Northrop Grumman

Builds stealth bombers, missiles, and satellites

Associate Contracts Administrator / Contracts Administrator

Contract ManagementConfirmed live in the last 24 hours

Full-timeSan Diego, CA, USA$63k - $113.8k

About the Job

Requirements

For the Associate Contracts Administrator (Level 1), be completing or have completed a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution by December 2026.
For the Associate Contracts Administrator (Level 1), major or have majored in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, Supply Chain, or a related field.
For the Associate Contracts Administrator (Level 1), hold an active U.S. Government Top Secret clearance with a background investigation completed within the last 6 years or be currently enrolled in Continuous Evaluation.
For the Associate Contracts Administrator (Level 1), be able to obtain Program Special access within a reasonable period, as determined by the company; U.S. citizenship is a prerequisite.
For the Contracts Administrator (Level 2), be completing or have completed a master's degree from an accredited institution, or be completing or have completed a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and have 2 years of experience in business management and/or contract administration by December 2026.
For the Contracts Administrator (Level 2), major or have majored in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, Supply Chain, or a related field.
For the Contracts Administrator (Level 2), hold an active U.S. Government Top Secret clearance with a background investigation completed within the last 6 years or be currently enrolled in Continuous Evaluation.
For the Contracts Administrator (Level 2), be able to obtain Program Special access within a reasonable period, as determined by the company; U.S. citizenship is a prerequisite.

Responsibilities

Own the contract lifecycle, from shaping the initial business deal, analyzing Requests for Proposal, and preparing proposals through negotiation, active contract management, and close-out.
Analyze contract terms and conditions—including financials, delivery schedules, intellectual property, indemnification, and termination—and recommend and implement risk-mitigation strategies.
Interpret Model Contracts, Statements of Work/Objectives, Contract Data Requirements Lists, acceptance criteria, and other solicitation documents.
Assemble proposal submittal packages that comply with technical, financial, and regulatory requirements.
Partner with customers and internal stakeholders in negotiations to secure mutually beneficial business deals while protecting the company's risk posture.
Serve as the primary customer liaison for official contract communications.
Manage multiple contracts, including their value, funding, scope, and compliance across diverse contract types.
Assess requirements and translate them into actionable contract strategies.
Verify proposals and contracts comply with company policies, legal standards, and customer mandates.
Coordinate cross-functional teams, including program management, legal, finance, and operations, to ensure contract objectives are understood and executed.
Track contract milestones, deliverables, and key performance indicators; identify deviations and drive corrective actions to keep projects on schedule and within scope.
Maintain organized records of contracts, modifications, and related documentation to ensure traceability and audit readiness.

Desired Qualifications

Have an overall cumulative GPA of 3.25/4.0 or higher.
Have previous internship, co-op, or other work experience, leadership and teamwork capabilities, interpersonal communication skills, and professional, community, or extracurricular activities.
Have experience in proposal development and negotiation.
Have experience in the aerospace and/or defense industry.
Have experience with Special Access Programs.
Have prior knowledge and understanding of standard contract clauses in aerospace.
Have prior experience with contract types such as Cost Plus Fixed Fee, Award Fee, Incentive Fee, Fixed Price Incentive Fee, and Firm Fixed Price.
Be proficient in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be availableCLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: YesCLEARANCE TYPE: SecretTRAVEL: 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 is seeking an Associate Contracts Administrator or Contracts Administrator. This full-time, on-site position will be located at our Aeronautics Systems sector Rancho Bernardo office in San Diego, CA.

As an Associate Contracts Administrator or Contracts Administrator, you will be the pivotal linchpin that transforms opportunity into agreement, driving program success and opening new growth avenues. Working side‑by‑side with the program management team, you will ensure every contract is executed efficiently and effectively, safeguarding both company and customer interests.

