Curtiss-Wright Corporation

Director, Engineering - Aerospace and Defense

Curtiss-Wright Corporation$175K — $210K *
Aerospace & Defense
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in engineering (EO, design, software preferred)
  • Professional Engineer (P.Eng) designation
  • 10+ years of progressive engineering leadership experience
  • Proven experience leading large, multi-disciplinary engineering teams
  • Strong business, financial acumen, and understanding of operations.

Responsibilities

  • Lead a team of 40-50 engineers and technologists
  • Drive execution across new product development and legacy product support
  • Establish and strengthen systems engineering practices
  • Align engineering outputs with manufacturing and cost targets
  • Partner with Operations, Business Development, and Program Management
  • Improve design-for-manufacture and overall product performance
  • Elevate engineering communication and documentation

Benefits

  • RRSP with Employer Match
  • Health and Wellness Benefits
  • Learning and Development Opportunities
  • Referral Program
  • Employee Stock Purchase Plan
  • Inclusive & Supportive Culture
Full Job Description
We are seeking a Director of Engineering to lead and modernize a multi-disciplinary engineering organization within a complex, engineered-to-order environment supporting defense and naval applications. This position reports to the VP / GM of the Business Unit and is a member of the Senior Leadership Team for the site.

This role requires more than technical expertise. We are looking for a leader who brings strong business acumen, operational awareness, professional presence, and the ability to drive disciplined execution across engineering and cross-functional teams.

Location: Mississauga, ON

Salary: $175,000 - $210,000

Please note that the salary range information provided is a general guideline only, reflecting a position based in Ontario. Criteria such as the candidate's qualifications and relevant experience, the scope of the specific position, as well as market and business considerations will be evaluated when extending an offer.

We Take Care of Our People

RRSP with Employer Match I Health and Wellness Benefits I Learning and Development Opportunities I Competitive Pay I Referral Program I Recognition I Employee Stock Purchase Plan I Inclusive & Supportive Culture

Curtiss-Wright invests in the development, recruitment, and retention of critical skills as part of its model for business success. We offer a competitive wage, a comprehensive benefit package, RRSP, tuition reimbursement, and paid vacation/holidays.

Your Challenge
  • Lead a team of 40-50 engineers and technologists across design and systems engineering
  • Drive execution across new product development and legacy product support
  • Establish and strengthen systems engineering practices, including requirements management and verification alignment
  • Align engineering outputs with manufacturing realities, cost targets, and program requirements
  • Partner closely with Operations, Business Development, Supply Chain, and Program Management
  • Improve design-for-manufacture and overall product performance
  • Break down silos and improve cross-functional execution
  • Elevate engineering communication, documentation, and technical rigor


What You Bring:
  • Proven experience transforming and leading large engineering teams in complex environments
  • Strong systems engineering foundation with demonstrated ability to improve execution discipline
  • Experience working closely with manufacturing or operations in a defense or aerospace environment is a strong asset
  • Ability to connect engineering decisions to business outcomes (cost, schedule, margin)
  • Decisive leader who can drive clarity, accountability, and change
  • Strong communication skills, including structured technical writing and executive-level communication


Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in engineering (required) (EO, design, software preferred)
  • Professional Engineer (P.Eng) designation (required)
  • 10+ years of progressive engineering leadership experience (required)
  • Proven experience leading large, multi-disciplinary engineering teams (required)


Required Competencies
  • Strong business and financial acumen (budgeting, forecasting, financial levers)
  • Deep understanding of operations, and manufacturing environments
  • Systems thinking and structured problem-solving
  • Decisive leadership and bias for action
  • Strong communication and technical writing capability
  • Ability to manage complexity and ambiguity
  • High standards for accountability and execution


Preferred Credentials and Experience
  • MBA in operations, finance, or strategy
  • Defense, aerospace, or naval systems environment, military background preferred
  • Experience working within engineered-to-order (ETO) or complex product environments
  • Demonstrated experience working closely with manufacturing, Sales and operations teams
  • Experience/expertise in welding and associated regulations (WCB, Lloyds)


Curtiss-Wright's Indal Technologies specializes in helicopter securing and traversing systems, marine hangar doors, sonar handling systems, towed line array handling systems, sonar domes, towed bodies and fairings, and aviation support systems including horizon reference, pilot cues, and helicopter tie-down fittings for the world's navies. For more information: https://electro-mechanicalsystems.curtisswright.com/indal

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No unsolicited agency submittals please. Agency partners must be invited to participate in a search by our Talent Acquisition Team and have signed terms in place prior to any submittal. Resumes submitted directly to any Curtiss-Wright employee or affiliate will not qualify for fee payment, and therefore become the property of Curtiss-Wright.

About Curtiss-Wright Corporation

Curtiss-Wright Corporation is a diversified, multinational provider of highly engineered, technologically advanced products and services. The company operates through three segments: Commercial/Industrial, Defense, and Power. The Commercial/Industrial segment provides products and services primarily to the commercial aerospace, general industrial, and naval defense markets. The Defense segment provides products and services to the defense markets of the United States, Canada, and other countries. The Power segment provides products and services to the power generation markets, including conventional and renewable energy sources. Curtiss-Wright Corporation was founded in 1929 and is headquartered in Davidson, North Carolina.
Learn more about Curtiss-Wright Corporation
Size
7,800 employees
Market Cap
$6.2 billion
Industry
Net Income
$201.3 million
Founded
1929
5 Year Trend
+3.5%
Revenue
$2.3 billion
NASDAQ

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