Weapon Systems Development Lead Level 6 (AHT)
Northrop Grumman
- Location
- United States-California-Northridge
- Work model
- On-Site
- Level
- Senior
- Posted
- Aug 25, 2026
Skills
About this role
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret TRAVEL: Yes, 10% 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. Northrop Grumman Defense Systems is looking for a Weapon Systems Development Lead Level 6 that will spearhead the definition, development, and delivery of cross‑functional capabilities that enable the Advanced Weapons Business Unit (AWBU) to design, prototype, and field next generation defense systems in Northridge, CA . Our Advanced Weapons team designs, develops, and manufactures weapon systems that support U.S. national and allied security objectives. This position is required to be full-time, on-site in the Northridge, CA location. No remote/telework arrangement is available for this position. Applicants must have a current US Government Secret security clearance . The Weapon Systems Development Lead 6 will lead cross-functional engineering teams across the full weapon system development lifecycle, using the Integrated Functional Capability (IFC) plan to align software, systems engineering, integration, and test activities with performance, schedule, and mission requirements. This position requires strong technical depth, systems thinking, and the ability to coordinate effectively with program leadership, customers, and partner engineering disciplines.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic Planning Develop and maintain the overarching strategic IFC Plan for each product line. Translate the strategic vision into detailed IFC plans, schedules, and resource allocations. Program Coordination Align the work of hardware and software IPTs with the IFC schedule and milestones. Synchronize development baselines across contracts to avoid conflicts and gaps. Execution & Integration Oversee the evolution of the IFC plan through architecture, hardware, and software design phases. Manage functional activities such as testing, quality assurance, logistics support, and readiness for ground‑ and flight‑test phases. Certification & Release Lead the IFC effort to certification, confirming that the integrated product set satisfies functional and performance requirements. Compile and deliver the IFC system certificate package for ground test, flight test, developmental/operational test, and evaluation. Systems Engineering Leadership Expand technical breadth across a diverse portfolio of mission threads. Drive the transition from traditional systems engineering rigor to lean‑agile, model‑based processes. Control Account & Risk Management Own Control Account Management responsibilities, tracking budget, schedule, and performance metrics. Identify, assess, and mitigate risks throughout the development lifecycle.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Sr Staff Systems Development Lead Engineer: Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Defense Technology or a related field, with 14 years of defense or aerospace product development; or a Master’s with 12+ years of the same experience; or Ph.D with 10+ years of the same 5+ years of experience leading large, multidisciplinary, cross‑functional teams of 20+ personnel in a matrix