(Req Swap - R24899 Sr Principal RPO/Guidance, Navigation & Control Engineer) Chief Engineer, RPO

Sierra Space•Louisville, CO

40d

About The Position

The Chief Engineer will provide technical leadership and guidance to a major program or programs, ensuring successful technical execution. The primary responsibility of this role is to maintain the technical baseline for the program. This involves overseeing the design, development, and testing of systems and components, solving complex technical problems, and adjudicating gaps in the as-designed versus as-built/as-tested configuration. The Chief Engineer will act as a senior leader within the program team, providing expert technical direction on complex multidisciplinary engineering projects, ensuring technical feasibility to achieve mission success. This position requires multidisciplinary engineering expertise and the ability to build and execute strategies across programs. In this role, you will provide technical leadership and guidance to major programs, ensuring successful technical execution and maintaining the technical baseline for these programs. You will chair program Engineering Review Boards, ensuring changes are appropriately captured in the requirement baseline, and Failure Review Boards, adjudicating gaps and determining root cause corrective actions when qualification or flight hardware, software, or systems do not meet their requirements. You will oversee the design, development, and testing of systems and components while serving as an advisor across all programs and solving the most challenging technical problems spanning multiple initiatives. Driving the resolution of technical issues, you will provide expert-level problem-solving and act as the final authority and decision maker on how to address customer problems. You will take an active role in program milestone meetings and proposals, partnering with IPT Leads for work breakdown tasking and structure. Embodying the company's culture and leadership values, you will act as a catalyst for change, building strategies and identifying steps needed to execute them across programs. You will translate technical strategies into executable plans, making final decisions on technical problems, guiding execution, and ensuring effectiveness. Upholding and modeling company values, you will hold others accountable to these standards while interacting with internal and external executive-level management. You will drive innovation in engineering practices, stay current with emerging technologies, and contribute to the development of technical strategies and roadmaps to support long-term organizational objectives.

Requirements

Requires bachelor's degree in a related field (or equivalent work experience in lieu of degree or master's +14 yrs experience).
Typically requires 16+ years of related experience.
Multidisciplinary engineering expertise and subject matter expert for a single program of significance.
Demonstrated experience leading significant projects, interacting cross-functionally, and driving engineering decisions.
Demonstrated use of first principles to plan and execute required analysis for a program life cycle.
Experience acting as a technical advisor, providing expert guidance and recommendations on complex engineering projects, ensuring technical accuracy and feasibility.
Upholds and models company values; ability to hold others accountable to values.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
In-depth knowledge of industry standards, regulations, and best practices.
Able to build strategy; identify and implement the steps needed to execute strategy across programs.
The ability to obtain and maintain a Top-Secret U.S. Security Clearance is required
U.S. Citizenship status is required as this position needs an active U.S. Security Clearance for employment.

Nice To Haves

Master's or Ph.D. in engineering, aerospace, or a related discipline, providing a deeper understanding of complex technical concepts and advanced problem-solving skills.
Possess advanced RPO & GNC technical knowledge and experience, working knowledge of industry trends and historical context
Background in GNC, with emphasis on navigation
Experience in satellite flight programs
Understanding of computer vision
Understanding of RPO test techniques
Extensive experience in the aerospace industry or a closely related field, with a proven track record of successful project execution and technical leadership.
Demonstrated ability to drive innovation within engineering practices, staying current with emerging technologies, and implementing cutting-edge solutions to enhance program performance and efficiency.
Exceptional leadership abilities with a proven capacity to influence, inspire, and drive change within engineering teams and across the organization. Ability to mentor and develop junior engineers.
Solid experience in program management, including planning, execution, and oversight of large-scale engineering projects. Ability to manage resources, timelines, and budgets effectively.
Strong strategic planning skills, with the ability to develop and implement long-term technical strategies and roadmaps that align with organizational objectives.
Proven ability to work effectively with executive-level management, providing clear and concise technical insights and recommendations. Experience presenting complex technical information to non-technical stakeholders.
Experience managing relationships with external stakeholders, including customers, suppliers, and regulatory bodies. Ability to represent the company in technical discussions and negotiations.
Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across different functions within the organization, including operations, finance, and business development, to achieve common goals.
A strong commitment to continuous improvement, with a proactive approach to identifying and implementing process enhancements and best practices within the engineering function.
A history of technical publications or patents that demonstrate thought leadership and contributions to the field of engineering.
Relevant professional certifications, such as Professional Engineer (PE) licensure, Project Management Professional (PMP), or certifications in specific technical areas relevant to the role.

Responsibilities

Provide technical leadership and guidance to major programs
Maintain the technical baseline for programs
Chair program Engineering Review Boards
Chair Failure Review Boards
Oversee the design, development, and testing of systems and components
Serve as an advisor across all programs
Solve challenging technical problems spanning multiple initiatives
Drive the resolution of technical issues
Act as the final authority and decision maker on how to address customer problems
Take an active role in program milestone meetings and proposals
Partner with IPT Leads for work breakdown tasking and structure
Embody the company's culture and leadership values
Act as a catalyst for change
Build strategies and identify steps needed to execute them across programs
Translate technical strategies into executable plans
Make final decisions on technical problems
Guide execution
Ensure effectiveness
Uphold and model company values
Hold others accountable to these standards
Interact with internal and external executive-level management
Drive innovation in engineering practices
Stay current with emerging technologies
Contribute to the development of technical strategies and roadmaps to support long-term organizational objectives