Sr. Manager of Engineering

Loft Federal•Arvada, CO

2d•$180,000 - $235,000•Onsite

About The Position

As the Senior Manager of Engineering, you will be the cornerstone of our engineering organization’s growth and execution. You won't just oversee projects—you will build the teams that deliver them. Your primary focus will be on functional employee management, driving our hiring strategy, and leading programmatic staffing to ensure our engineering teams are optimally resourced to meet aggressive mission milestones. If you are passionate about mentoring engineers, scaling high-performing teams, and aligning technical talent with complex programmatic needs in the aerospace sector, this is the role for you.

Requirements

10 years of professional engineering experience, with at least 3+ years in a direct engineering management or leadership role, preferably within the aerospace, defense, or hardware-tech startup industries.
Strong understanding of complex systems integration, hardware/software development lifecycles, and performance analysis
Exceptional cross-functional communication skills, with the ability to bridge the gap between technical engineering teams, program management, and executive leadership.
A proven track record of scaling engineering teams, including sourcing, interviewing, and closing competitive technical candidates.
Demonstrated experience in matrixed organizations or programmatic environments where dynamic resource allocation and capacity planning were critical.
High emotional intelligence (EQ) with a servant-leadership mindset; you care deeply about your team’s well-being and career progression.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting SCI and SAP level programs
Familiarity with non-traditional acquisition and rapid capability insertion models
Product or mission integration experience
Demonstrated discretion and sound judgment in sensitive environments
Active Top Secret SCI clearance

Responsibilities

Own the functional management and strategic direction for a cross-functional engineering team spanning systems, mechanical, electrical, and RF engineering.
Provide ongoing mentorship, career development, and performance management.
Coach engineers and technical leads, helping them gain the skills needed to architect complex systems, mentor junior staff, and lead through the entire program development lifecycle from requirements definition to integration and test.
Define goals within team meetings to ensure your teams are executing on short-term deliverables week-over-week while providing them the vision for the future.
Partner closely with talent acquisition and executive leadership to define the engineering hiring roadmap for the next 6-12+ months.
Write and refine job descriptions, design effective technical interview panels, and directly participate in the interviewing and closing of top-tier engineering talent.
Build a robust pipeline of aerospace and engineering professionals, championing diversity and inclusion within our engineering ranks.
Collaborate with Program Managers and technical leads to dynamically allocate engineering resources across multiple concurrent projects to attain business goals consistent with cost, high quality, and reliability.
Identify critical skills gaps within the organization and strategically deploy personnel to mitigate programmatic risks.
Balance the immediate tactical needs of aerospace programs with the long-term career growth and functional development of individual engineers.

Benefits

100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance option for employees and dependents
Flexible Spending (FSA) and Health Savings (HSA) Accounts offered with an employer contribution to the HSA
100% employer paid Life, AD&D, Short-Term, and Long-Term Disability insurance
Flexible Time Off policy for vacation and sick leave, and 12 paid holidays
401(k) plan and equity options
Daily catered lunches and snacks in office
Fully paid parental leave; 14 weeks for birthing parent and 10 weeks for non-birthing parent
Carrot Fertility provides comprehensive, inclusive fertility healthcare and family-forming benefits with financial support
Off-sites and many social events and celebrations
Relocation assistance when applicable