APEX Product Line Director (PLD)

Job Description

Ready to make a difference? Our employees design, integrate, and test the world's next generation communication and electronic warfare systems for the United States DoD and international customers. You will be among the brightest minds, working on the aerospace and defense industry's most difficult problems. Drawing strength from our differences, we're innovating for the future. We put our customers first - exemplified by our mission: "We Protect Those Who Protect Us®." Sound like a team you want to be a part of? Come build your career with us.

The APEX Product Line Director (PLD) will lead a strategic portfolio within the FAST Labs Business Area in the BAE Systems Electronic Systems Sector, reporting directly to the Vice President/General Manager of FAST Labs. The APEX Product Line is developing the next franchise breakthrough technologies for FAST Labs and BAE by marrying deep expertise in sensor, communications, and electronic warfare hardware science and phenomenology with world-class signal processing, mathematics, and artificial intelligence software expertise.

The successful candidate will be responsible for leading a very talented cross-functional APEX workforce to achieve business success via strategy development and portfolio execution. The APEX Product Line is accountable to capture or identify, create and deliver discriminating technology and effective customer relations, both external and internal to BAE Systems. The PLD will take an active role in the development of new business opportunities in technology creation, maturation, and product transition related to APEX technologies and capabilities. The APEX PLD will be based in Merrimack, NH and have financial planning and optimization responsibilities in a very dynamic, distributed environment spanning multiple locations in Burlington and Lexington, MA, Arlington, VA, Dayton, OH, Austin, TX and Durham, NC. The successful candidate will also have the opportunity to craft a strategy and business case for creating additional operational sites to drive innovation and external partnership to facilitate FAST Labs' growth into new technologies beyond current expertise. Specific job responsibilities include the following:

• Lead APEX by modeling behavior aligned with our BAE Systems Cultural Principles and FAST Labs Guiding Principles.
• Lead the APEX organization to accomplish the mission and strategy as set forth in the FAST Labs business plan and ES Technology Strategy.
• Lead and own a Profit and Loss (P&L) statement exceeding $100M while managing portfolio, ensuring strategic alignment and optimal resource allocation to drive business growth and profitability.
• Be an active member of the FAST Labs leadership team, helping to define the overall FAST Labs strategy and transformation into a mission-centered organization, driving new technology, products, businesses, and businesses models for BAE and leading to eventual fielding of game-changing capabilities for our customer end users.
• Lead change-management in APEX to transform the organization into a mission-centered team that collaborates well across FAST Labs Product Lines and ES Business Areas and delivers on the FAST Labs strategy.
• Lead the development and implementation of targeted mission-centered campaigns to help identify and prioritize new research opportunities and to accelerate transition and fielding of APEX technology.
• Lead a strategic study aimed at cultivating innovation and collaborative partnerships with universities, start ups, and other non-traditional partners to propel FAST Labs' expansion into cutting-edge technologies outside its existing domains. Leverage identified opportunities to explore launch of a new operational site(s) and business unit to harvest technology from these partnerships.
• Provide leadership oversight and active engagement in the development and pursuit of business opportunities aligned with the APEX Product Line.
• Drive an entrepreneurial spirit with a product-centered, go-to-market ethos.
• Provide leadership oversight and active engagement in the preparation of technical, management and cost proposals.
• Make bid decisions per the FAST Labs delegated authorities and allocate bid and proposal funds across APEX technical areas.
• Maintain cognizance of corporate capabilities and identify new business leads for other BAE Systems Product Lines.
• Ensure all programs led by the group are executed in accordance with BAE Systems Program Management Policies.
• Coordinate efforts across multiple projects, within and outside of the product line. Pursue follow-on business opportunities. Support cross Product Line and Business Area programs to optimize market opportunities.
• Proactively engage with BAE Systems Business Areas to facilitate transition of APEX technology to BAE Systems products. Build relationships with Business Area technical and management staff to facilitate technology transition and collaboration. This includes early engagement on major R&D pursuits, coordinating blended teams for execution of R&D projects, and coordinating roadmaps and investments to facilitate transition of technology for Business Area leverage
• Work with the APEX leadership team to actively manage the most valuable resource we have within the organization: our human capital, to include activities related to recruiting top talent, employee development, employee sponsorship/mentorship, employee engagement and succession planning within the group.

