards (e.g., AS9100, customer specifications).
Track record of delivering cost, quality, and schedule improvements in production programs.
Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and change leadership skills.
Preferred Qualifications:
Master’s degree in Engineering
10+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering within the aerospace or closely related high-reliability industry.
Active U.S. Government security clearance of Secret or above
Professional certifications (e.g., PE, CPE, Six Sigma Black Belt, PMP).
Familiarity with Human factors/ergonomics applied to manufacturing environments.
Experience with automation systems, robotics, or advanced manufacturing technologies in aerospace.
Experience supporting military, commercial aviation, or spaceflight programs.
Familiarity with model-based systems engineering (MBSE) or model-based definition (MBD) in a production environment.
As a leader with integrity, you ensure ethical conduct, balanced results, and partner satisfaction. You respect and nurture growth, fostering a culture of excellence. Skilled in building collaborative teams and customer trust, you communicate well, foster strong teams, and embrace change.
Curious about all the exciting developments with the Northrop Grumman Space Sector? Click the link below:
https://www.northropgrumman.com/space
We work a 9/80 schedule (9 hours per day Mon-Thurs, 8 hours every other Friday with the alternate Friday off)
Primary Level Salary Range: $151,500.00 - $227,300.00The 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 http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.Want to know if this job is worth applying to?