Chief Staff Integrated Functional Capability Lead (IFCL) (AHT)

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 an Integrated Functional Capability (IFC) Lead 5 that will orchestrate the execution of multiple, inter‑dependent contracts within the Advanced Weapons Business Unit at 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 IFC Lead 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. This role blends deep technical knowledge of weapon system architectures with strong systems engineering, program management, and stakeholder engagement skills. The IFC lead will align multidisciplinary teams (systems, software, hardware, test & evaluation, logistics, and sustainment) to ensure integrated, mission‑ready capabilities are delivered on schedule, within budget, and to the highest security while performing at a high standard.

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:

• Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Mechanical/Electrical Engineering, Defense Technology or a related field, with 12 years of defense systems development; or a Master’s with 10+ years of the same experience; or Ph.D with 8+ years

• 5+ years of experience leading large, cross‑functional teams of 20+ personnel in a matrix organization
• Experience coordinating complex, multi‑contract development programs in a defense or aerospace environment.
• Experience in systems engineering, with exposure to hardware, software, and integrated architecture, inclusive of engineering frameworks (MBSE, SysML, DOORS/Doors Next)
• Current US Government Secret security clearance