Director of Engineering

Cryptic Vector

$150K — $180K *
Aerospace & Defense
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 10+ years of progressive engineering experience with leadership roles
  • Proven ability to build and scale high-performing engineering teams
  • Experience in managing talent processes such as hiring and performance management
  • Track record of driving engineering execution against quality and schedule standards
  • Established engineering processes and metrics in previous roles
  • Strong collaboration skills in a matrixed organization
  • Bachelor's degree in engineering or related technical field

Responsibilities

  • Lead and manage the engineering organization
  • Oversee engineering talent management from hiring to retention
  • Assign the right engineering talent to various programs and proposals
  • Establish consistent engineering processes and best practices
  • Drive high-quality engineering execution and accountability
  • Identify skill gaps and develop training or recruiting plans
  • Foster a strong engineering culture of collaboration and innovation

Benefits

  • Opportunities for career development and advancement
  • Collaborative work culture focused on technical excellence
  • Ability to shape engineering operations across the company
  • Engagement in impactful projects relevant to defense and intelligence
  • Access to mentorship in developing technical leaders
Full Job Description
Director of Engineering

We're looking for an experienced, people-focused Director of Engineering to lead and scale our engineering organization. In this role, you'll own engineering talent management, drive high-quality technical execution, and build the processes and culture that enable mission success. You'll partner closely with Program Managers and Division Directors to ensure the right talent is in the right places while developing the next generation of technical leaders.

You'll have the opportunity to shape how engineering operates across the company-establishing consistent standards, balancing resources across competing priorities, and fostering a culture of collaboration, technical excellence, and mission impact.

Responsibilities

  • Lead and manage the engineering organization
  • Own engineering talent management: hiring, development, mentoring, performance, and retention
  • Ensure the right engineering talent is assigned to programs, IRADs, and proposals
  • Establish consistent engineering processes, standards, tools, and best practices across locations and divisions
  • Drive engineering execution with a focus on quality, schedule, technical rigor, accountability, and follow-through
  • Identify skill and capability gaps and develop recruiting or training plans to address them
  • Develop technical leaders and create clear career paths for engineers
  • Balance engineering resources across competing program and business priorities
  • Partner with Program Managers and Division Directors to ensure programs have the technical resources needed to succeed
  • Own engineering metrics and organizational health (utilization, staffing, attrition, recruiting needs, skill mix, etc.)
  • Foster a strong engineering culture focused on collaboration, technical excellence, innovation, and mission impact


Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

  • 10+ years of progressive engineering experience, including significant leadership experience
  • Proven track record of building, leading, and scaling high-performing engineering teams
  • Experience owning talent management processes (hiring, performance management, development, and retention)
  • Demonstrated ability to drive engineering execution against quality, schedule, and technical standards
  • Experience establishing engineering processes, standards, tools, and metrics
  • Strong ability to partner with program and business leadership in a matrixed environment
  • Bachelor's degree in engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field
  • Active security clearance (or ability to obtain one) preferred depending on program needs


Preferred Qualifications

  • Master's degree in a technical or related field
  • Experience leading multi-site or multi-division engineering organizations
  • Background in defense, intelligence, or government contracting environments
  • Experience with resource planning, capacity management, and organizational health metrics
  • Demonstrated success developing technical leaders and career frameworks
  • Strong communication skills with the ability to influence senior stakeholders


This role requires use of technical data subject to U.S. Government contract restrictions, therefore this posting is only for U.S. Citizens.

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