Create Your Own Path
Find the Path that is Right for You!
At Northrop Grumman we believe there is not just one career path, but rather multiple paths and opportunities employees can explore to help them develop to their full potential. As you transition out of college and into the workforce, don’t limit your choices and be open to different roles that will expand your breadth and depth of the organization.
Whether it is a lateral assignment, expanded responsibility in your current role, a promotion, or the opportunity to work on a team, all of these avenues will increase your breadth of the industry and knowledge of the business. Every divergent experience in the workplace offers you a way to learn new skills and develop. At Northrop Grumman we’re proud to offer every employee a variety of options to expand their professional and personal growth. The opportunities are endless and development is a partnership between the organization, your managers and you.
Meet a few of our recent new graduate hires to see how they created their own paths:
Christy
Education:
Master's degree- Engineering Management, The George Washington University
Bachelor's degree- Computer Science Engineering, University of Colorado at Boulder
Bachelor's degree- Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences, University of Colorado at Boulder
Current Job: Program Manager/Systems Engineering Associate
Past Position Titles: project manager and planner 1 (technical) and program manager. In those positions I worked for three different divisions within Information Systems, and now work for Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems.
Time with the Company: Five years
Sector(s): Northrop Grumman Information Systems, but currently working on project at Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems
Interests: Travel, photography, collecting anything with a Northrop Grumman logo on it!
Christy's Career Path Q&A:
What type of careers/jobs were you looking for when you graduated? Did you have a strong idea of what you wanted to do?
I always knew I wanted to be an engineering program manager. How exactly I was going to get there I didn’t know right out of school, but I found out that the old adage of “be careful what you wish for” really is true. When looking for a job out of school I told my interviewers I wanted to be a program manager and Northrop Grumman actually gave me that opportunity.
How did you find out about Northrop Grumman?
The Society of Women Engineers National Conference
What made you decide to be a part of Northrop Grumman vs. other opportunities offered?
I liked the reputation Northrop Grumman had for the way they treat their employees. I know that they are a force in the communities they are a part of, and I particularly appreciated their presence at the Society of Women Engineers conference. The fact that they offered me a challenging and rewarding job offer to serve in the role I desired was a nice treat too.
How would you describe your career path within Northrop Grumman? Did you always know what your next move would be?
I have been given opportunities with increasing responsibility at Northrop Grumman. I didn’t always know what my next move would be, but managed to take advantage of some wonderful opportunities that came my way. It is good to be flexible and open to stretch assignments and new roles as they present themselves. As part of the Systems Engineering Associate program I rotate every six months to a new Northrop Grumman program. Even though I don’t know where my next move will be I know it will be quite an adventure and Northrop Grumman has always been very good to me.
How did you find out about most of your internal job opportunities? Do you have any recommendations for new grads looking to progress in the company?
Being active and networking around the company. Organizations like Connect1NG offer a great venue for people to meet other individuals not in their line of business and learn more about the company and consequentially about other opportunities. Being active with these networking groups can really open doors. Also, the Systems Engineering Associate program is a tremendous network of engineers across the company that has been absolutely invaluable in my career progression.
Knowing what you know now what do you wish someone would have told you when you graduated?
First, network, network, network. It’s not who you know but who knows you. Second, make it known what you want and make it known you’re willing to work hard to make it happen.
Jodi
Education:
Master's degree- Electrical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University Bachelor's degree- Electrical Engineering, University of Maryland
Current Job: Test Design Engineer 3
Past Position Titles: test design engineer 1, 2
Time with Company: Six and a half years (Since January 2004)
Sector: Electronics Systems
Interests: Ultimate Frisbee, hiking, snowboarding, house projects, playing piano, and singing
Jodi's Career Path Q&A:
What type of careers/jobs were you looking for when you graduated? Did you have a strong idea of what you wanted to do?
When I graduated, I had already been working at Northrop Grumman as a test design engineer for a year and a half as a co-op; since I really liked my job, I knew that I wanted to continue with it full-time.
How did you find out about Northrop Grumman?
Northrop Grumman received my resume through my college career center and contacted me about a co-op opportunity. I initially chose to accept the co-op position to gain a notch on my resume, but after I started, I found that Northrop Grumman was a great place to work with benefits such as flexible working arrangements and an education assistance program.
How would you describe your career path within Northrop Grumman? Did you always know what your next move would be?
Although my job title during my entire Northrop Grumman career has not changed, having one job title doesn’t bind you to one role. Each program has presented different opportunities to gain experience and develop as an engineer. I was given the opportunity to perform system integration and box-level testing on my previous program, and on my current program, I have temporarily joined the software group to do software development. These opportunities have helped give me a well-rounded base of experience and perspective, which gives me several options in the direction that I could pursue in my career. I haven’t always known what my next move would be because unexpected opportunities have presented themselves throughout my career.
How did you find out about most of your internal job opportunities? Do you have any recommendations for new grads looking to progress in the company?
If your co-workers enjoy working with you and can depend on you, then they won’t think twice about recommending you for future programs. This has been the catalyst in finding out about most of the programs that I have worked on.
Knowing what you know now what do you wish someone would have told you when you graduated?
Soak up knowledge and ask questions from anyone who is willing to share...so don’t be afraid to approach them with questions.