Chief Engineer

Verity Integrated Systems

$120K — $150K *
Aerospace & Defense
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or a related technical field.
  • 12+ years of engineering experience in aerospace, defense, missile systems, or similar domains.
  • Experience with Department of War program execution, including technical planning and major reviews.
  • Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary technical teams effectively.
  • Deep understanding of systems engineering, requirements management, and integration processes.
  • Experience with major technical reviews like SRR, PDR, CDR, or similar.
  • Familiarity with hardware/software integration and technical risk management.

Responsibilities

  • Provide technical leadership across missile systems and hypersonics projects.
  • Collaborate closely with the Program Manager to ensure technical solutions meet requirements.
  • Drive program results by maintaining technical integrity and alignment with milestones.
  • Lead engineering activities that support program schedules and contractual commitments.
  • Resolve technical challenges and provide clear assessments to support decision-making.
  • Bridge various engineering disciplines to ensure integration and execution of complex systems.
  • Facilitate customer coordination and manage technical readiness for program delivery.

Benefits

  • Opportunity to lead cutting-edge aerospace and defense programs.
  • Collaborative work environment alongside experienced technical and management teams.
  • Engagement with diverse engineering disciplines for comprehensive project leadership.
  • Involvement in significant defense initiatives impacting national security.
  • Professional development opportunities focused on technical and leadership skills.
Full Job Description
Position Summary

Verity Integrated Systems is seeking a Chief Engineer to provide senior technical leadership across aerospace and defense programs involving missile systems, hypersonics, mission systems, digital engineering, integration, test, and advanced prototype development.

The Chief Engineer will work side-by-side with the Program Manager to drive program results by ensuring the technical solution is executable, integrated, traceable, and aligned with cost, schedule, performance, and customer requirements. This role requires experience supporting Department of War program execution, including the discipline required to move complex defense programs through planning, technical reviews, integration, test readiness, customer coordination, and delivery.

While the Program Manager owns overall program execution, the Chief Engineer owns the technical integrity of the program and ensures engineering activities directly support program milestones, customer commitments, contractual requirements, and mission outcomes.

This role bridges systems engineering, design, integration, software, hardware, suppliers, test planning, risk management, and program execution. The Chief Engineer must be able to lead engineers, challenge assumptions, resolve technical issues, and provide the Program Manager with clear, honest technical assessments needed to make informed decisions.

The ideal candidate is a seasoned technical leader who understands how to operate within government program environments, support disciplined defense program execution, and move a program from concept through design reviews, integration, test readiness, flight test support, and customer delivery.
Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or related technical field.
  • 12+ years of relevant engineering experience in aerospace, defense, missile systems, aviation, space systems, weapons systems, or complex integrated systems.
  • Demonstrated experience supporting Department of War program execution, including technical planning, customer coordination, major reviews, integration, test readiness, and delivery of complex defense systems.
  • Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary technical teams.
  • Strong understanding of systems engineering, requirements management, integration, verification, and validation.
  • Experience supporting major technical reviews such as SRR, SFR, PDR, CDR, TRR, FRR, or equivalent government/customer reviews.
  • Experience with hardware/software integration, supplier coordination, and technical risk management.
  • Ability to communicate complex technical issues clearly to executives, customers, government stakeholders, and engineering teams.
  • Strong judgment, technical discipline, and ability to make decisions under schedule pressure.
  • U.S. citizenship required due to defense program requirements.

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