Chief Engineer

Join our team as a Chief Engineer and lead the charge in innovation and efficiency. Leverage cutting-edge technology and your unparalleled expertise to drive our projects beyond the boundaries of possibility. As a Chief Engineer you will play a pivotal role in providing technical leadership, guidance, and oversight throughout the product development lifecycle. You will be responsible for maintaining technical baselines, ensuring consistency across multiple programs, and providing input on technical investment needs and staffing forecasts. Additionally, you will review and approve proposals and provide operational guidance to project engineers.

The Mission Solutions and Technologies (MST) business area provides affordable, turn-key command/control, communications, integrated ISR, force protection and security solutions worldwide. The MST team has a long legacy of supporting the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, commercial and international customers with years of experience in platform operations, engineering and full lifecycle management across domains - air, land, sea, space and cyber.

Responsibilities:

Technical Leadership

• Provide technical guidance and oversight throughout the product lifecycle, from concept design to final release.

Technical Baseline Management

• Develop and maintain product line technical baselines that support multiple programs, ensuring consistency, continuity, and configuration control.

Project Oversight

• Oversee and manage technology projects, ensuring alignment with business unit strategy and customer requirements.

Proposal Review

• Review and approve proposal technical and cost volumes to ensure alignment with company standards and customer expectations.

Operational Guidance

• Provide operational guidance to Project Engineers, ensuring technical alignment and project goal achievement.

Customer Interface

• Interface with customers to shape requirements and provide technical support during early pursuit phases.

Technical Reviews

• Support program and technical reviews, providing guidance on technical solution synthesis.

Qualifications You Must Have:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Aerospace, or a related field.
• 14+ years of engineering experience with at least 8+ years in a leadership role.
• Higher level relevant degree may substitute for experience.
• Deep understanding of ELINT/ESM principles, architectures, and technologies, including RF system design, digital signal processing, and sensor integration
• Hands-on experience in system engineering lifecycle (requirements analysis, design, integration, verification, and validation) for ELINT/ESM products

• Experience performing RF cascade analysis for complex RF systems
• Experience analyzing threat databases used for ESM intelligence libraries
• Extensive knowledge of Radar parameter measurements and measurement techniques

• Experience with hardware/software integration, real-time embedded systems, and C4ISR systems
• Knowledge of relevant military standards and compliance (e.g., MIL-STD-461, 810, 704, 882
• Minimum 20+ years of systems engineering experience, with at least 10 years in Electronic Intelligence (ELINT), Electronic Support Measures (ESM), Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), or related defense electronic warfare fields
• At least 5 years in engineering management at the director level or higher, leading multidisciplinary engineering teams in a defense or national security environment
• Proven track record of successfully delivering complex, mission-critical ELINT/ESM or SIGINT systems or products to government or defense customers
• Eligibility for a U.S. Government security clearance (Secret required, Top Secret/SCI preferred)
• Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, and develop high-performing engineering teams
• Experience in strategic planning, resource management, and budget oversight for large-scale engineering programs
• Proven ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams (program management, business development, manufacturing, quality, and customer stakeholders)

• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills; able to represent engineering to executive leadership and external customers
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities
• Demonstrated experience in proposal development, technical writing, and customer briefings
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally as required

Qualifications We Prefer:

• Master's degree in Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 8-10 years relevant leadership and/or project management experience.
• Familiarity with industry standards and regulations in the Aerospace and Defense sector.
• Experience with advanced engineering tools and methodologies.
• 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.
• 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.
  Prior experience working directly with military or intelligence agencies
• Experience with agile development methodologies and digital engineering practices
• Active Top Secret/SCI clearance
• Experience applying AI tools and techniques to ESM processing

Essential Functions:

• Ability to work primarily in an office or hybrid environment.
• Ability to lift up to 10 pounds occasionally.
• Prolonged periods of working on a computer.
• Hand and finger dexterity for computer use.
• Occasional travel to customer or field locations may be required.
• Capability to work in potentially hazardous environments when visiting project sites.

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

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 current/active Top Secret with SCI eligibility 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.