Professional Development Program
The Professional Development Program (PDP) is a rotational assignment program for recent college graduates interested in Engineering & Manufacturing, Business Management and Supply Chain Management positions. This is a highly competitive program where high academics, prior internship/co-op experiences and a well rounded education are the keys to success. The program offers participants (known as PDPs) the opportunity to experience several different assignments in a variety of departments.
Engineering & Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management PDPs typically take assignments that last 4-8 months while Business Management PDPs typically take assignments that last 6 months. Most of the assignments are in the greater Baltimore, Maryland metropolitan area. On occasion, however, positions may also be available at some of our other locations across the country. Assignments may take place in the following representative lists of areas:
| Engineering & Manufacturing Analog & Digital Design Bio-hazard Electrical Electrical & Computer Electronics Packaging Flight Test Industrial Manufacturing & Operations Material Science Mechanical Design & Analysis Postal Systems Power Systems Engineering Proposal Support Signal Processing Software Development Structural & Thermal Analysis Systems Design & Architecture Systems Integration & Test Test Design |
Business Management Accounting Contracts Financial Planning Government Property Estimating & Pricing Export Compliance International Finance Program Finance Rates & Budgets Scheduling & Earned Value Management Supply Chain Management Material Distribution & Control Material Planning Material Program Management Procurement Strategic Sourcing Subcontracts Administrator Supplier Management Supply Chain Management |
Engineering & Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management PDPs are usually in the Professional Development Program for 12-18 months before selecting a permanent position. Business Management PDPs are usually in the Professional Development Program for 12 months before selecting a position that they typically hold for 18-24 months before moving on to another Business Management position in the company.
The Professional Development Program allows PDPs to experience different organizational areas including areas outside their discipline during their PDP tenure, maximize their potential by balancing assignment structure with autonomy, demonstrate their accelerated technical/business competence and productivity and identify the best organizational fit for their first permanent assignment. PDPs are assigned mentors to help them transition to the Northrop Grumman work environment. Through challenging assignments, training, and career development, Northrop Grumman aims to build tomorrow's leaders from today's PDP participants.
PDPs are full-time, regular employees of Northrop Grumman at full, competitive salary and are covered by the standard employee benefit plan. PDPs are offered extensive business and technical training and professional development within the company. Northrop Grumman’s tuition reimbursement program enables PDPs to earn approved post-graduate degrees at accredited universities.
Northrop Grumman is actively recruiting talented individuals who:
- Will have completed requirements for, or been awarded, a Bachelor's or Master's degree from an accredited college or university before starting work at Northrop Grumman
- An overall cumulative GPA of at least 3.2/4.0 is strongly preferred
- Have one year or less of permanent, full-time career work experience (not including summer internships or co-op experience)
- Have business-related and/or defense industry-related interests and experiences, either at school or through an internship
Engineering & Manufacturing Program applicants selected will be subject to a security investigation, and must meet eligibility requirements for access to U.S. Government classified information (for which U.S. citizenship is a prerequisite). Participants on other program variations may also be required to obtain a security clearance. Applicants who already hold a security clearance from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and/or from one of the intelligence agencies should make this known during the application/interview process.