Sr Director Engineering

The Sr. Director of Project Engineering serves as the enterprise-wide leader responsible for developing, standardizing, and advancing the Project Engineering and Chief Engineering functions across the organization. This role establishes the tools, processes, training, and technical development framework that enables Engineering teams to deliver high-quality, technically rigorous program execution aligned with Business Unit and Product Line strategies.The Sr. Director provides the long term roadmap and execution strategy for Project Engineering excellence, defining clear skills and competencies, implementing modern engineering tools and workflows, and driving continuous improvement in technical leadership and complex problem solving. This role works cross functionally to ensure engineering practices, governance, and technical decision making remain tightly aligned with business priorities, customer requirements, and the company’s product portfolio. This position directly leads the Functional Managers for Project Engineering, the organization’s senior technical experts and Technical Fellows, and guides the company’s Engineering AI priorities and implementation strategy within the Project Engineering domain. The Sr. Director facilitates monthly Chief Engineer Round Tables and quarterly Project Engineering Round Tables, maintaining a strong center of excellence and fostering collaboration, consistency, and technical depth across the enterprise.

The ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance), Aviation, and Security (IAS) business area is a leader in ISR and aviation, it is a leading prime manned and unmanned aircraft systems integrator for innovative, high-performance ISR and aviation systems. Its end-to-end Command, Control, Computers, Communications and Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (C4ISR) capabilities encompass design, integration, test, certification, ground/flight training and complete logistics support. IAS tailors solutions to customer cost, performance, and schedule requirements and designs to consistently exceed expectations – with an unrivaled record of on time and on (or under) budget deliveries.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the enterprise-wide strategy, development, and continuous improvement of Project Engineering tools, processes, and technical methodologies.
• Define and maintain a clear skills and competency framework for Chief Engineers, Project Engineers, and technical leaders across the organization.
• Establish standardized engineering workflows, technical review processes, and governance practices to improve execution consistency and program performance across Business Units and Product Lines.
• Partner with Business Unit Engineering Directors, Program Teams, and Product Line leadership to ensure Project Engineering capabilities, staffing, and tools are aligned with current and future business strategies.
• Directly lead and mentor Functional Managers responsible for Project Engineering teams, ensuring effective talent development, resource planning, and organizational health.
• Provide leadership and oversight to the company’s Technical Fellows and senior technical SMEs to strengthen enterprise technical depth and cross-functional collaboration.
• Define and drive the company’s Engineering AI strategy, work with all engineering functions to increase capability development, implementation roadmaps, and adoption across programs.
• Sponsor and lead enterprise Chief Engineer Round Tables on a monthly basis, ensuring knowledge sharing, cross-program technical alignment, and rapid escalation/resolution of engineering issues.

• Facilitate quarterly Project Engineering Round Tables to reinforce standardized practice, share lessons learned, and provide a center of excellence for Project Engineering across the enterprise.
• Provide executive-level technical guidance, decision-making support, and problem-solving leadership for complex engineering challenges that cross program or organizational boundaries.
• Collaborate with other engineering functions to establish KPIs, maturity models, and performance metrics to measure engineering process effectiveness, team capability progression, and tool adoption across the organization.
• Lead enterprise initiatives to improve technical risk management, engineering decision quality, and design-for-mission success practices.
• Drive a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and technical excellence across the engineering organization.
• Act as a key liaison between engineering leadership, product strategy teams, and executive stakeholders to ensure technical direction supports overall enterprise objectives.
• Represent the Project Engineering function in enterprise leadership forums and support strategic planning, capability investment, and workforce planning activities.

Qualifications You Must Have:

• Bachelor’s degree in an Engineering discipline (Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Systems, or related required).

• 16+ years of engineering experience in the Aerospace & Defense industry, including significant experience supporting complex, multi‑disciplinary development programs.

• 10+ years in technical leadership roles such as Chief Engineer, Project Engineer, Systems Engineering Lead, or Functional Manager.

• Excellent communication and leadership skills, with the ability to motivate and inspire cross-functional teams.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to develop and implement cost-effective solutions to complex manufacturing challenges.

• Knowledge of regulatory requirements and industry standards related to aerospace and defense manufacturing.

• Experience working directly with Business Unit and Product Line leadership to align engineering capabilities with business strategy and program needs.

• Experience mentoring, developing, or leading senior technical personnel (e.g., Chief Engineers, Technical Fellows, SMEs).