Required Education, Experience, & Skills

The Product Line Director candidate shall have demonstrated or obtained the following education, experience and skills:

• Proven ability to lead a diverse organization across multiple geographic business sites.
• Advanced degree in electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, computer science, operations research, mathematics or physics.
• >15 years of technical and management experience in Research and Development for the Department of War (DoW) and/or Intelligence Community markets, 13 years with a master's degree, and 11 years with a Ph.D. degree.
• Ability to think strategically and formulate a strategic vision and strategies, as well as implement actions needed to achieve goals in a changing environment.
• Proven change management capability to lead a large organization through complex organizational and culture change
• Business and technical leadership, management, and decision making in technology development efforts.
• Strong customer focus and demonstrated ability to build and manage relationships with highly technical, complex customers. Deep knowledge of the DoW Science & Technology (S&T) customer agencies, contracting, and business models.
• Ability to communicate at all levels within the customer community and the corporate community.
• Business development mindset with in-depth experience in the development of growth strategies.
• Proven ability to share and transfer technology and know-how across organizational boundaries.
• Strong technical expertise in one or more of the following areas: artificial intelligence, cyber, computer science, electrical engineering, physics, mathematical programming, software engineering, systems engineering.
• Domain expertise in one or more of the following areas: Electronic Warfare, Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance, Offensive and Defensive Cyber, Signal Processing, Autonomy, Resource Management, Data Analytics. Proven ability in technology and product development from conception through deployment.
• Competent in talent management and development, performance management, mentoring, coaching, and team communications.
• Ability to achieve results through others and develop leaders in an organization.
• Eligible for US Top Secret/SCI Security Clearance.

Preferred Education, Experience, & Skills

• Active US Top Secret/SCI Security Clearance
• Proven breadth of business leadership from technology seedling and maturation through product development; from conception through deployment.
• Broad knowledge of DoW and IC customer base, novel business models, and non-traditional markets beyond traditional S&T customers.
• Experience with university centers of excellence, innovations centers, venture capital, and/or start-ups.
• Familiarity with Military and Intelligence operations.
• Familiarity with operations research and mission-center analysis and framing of technology development strategy.
• Passion to deliver Electronic Systems' Defense and Commercial Missions: 'We Protect Those Who Protect Us' and 'We Innovate For Those Who Move the World'.

Pay Information
Full-Time Salary Range: $196296 - $333704

Please note: This range is based on our market pay structures. However, individual salaries are determined by a variety of factors including, but not limited to: business considerations, local market conditions, and internal equity, as well as candidate qualifications, such as skills, education, and experience.

Employee Benefits: At BAE Systems, we support our employees in all aspects of their life, including their health and financial well-being. Regular employees scheduled to work 20+ hours per week are offered: health, dental, and vision insurance; health savings accounts; a 401(k) savings plan; disability coverage; and life and accident insurance. We also have an employee assistance program, a legal plan, and other perks including discounts on things like home, auto, and pet insurance. Our leave programs include paid time off, paid holidays, as well as other types of leave, including paid parental, military, bereavement, and any applicable federal and state sick leave. Employees may participate in the company recognition program to receive monetary or non-monetary recognition awards. Other incentives may be available based on position level and/or job specifics.

About BAE Systems Electronic Systems
BAE Systems, Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of BAE Systems plc, an international defense, aerospace and security company which delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. Improving the future and protecting lives is an ambitious mission, but it's what we do at BAE Systems. Working here means using your passion and ingenuity where it counts - defending national security with breakthrough technology, superior products, and intelligence solutions. As you develop the latest technology and defend national security, you will continually hone your skills on a team-making a big impact on a global scale. At BAE Systems, you'll find a rewarding career that truly makes a difference. Electronic Systems (ES) is the global innovator behind BAE Systems' game-changing defense and commercial electronics. Exploiting every electron, we push the limits of what is possible, giving our customers the edge and our employees opportunities to change the world. Our products and capabilities can be found everywhere - from the depths of the ocean to the far reaches of space. At our core are more than 14,000 highly talented Electronic Systems employees with the brightest minds in the industry, we make an impact - for our customers and the communities we serve.

This position will be posted for at least 5 calendar days. The posting will remain active until the position is filled, or a qualified pool of candidates is identified.