Job Summary

The Electrical Engineering Director is responsible for the leadership, planning, management, and technical performance of the Electrical Engineering Design organization. Reporting to senior technical leadership, this position oversees multidisciplinary engineering teams responsible for the design, development, integration, testing, and certification of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). This role directs all phases of assigned engineering programs from inception through completion and is accountable for technical execution, schedule performance, quality, staffing, financial objectives, and customer satisfaction. Responsibilities require coordination across multiple engineering disciplines and collaboration with executive leadership to support company strategic objectives, technology development, and business growth. The ideal candidate combines deep technical expertise in avionics and aerospace electrical systems with exceptional leadership, organizational, and program management capabilities. Objectives are defined in collaboration with senior management. May be responsible for decisions that have serious impact on overall success of the engineering unit, group and/or corporation where erroneous decisions could cause substantial expenditure of time, resources, and funds.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Direct all phases of design engineering programs including planning, technical execution, integration, testing and production to ensure quality, schedule, business, and financial objectives are attained.
• Collaborate closely with software engineering, mechanical engineering, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, human resources, program management, and executive leadership teams.
• Develop and implement current, annual and long-term technical, schedule, quality, business, and financial objectives for the EE design engineering unit(s) and may also participate in the development of Group/Company objectives.
• Establish engineering design concepts, architecture, criteria, and development strategies for research, product development, testing, integration, and certification activities.
• Lead engineering progress reviews focused on cost, schedule, technical performance, program risks, and resource allocation.
• Identify technical and organizational challenges and implement corrective actions including resource realignment, schedule recovery planning, and scope adjustments when required.
• Ensure technical leadership and engineering excellence through recruiting, mentoring, developing, and retaining high-performing engineering talent.
• Interact with senior management concerning matters of significance to the company. Act as primary contact for engineering activities.
• Other duties as assigned or required.

Job Qualifications

Typically requires a Bachelors, Masters or PhD in engineering or a related technical field as well as fifteen or more years of progressively complex design / electrical engineering experience with at least nine of those years having management responsibilities.
May substitute equivalent experience in lieu of education. Proven track record delivering complex aerospace or defense programs on time and within budget. Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and engineering teams simultaneously. Extensive technical expertise in electrical and avionics system design and integration.
Strong project management, organizational, planning, scheduling, and coordination skills. Ability to resolve highly complex technical and organizational challenges. Exceptional communication, leadership, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
Ability to effectively interface with executive leadership, customers, government representatives, suppliers, and multidisciplinary technical teams.
Professional Engineering (PE) License and published technical works are considered desirable qualifications.

Technical Expertise:
The successful candidate will possess strong working knowledge and practical experience in:
• Aircraft avionics design for unmanned aircraft systems
• Power conversion and power system architecture
• Vehicle management system (VMS) design
• Servo driver design
• Flight computer design • Solid-state switching systems
• Analog signal acquisition and filtering
• Design for EMI/EMC compliance • Aerospace electrical system integration • Environmental qualification and airworthiness certification

Required Standards Knowledge
Thorough knowledge of aerospace and military standards including:
• MIL-STD-704
• MIL-STD-810
• MIL-STD-461
• MIL-STD-464
• DO-254
• MIL-HDBK-516

Leadership Characteristics
The successful candidate will demonstrate:
• Strong technical judgment and practical engineering decision-making
• Ability to apply urgency and resources appropriately when programs fall behind schedule
• Respect for and collaboration with subject matter experts
• Sound decision-making regarding tradeoffs between cost, schedule, risk, and technical perfection
• Strategic thinking combined with hands-on execution capability
• Calm, effective leadership in fast-paced and high-pressure environments
• Commitment to technical excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement