Chief Engineer

Sierra Nevada Corporation•Plano, TX

About The Position

The Chief Engineer provides technical leadership, guidance, and oversight throughout the product development lifecycle. The role maintains technical baselines across multiple programs, supports technical investment and staffing forecasts, reviews and approves proposals, and provides operational guidance to Project Engineers. The Chief Engineer oversees technology projects to ensure alignment with business-unit strategy and customer requirements, interfaces with customers to shape requirements and provide early-pursuit technical support, and supports program and technical reviews. The position is within SNC’s Mission Solutions and Technologies (MST) business area, which delivers command/control, communications, integrated ISR, force protection, and security solutions to Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, commercial, and international customers. MST supports platform operations, engineering, and lifecycle management across air, land, sea, space, and cyber domains. The role requires extensive engineering and leadership experience, including expertise in ELINT/ESM and related defense electronic warfare systems. It requires an active U.S. Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility and U.S. citizenship. Domestic and international travel may be required. Work may involve prolonged computer use and occasional visits to customer or field locations, including potentially hazardous environments.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Aerospace, or a related field; a higher-level relevant degree may substitute for experience.
14 or more years of engineering experience, including at least 8 years in a leadership role; a higher-level relevant degree may substitute for experience.
At least 10 years of systems engineering experience, including at least 5 years in ELINT, ESM, SIGINT, or related defense electronic warfare fields.
Deep understanding of ELINT/ESM principles, architectures, and technologies, including RF system design, digital signal processing, and sensor integration.
Hands-on experience with the systems engineering lifecycle for ELINT/ESM products, including requirements analysis, design, integration, verification, and validation.
Experience performing RF cascade analysis for complex RF systems.
Experience analyzing threat databases used for ESM intelligence libraries.
Extensive knowledge of radar parameter measurements and measurement techniques.
Experience with hardware/software integration, real-time embedded systems, and C4ISR systems.
Knowledge of relevant military standards and compliance, including MIL-STD-461, 810, 704, and 882.
Demonstrated record of delivering complex, mission-critical ELINT/ESM or SIGINT systems or products to government or defense customers.
Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret U.S. Security Clearance; the posting also states that current/active Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility is required for the position.
Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, and develop high-performing engineering teams.
Experience in strategic planning, resource management, and budget oversight for large-scale engineering programs.
Ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams and customer stakeholders.
Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills, including the ability to represent engineering to executive leadership and external customers.
Demonstrated experience in proposal development, technical writing, and customer briefings.
Willingness to travel domestically and internationally as required.
U.S. citizenship is required because the position requires an active U.S. security clearance.
Ability to lift up to 10 pounds occasionally.
Ability to work for prolonged periods on a computer and use hand and finger dexterity for computer work.
Capability to work in potentially hazardous environments when visiting project sites.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field.
8–10 years of relevant leadership and/or project management experience.
Familiarity with industry standards and regulations in the Aerospace and Defense sector.
Experience with advanced engineering tools and methodologies.
Leadership experience that includes change management, mentoring, career development, training, succession planning, accountability, and conducting yearly reviews.
Previous management experience, including recruiting employees, assigning, directing, and evaluating their work, and overseeing staffing development and maintenance.
Passion for ideation and innovation, and ability to motivate others by creating a shared vision or purpose.
Background in the Aerospace and Defense industry, the U.S. Department of Defense (Civilian), NASA/Civil or commercial space, and/or the U.S. Military, with an understanding of defense, aerospace, intelligence, and adjacent markets.
Prior experience working directly with military or intelligence agencies.
Active Top Secret/SCI clearance.
Experience applying AI tools and techniques to ESM processing.

Responsibilities

Provide technical guidance and oversight throughout the product lifecycle, from concept design to final release.
Develop and maintain product-line technical baselines for multiple programs, ensuring consistency, continuity, and configuration control.
Oversee technology projects to ensure alignment with business-unit strategy and customer requirements.
Review and approve technical and cost volumes in proposals for alignment with company standards and customer expectations.
Provide operational guidance to Project Engineers to support technical alignment and achievement of project goals.
Interface with customers to shape requirements and provide technical support during early pursuit phases.
Support program and technical reviews and guide technical solution synthesis.
Lead, mentor, and develop engineering teams.
Support strategic planning, resource management, and budget oversight for large-scale engineering programs.
Collaborate with program management, business development, manufacturing, quality, and customer stakeholders.
Develop proposals, technical writing, and customer briefings.
Travel domestically and internationally as required.
Visit customer or field locations as needed.