$170,000 - $190,000 a year

Director of Engineering
Tucson, AZ.

Role Overview

The Director of Engineering is a senior technical and people leadership role responsible for leading the engineering organization while providing technical oversight across all Stratospheric ISR programs. This individual will establish engineering priorities, guide technical strategy, and lead multidisciplinary engineering teams through the complete product development lifecycle-from concept development and system architecture through design, integration, verification, manufacturing, and operational deployment.

The ideal candidate combines deep systems engineering expertise with strong organizational leadership and a passion for developing high-performing teams. This role partners closely with Program Management, Operations, Manufacturing, Business Development, and executive leadership to deliver innovative, mission-critical aerospace systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop a multidisciplinary engineering organization, fostering a culture of technical excellence, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Establish engineering priorities and technical direction across multiple programs, ensuring alignment with company objectives and customer requirements.
• In partnership with the Chief Engineer, drive technology identification, assessment, application, and maturation roadmaps in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.
• Lead systems architecture, requirements development, and design activities for new platforms, payloads, software, ground systems, and supporting technologies.
• Provide technical oversight throughout the full system development lifecycle, including concept development, detailed design, integration, verification, validation, production, and sustainment.
• Oversee prototype development and rapid technology demonstrations to accelerate capability maturation and customer adoption.
• Define engineering execution plans, monitor technical performance, manage development costs, and ensure successful program execution.
• Implement project management processes and engineering metrics to monitor schedules, technical progress, risks, and resource utilization.
• Serve as the senior technical interface with customers, government stakeholders, strategic partners, and suppliers, providing technical leadership and innovative solutions.
• Lead the development and maintenance of system, subsystem, and component requirements while ensuring complete requirements traceability.
• Direct the creation and maintenance of technical documentation to support efficient program execution, configuration management, and compliance.
• Lead major technical reviews including System Requirements Reviews (SRR), Preliminary Design Reviews (PDR), Critical Design Reviews (CDR), Test Readiness Reviews (TRR), Functional Configuration Audits (FCA), and other engineering milestone reviews.
• Coordinate system verification and validation activities to ensure products satisfy technical, operational, contractual, and regulatory requirements.
• Partner closely with Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, Flight Operations, and Program Management to ensure successful transition from development into production and operational deployment.
• Promote engineering best practices, continuous process improvement, and disciplined systems engineering methodologies across the organization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree and preferred MS.
• 15+ years of progressive engineering experience developing complex, integrated aerospace, defense, or autonomous systems.
• Minimum of 5 years of engineering management experience leading multidisciplinary engineering organizations.
• Demonstrated experience with systems engineering for complex platforms, including vehicles, payloads, command and control systems, ground systems, and supporting infrastructure.
• Experience leading products through the complete engineering lifecycle from concept through production and operational deployment.
• Strong understanding of systems architecture, requirements management, integration, verification, validation, and configuration management.
• Experience managing engineering budgets, schedules, technical risk, and resource planning.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and successfully deliver technically complex programs.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills with the ability to influence technical direction across multiple organizations.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance, if required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Engineering or related technical field.
• Experience with high-altitude platforms, aerospace vehicles, unmanned systems, ISR technologies, or defense systems.
• Experience with rapid prototyping and technology demonstrations.
• Familiarity with Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs), Manufacturing Readiness Levels (MRLs), and technology maturation processes.
• Experience supporting Department of Defense or government programs.
• Knowledge of aerospace quality systems, manufacturing development, and test engineering methodologies.
• Demonstrated success building, mentoring, and scaling high-performing engineering organizations.

What We Offer

You will work side by side with experts in emerging technology, gaining exposure to cutting edge ideas and projects that are shaping the future. We offer a comprehensive benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance because we believe in taking care of the you as a person, not just a team member.

Our Tucson workplace is designed to support collaboration, focus, and well-being, with an on-site environment that keeps supply chain, manufacturing, engineering, quality, and program teams closely connected to the mission.

We believe in creating a dynamic and inclusive workplace where creativity thrives, and every voice is heard. Our commitment to all team members is built upon five core cultural pillars: Engage, Lean In, Create, Care, and Own. Together, these pillars form the foundation of our employee experience while adhering to the highest standards of ethical and sustainable practices.

Some Final Notes

The description gives you a sense of what the position involves but is not an exhaustive list. We are a growing and evolving team, which means your responsibilities may shift or expand over time as new opportunities arise. Flexibility and curiosity are part of what makes our work exciting!