• Demonstrated experience in all phases of design lifecycle management to include: requirements, design, integration, test, and sustainment

• Advanced knowledge and understanding of industry best practices and techniques for program management, science, and engineering programs

• Possess advanced technical knowledge and experience; working knowledge of industry trends and historical context

• Proven ability to work with department-level business leaders and to provide leadership within the workplace

• Strong organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills, including the ability to clearly express technical concepts in verbal and written forms; ability to tailor conversations to adapt to technical vs. non-technical audiences

• Proven leadership abilities inclusive of successful change management, mentoring, career development, training, succession planning, holding people accountable, and conducting yearly reviews

• Proven experience and skills in team building, time management, conflict resolution, communication, briefing, presentation, and strategic thinking

Qualifications We Prefer:

• Master’s degree in Engineering or Engineering Management strongly preferred.

• Demonstrated experience developing and deploying engineering processes, tools, and technical governance frameworks across a large organization.

  Strong understanding of digital engineering, modeling & simulation, and emerging AI/ML tools that enhance engineering productivity and technical decision-making.

• Strong background in enterprise engineering transformation, including modernizing tools, digital workflows, and cross-BU engineering alignment.

• Strong capability in technical program recovery, red‑program turnaround, or technical risk burn‑down strategies.

• Fluency in leading complex design and technical issue resolution across multiple engineering domains (mechanical, electrical, software, systems, mission systems).

  - Hands‑on experience leading technical problem solving, design reviews, risk management, and engineering decision-making on high‑complexity programs (mission systems, aircraft, spacecraft, ISR, autonomy, etc.).

• Advanced certifications in Lean, Six Sigma, or Agile methodologies.

• Recognized expert in aerospace and defense technologies, with a track record of innovation and technical leadership.

• Ability to quickly grasp technical concepts and understand complex technical and program interdependencies. 

• Previous management experience; ability to recruit employees; assign, direct, and evaluate their work; and oversee staffing development and maintenance. 

• Demonstrated passion for ideation and innovation, as well as motivating others to act by creating a shared sense of vision or purpose.

• Possess a strategic mindset, linking technology and business.

• Team oriented with the ability to work independently with minimal supervision.

• Background in the Aerospace and Defense Industry, the US Department of Defense (Civilian), NASA/Civil or commercial space and/or US Military, with an understanding of defense, aerospace, intelligence, and adjacent markets.

Essential Functions:

• Must be able to work in an office environment or hybrid setting.

• Ability to travel as required (up to 20% of the time).

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.

• Ability to lift up to 15 pounds occasionally.

• Clearly convey technical information, design specifications, and project updates to team members, stakeholders, and management.

• Ability to understand technical documents, schematics, and electronic instrument measurements.

• Ability to work with and collaboratively lead teams of engineers.

At Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) we deliver customer-focused technology and best-of-breed integrations in the aerospace and defense sectors. SNC has been honored as one of the most innovative U.S. companies in space, a Tier One Superior Supplier for the U.S. Air Force, and as one of America’s fastest-growing companies. Learn more about SNC

This posting will be open for application for a minimum of 5 days and may be extended based on business needs.

Estimated Starting Salary Range: $254,731.83 - $350,256.28. Compensation varies depending on a wide array of factors, such as candidates' key skills, relevant work experience, and education/training/certifications. The disclosed range estimate may be adjusted for any applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled.

SNC offers annual incentive pay based upon performance that is commensurate with the level of the position.

SNC offers a generous benefit package, including medical, dental, and vision plans, 401(k) with 150% match up to 6%, life insurance, 3 weeks paid time off, tuition reimbursement, and more.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret U.S. Security Clearance. U.S. Citizenship status is required as this position needs an active U.S. Security Clearance for employment. Non-U.S. Citizens may not be eligible to obtain a security clearance. The Department of Defense Consolidated Adjudications Facility (DoD CAF), a federal government agency, handles the adjudicative aspects of the security clearance eligibility process for industry applicants. Adjudicative factors which affect the outcome of the eligibility determination include, but are not limited to, allegiance to the U.S., foreign influence, foreign preference, criminal conduct, security violations and illegal drug use.

Learn more about the background check process for Security Clearances.

SNC is a global leader in aerospace and national security committed to moving the American Dream forward. We’re known and respected for our mission and execution focus, agility, and disruptive and rapid innovation. We provide leading edge technologies and transformative solutions that support our nation’s most critical security needs. If you are mission-focused, thrive in collaborative environments, and want to make our country stronger with state-of-the-art technologies that safeguard freedom, join our team!

SNC is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to an environment free of discrimination.  Employment decisions are made based on merit without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran or other characteristics protected by law.