What You’ll Do:

Own the contract lifecycle: from shaping the initial business deal, dissecting Requests for Proposal (RFPs), and crafting winning proposals, through rigorous negotiation, active contract management, to final close‑out.
Mitigate risk: analyze terms and conditions related to financials, delivery schedules, intellectual property, indemnification, termination, and more; recommend and implement effective mitigation strategies.
Evaluate complex solicitations: interpret Model Contracts, Statements of Work/Objectives (SOWs/SOOs), Contract Data Requirements List (CDRLs), acceptance criteria, and other critical documents.
Drive proposal development: assemble compliant submittal packages that meet all technical, financial, and regulatory requirements.
Lead negotiations: partner with customers and internal stakeholders to secure mutually beneficial business deals while protecting the company’s risk posture.
Serve as the primary customer liaison: manage all official contract communications, ensuring clarity, responsiveness, and professionalism.
Oversee multiple contracts simultaneously: manage contract value, funding, scope, and compliance across diverse contract types.

Responsibilities to include but not limited to:

Analysis & Strategy. Assess requirements and translate them into actionable contract strategies.
Compliance Assurance. Verify that every proposal and contract adheres to company policies, legal standards, and customer mandates.
Stakeholder Collaboration. Coordinate cross‑functional teams, including program management, legal, finance, and operations, to ensure contract objectives are clearly understood and consistently executed.
Performance Monitoring. Track contract milestones, deliverables, and key performance indicators; flag deviations early and drive corrective actions to keep projects on schedule and within scope.
Documentation & Record Management. Maintain an organized repository of contracts, modifications, and related documentation, guaranteeing traceability and audit readiness.

This requisition may be filled at either a Level 1 or Level 2.

Basic Qualifications for an Associate Contracts Administrator (Level 1): A candidate, regardless of age and hiring source, must meet ALL of the below criteria. The candidate must:

Be completing or has completed their Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution by December 2026.
Be majoring in or having majored in a Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, Supply Chain or related field.
A current/active U.S. Government Top Secret clearance (with a background investigation completed within the last 6 years or currently enrolled into Continuous Evaluation).
Must have ability to obtain Program Special access within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the company to meet its business needs (U.S. citizenship is a pre-requisite).

Basic Qualifications for a Contracts Administrator (Level 2): A candidate, regardless of age and hiring source, must meet ALL of the below criteria. The candidate must:

Be completing or has completed their Master’s degree from an accredited institution or is completing or has completed their Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and 2 years of of experience in business management and/or contract administration by December 2026.
Be majoring in or having majored in a Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, Supply Chain or related field.
A current/active U.S. Government Top Secret clearance (with a background investigation completed within the last 6 years or currently enrolled into Continuous Evaluation).
Must have ability to obtain Program Special access within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the company to meet its business needs (U.S. citizenship is a pre-requisite).

Preferred Qualifications

Have an overall cumulative GPA of 3.25/4.0 or higher
Previous internship/co-op or other work experience, leadership & teamwork, capabilities, interpersonal communication skills, and activities (professional/community/extracurricular).
Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
Experience in proposal development and negotiation.
Experience in the aerospace and/or defense industry.
Experience with Special Access Programs (SAPs).
Prior knowledge and understanding of standard contract clauses in aerospace.
Prior experience with a variety of contract types (e.g., Cost Plus Fixed Fee, Award Fee, Incentive Fee; Fixed Price Incentive Fee; Firm Fixed Price; etc.).
Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).

Pay Range

Associate Contracts Administrator (Level 1): $63,000 to $94,600
Contracts Administrator (Level 2): $75,800 to $113,800

Campusjob

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.

About the Company

Northrop Grumman

Builds stealth bombers, missiles, and satellites

Northrop Grumman builds military aircraft, missiles, rocket motors, satellites, and electronic systems, mostly for the American military and allied governments. It designed the B-2 stealth bomber and built NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, the largest telescope ever sent to space. The company works through four businesses: aircraft, missiles and ammunition, radar and communications systems, and space hardware such as satellites and solid rocket boosters. Most revenue comes from long-term government contracts, many of them classified. Its roots go back to Northrop Aircraft, founded in 1939, and it took its name after buying Grumman in 1994 and is based in Falls Church, Virginia.

Company size: 10,001+
Company stage: IPO
Headquarters: Falls Church, VA
Founded: 1939

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