Vice President, Engineering

Paragon Space Development Corporation•Tucson, AZ

About The Position

Vice President, Engineering Location: Tucson, AZ; Houston, TX; Denver, CO Reports To: Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Paragon Space Development Corp. is a rapidly growing aerospace company developing spacecraft life support, environmental control and thermal control systems. We are on a mission to provide technologies that enable human survival and exploration in extreme environments. We are building a culture of innovation, speed, and uncompromising technical excellence. As we scale, we are seeking a passionate and experienced VP of Engineering to lead our technical team from prototype to production. Position Overview We are seeking a Vice President of Engineering to spearhead our multidisciplinary teams in the design and delivery of next-generation space life-support technologies. In this role, you will be the senior leader and primary steward of Paragon's engineering excellence, overseeing everything from initial R&D and product support to manufacturing integration. You will be responsible for building high-performing teams and ensuring our engineering strategies directly support our mission to enable human exploration in extreme environments. The Paragon VP of Engineering must be a strategic leader, balancing innovation and execution, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement while ensuring compliance with aerospace quality and regulatory standards. In a small company environment, this role requires a "roll-up-your-sleeves" mindset, bridging high-level strategic planning with direct involvement in design reviews, root-cause investigations, and manufacturing integration.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, or Systems Engineering. Master's degree preferred.
12–15+ years of progressive engineering experience, with at least 5+ years in a senior leadership role within the aerospace or defense industry.
Deep knowledge of full program lifecycle, from conceptual design through integration, test, and on-orbit/flight operations.
Hands-on experience with FAA, NASA, or DoD standards.
Demonstrated experience building engineering teams and leading through a high-growth phase.
Ability to maintain U.S. Security Clearance (TS/SCI or DoD Secret) as required.
Excellent communication skills, able to explain complex technical concepts to investors, partners, and team members.

Nice To Haves

Entrepreneurial mindset; ability to operate in fast-moving, ambiguous environments.
Strong technical background in CAD software (CATIA/NX) and Simulation tools (ANSYS/MATLAB).

Responsibilities

Set the long-term vision and strategy for Paragon's engineering organization in alignment with company goals and customer mission needs.
Build and lead a high-performing engineering team spanning ECLSS, systems engineering, electrical, thermal, test, analysis, and manufacturing engineering functions.
Collaborate with executive leadership (Programs, Operations, Finance, HR, and Business Development) to align engineering priorities with contract performance, program schedules, and profitability.
Own the end-to-end technical vision, architecture, and product roadmap, ensuring systems are scalable, cost-effective, and aligned with business goals.
Ensure engineering processes, tools, and practices meet industry standards and customer expectations (NASA, DoD, commercial space).
Oversee systems integration and verification/validation efforts to ensure mission readiness.
Drive innovation in design, testing, and manufacturing approaches to maintain Paragon's competitive advantage.
Partner with Program Management to ensure engineering deliverables are completed on time, within scope, and within budget.
Establish and monitor technical milestones, ensuring proper risk management and mitigation strategies are in place.
Support business development efforts by providing technical leadership in proposals, customer engagements, and design reviews.
Attract, retain, and develop world-class engineering talent.
Foster a culture of mentorship, technical rigor, and accountability.
Implement clear career pathways, succession planning, and skills development across engineering levels.