Director of Engineering
About The Position
Aurelius Systems is a VC-backed defense tech startup building autonomous, edge-deployed directed energy systems for counter-UAS. We build laser weapons to shoot down drones. We're a small team of engineers, former US military operators, and subject matter experts scaling America's directed energy dominance. The first cost-effective, reliable and robust laser weapon system. We operate with a philosophy of doing the work in front of us, every day, without excuses, similar to Marcus Aurelius. We have a San Francisco lab, a Detroit manufacturing hub, and we field test weekly on our own 400-acre private range. This role is crucial for owning the path from R&D to production across the entire system, leading multiple engineering disciplines, and driving the transition from a lab demonstrator to a weapon system that survives downrange and can be built at volume. The individual will set technical direction and manage the organization that executes it.
Requirements
- 12+ years in engineering with significant leadership of multi-disciplinary technical teams
- Track record taking complex hardware/software systems from R&D through production or field deployment
- Experience leading across disciplines
- Demonstrated ability to scale teams and turn dysfunction or ambiguity into high-performing execution
- Comfort operating hands-on in a lab and on a test range, not just in planning tools
- Extreme bias for action; prefer to solve problems immediately rather than schedule meetings
- Ability to handle problems before they impact others
- Comfortable with ambiguity and fast iteration in a startup environment
- Clear communicator across engineering, leadership, customers, and the range
- Self-directed; identifies and executes necessary tasks without explicit instruction
- Must be a "U.S. Person" (U.S. citizen, legal permanent resident, or certain protected classes of asylees and refugees) due to access to export-controlled information.
Nice To Haves
- Active or recent DoD security clearance
- Directed energy or high energy laser weapon system experience
- Experience standing up engineering processes and tooling for a scaling org
- US military background or deep experience working with military end users
- Track record of hiring and growing senior technical talent
Responsibilities
- Technical direction across software, firmware, controls, hardware integration, and test for the full system
- The R&D to production transition and authority architecture taking subsystems from prototype through field-ready and manufacturable
- Multi-team execution under ambiguous requirements, charting clear guidance and seeing projects through delivery
- Field testing leadership, from test article design through scoring system performance in non-lab conditions
- Building and scaling the engineering org from hiring, structure, and growing high-performing teams from the ground up
- Customer and program interface, translating mission requirements into engineering execution
- Setting the technical bar across the team, acting as an engineer first and a leader second, raising the bar through work ethic and example.
Benefits
- Competitive salary + equity
- United Health Care medical, dental, and vision coverage
- Flexible 18 days PTO + 5 sick days
- Travel to field test events and range days
- Covered daily lunches and office snacks + drinks
- E-bike / scooter stipend (Up to $500)
- Direct access to leadership and real ownership over your work
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
