Chief Technologist - Defence Engineering

UK CITIZENSHIP REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION: Yes

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE TYPE: UK-Security Check (SC)

TRAVEL: Yes, 25% of the Time

The Defence Engineering Chief Technologist is a critical role in realising the potential of Northrop Grumman’s Defence Operating Unit, being responsible for driving our engineering and technical best practice and process across the defence business.

They will be adaptive, and pragmatic in understanding a wide variety of delivery and engineering requirements, able to guide the business in the development of both centralised engineering best practice, but also customised, niche processes for specialist programmes.

They will apply new thinking to ensure processes are streamlined and fit for purpose for future engineering challenges, ensuring coherence across the defence business.

Externally, the successful candidate will project thought leadership to our clients and be instrumental in the development of new business, stimulated from client intimacy and delivery excellence.

The role is largely technology agnostic, rather looking to general engineering best practice, risks, opportunities and to take a balanced approach.

Key Responsibilities

• Accountable for understanding and shaping our clients’ technical direction, projecting thought leadership, prioritising time with clients to gain mission intimacy and to increase Northrop Grumman’s technical ‘presence’.
• Responsible for setting the direction of the defence engineering teams. Provides technical direction for (and technical leadership of) the Engineering workforce in the DOU business (working collaboratively with the other Defence Chief Technologists and the National Security Solutions (NSS) Technical Director).
• Support the Maritime Defence Chief Technologist and C2 Defence Chief Technologist in technical governance activities where appropriate, including learning lessons from project pain points and ensuring policy and process keeps up.
• Responsible for actively supporting Business Development, Capture and Proposal development (and provision of direction to Northrop Grumman’s Senior Cyber Technologists). Includes responsibility for bid solution assurance.
• Responsible for communication of and solicitation of the processes across the business.
• Work with the engineering Practices to ensure policies and procedures for engineering development are appropriate and fit for purpose for the specific technology domains of the Practice, taking account of central corporate policy where applicable.
• Working closely with our Lead US ExPat, responsible for identifying the technical capabilities and ways of working from Northrop Grumman in the US that are applicable to our clients’ needs, now and in the future.
• Accountable for maintaining an overview of the engineering tools used across all Operating Unit’s. Working with the Digital Transformation Lead, managing the overall strategy for retention, maintenance and refresh of the tools, and digital transformation of the toolset as a whole, to fit the current and future needs of the business.
• Work with Corporate Compliance and Mission Assurance teams to ensure processes are compliant with external ISO, DEFSTAN (and other) standards, and support Audits as appropriate.

General Operational duties

• Attend Functional and Defence Leadership Team (LT) meetings as required.
• Contribute collective leadership as a member of the Defence LT, supporting each other as an LT.
• Ensure Defence business successes are actively identified and celebrated (both teams and individuals).
• Share collective responsibility for the development and delivery of Defence strategy.
• Share collective responsibility for the attraction and retention of staff.
• Support the NSS Technical Director in developing and growing a professional and engaged team, effectively representing the technical direction of the Defence business to the NSS Technical Director to ensure alignment.
• Remain compliant with all applicable policies and procedures.
• Act as a role model, exhibiting NG’s values at all times.
• Act as a Northrop Grumman Brand Ambassador.
• Actively promote diversity and inclusion.
• Undertake any other reasonable tasks as requested.

Person Specification

• At least 10 years’ experience in the technology industry, with deep engineering experience.
• A person who is keen to impart knowledge and support the growth of others.
• An individual that is looking to play a major part in growing a business to its full potential.

Competency/Skill requirements

• Senior leader in a technology field, with demonstrable experience of leadership.
• Broad technology experience, with demonstrable experience of capability development (people, process and technology) with a systems engineering mind set.
• Demonstrable experience in delivering projects using complex modelling, e.g. overseeing the successful implementation of digital twins.
• Proven experience in developing and embedding engineering best practice in a relevant industry to gain and/or maintain regulatory compliance (e.g. ISO9001, ISO9100, ARP4754, DO-178, etc.).
• Highly organised, self-managing, able to manage multiple activities at any one time.
• Excellent strategist and communicator who can provide clear and concise messaging both externally to clients and internally within Northrop Grumman.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, able to engage effective with all audiences / stakeholders at all levels in the organisation and external clients / organisations.
• Adept at dealing with competing priorities and deadlines at a leadership level. A good coach and delegator to enable force multiplication.

Other requirements

• Travel requirements: Some UK travel required to attend team and customer meetings. Occasional international travel may be required.
• Clearance requirements: Must hold and maintain suitable clearance.
• Valid UK passport and driving licence.

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Northrop Grumman is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce, and encourages individuals from all backgrounds and all abilities to apply and consider becoming a part of our diverse and inclusive workforce.