Director of Engineering

Scout Space•Reston, VA

12d•$175,000 - $230,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Scout is building a new way to see and operate in space: with a new paradigm of data empowering every satellite to make space safer. We are a rapidly growing team; we are deploying real solutions to orbit over the next 2 years; and our work will transform the face of spaceflight. We are looking for people who bring excitement and energy to our organization, are curious and eager to learn, and want to help drive our programs forward. Scout Space is seeking a mission-driven Director of Engineering to lead the execution, growth, and technical direction of our engineering organization. This leader will be responsible for scaling a multidisciplinary team across hardware, software, and autonomy while delivering high-performance space-based sensing systems to government and commercial customers. The role sits at the intersection of technical excellence, operational execution, and team leadership, ensuring that Scout’s payloads, flight software, and data products are delivered on time, meet mission requirements, and push the boundaries of on-orbit capability.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical field
10+ years of experience in aerospace, defense, or related high-reliability engineering environments
5+ years of experience leading engineering teams and delivering complex hardware/software systems
Demonstrated experience delivering space systems (payloads, spacecraft, or related subsystems) from concept to operations
Strong understanding of spacecraft systems engineering, including integration across hardware, software, and operations
Experience with space-based sensing systems, optical payloads, or autonomy/AI-driven systems is highly preferred
Proven ability to manage technical risk, schedules, and cross-functional dependencies in fast-paced environments
Experience working with U.S. Government customers and programs
Ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI clearance

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical field
Experience scaling engineering teams in a startup or high-growth environment
Background in space domain awareness (SDA), remote sensing, or on-orbit autonomy
Familiarity with flight software architecture (e.g., modular frameworks, onboard autonomy systems)
Experience with production and manufacturing of space hardware, including supply chain and vendor management
Strong track record of leading teams through design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR) and flight qualification
Experience supporting or leading capture/proposal efforts for government programs

Responsibilities

Lead and scale a multidisciplinary engineering organization spanning optical, mechanical, electrical, firmware, flight software, autonomy, and mission systems engineering
Drive execution of complex space payload programs and architecture decisions from concept through design, integration, test, launch, and on-orbit operations
Coordinate closely with the executive team on product, program management, and business development to align the engineering team and execution with customer needs, mission objectives, and company roadmap
Establish and enforce engineering processes, standards, and best practices to ensure high-quality, flight-ready systems
Build and mentor high-performing engineering teams, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement
Support proposal efforts, including technical strategy, architecture definition, and programmatic inputs