Chief Technology Officer (CTO) - Defense Software and Services Company, Camas, WA

Acumen • Camas, WA

1d

About The Position

PLEXSYS, a modeling and simulation software and services company, is hiring a Chief Technology Officer to provide executive leadership and strategic direction for corporate engineering, Production, IT, Security, and technology initiatives across the company and its subsidiaries. The CTO will shape and execute technology strategy, strengthen software development and sustainment, and make innovation, technical excellence, quality, and company values foundational across the organization.

Working closely with the CEO and other corporate leaders, the CTO will contribute to strategic planning, market strategy, proposal development, and customer engagement. The role oversees technology governance, compliance, testing and quality assurance, fiscal stewardship, and the long-term viability and competitiveness of PLEXSYS products and services. The executive will also guide the responsible incorporation of AI and other emerging technologies into future products and help lead organizational change across technical and business teams.

PLEXSYS has more than 200 employees across 15 states and four countries and has delivered Live, Virtual, and Constructive training readiness solutions for more than 40 years. The company is employee-owned and plans to implement the EOS framework starting in 2027. The position requires periodic travel of up to 25% and the ability to obtain Top Secret/SCI clearance.

Requirements

• Approximately 10 or more years of experience managing software development in a senior leadership role.
• Deep understanding of Live, Virtual, and Constructive (LVC) training frameworks and integration of their disparate elements.
• Experience managing large-scale R&D budgets, resource allocation, and cost-benefit analysis for technology acquisitions.
• Ability to translate complex technical concepts into actionable business insights for the CEO, Board of Directors, and non-technical stakeholders.
• Experience leading diverse software development teams, developing strategies for successful software product releases, and engaging customers to ensure deliveries meet or exceed requirements.
• Demonstrated examples of identifying, reporting, and measuring KPIs.
• Ability to travel periodically for meetings with current and potential customers, up to 25%.
• Bachelor of Science in Computer Science or equivalent.
• Must be able to obtain Top Secret/SCI clearance.
• Ability to lead across business and technical teams, including change management experience.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to maintain and adjust Engineering resources and budgets for assigned programs, projects, and products.

Nice To Haves

• Master of Science and/or MBA.
• Experience in the defense technology sector.
• Live, Virtual, and Constructive (LVC) training experience.
• Expertise in industry-standard protocols such as HLA (High Level Architecture) and DIS (Distributed Interactive Simulation).
• Experience guiding integration of AI/ML, Edge Computing, and Cloud-native architectures into simulation environments.

Responsibilities

• Ensure innovation and PLEXSYS core values are foundational to software development and sustainment throughout the company and its subsidiaries.
• Implement programs and solutions to address industry compliance issues.
• Promote effective engineering recruiting, professional development, and retention of software engineering teams.
• Create regular opportunities for staff to provide feedback on engineering processes, programs, products, and operations.
• Ensure engineering activities operate consistently and ethically within the corporation’s mission and values.
• Manage and approve annual operating budgets for Production and IT services, approve deviations, and ensure effective execution.
• Oversee development of patentable technologies and maintain the company’s competitive advantage through innovation.
• Forecast technological shifts and align R&D efforts with long-term market needs.
• Oversee strategic direction and governance of corporate Security and IT programs, including enterprise data protection and compliance with applicable frameworks such as NIST and CMMC.
• Lead enterprise-wide Software Testing and Quality Assurance to ensure product reliability, compliance, and continuous improvement.
• Support the financial viability of products, programs, and service units through sound fiscal management.
• Provide programmatic leadership and input for strategic planning with the CEO, corporate officers, and staff.
• Provide effective and inspiring leadership and stewardship of corporate engineering.
• Remain actively involved in PLEXSYS programs, products, support, and services.
• Maintain and adjust resources and budgets for assigned Engineering programs, projects, and products.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Medical, vision, prescription, and dental benefits.
• Life, AD&D, and long-term disability coverage.
• Paid holidays, military leave, and paid time off.
• 401(k) plan, with eligibility beginning on the first day of employment.
• Education reimbursement for job-related courses for full-time employees.
• Annual Price Club, Costco, or Sam's Club membership.
• Competitive wages and opportunities for advancement based on performance.
• Working environment designed to help employees achieve personal and professional goals.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive