Job Description

Minimum $20,000 Sign On Bonus being offered for external hires.

We are seeking a dedicated Functional Engineering Manager who recognizes that validating mission-critical flight hardware starts with supporting the people doing the work. In this role, you will balance technical stewardship with a people-first leadership philosophy. Your primary metric of success is not merely the speed of delivery, but the delivery of high-quality, well-vetted products achieved through high retention, psychological safety, and the continuous professional growth of your engineering team.

The Engineering, Science and Analysis (ESA) Strategic Capabilities Unit comprises the technical talent and organizational leadership that enables the successful delivery of high-impact discriminating technologies for our customers' missions. Our collaborative, cross-functional teams are committed to innovation, integrity, continual learning and strong execution.

What You'll Do:

• People Management (Primary Responsibilities): Career architecture, personal growth plans, technical mentorship alignment, and overall team health.
• Programmatic Execution (Secondary Focus): Lead or support program test execution, manage technical roadmaps, and ensure engineers have the necessary resources and sustainable workloads to meet the program's milestones
• Scaling Note: Current Role is 25% People Management and 75% Programmatic Execution. As the span of control increases, the primary success metric shifts toward team health and retention over direct programmatic execution.
  • Ex ~10 direct reports = 25/75 split, ~30 direct reports = 75 People Management/25 split.
• Develop the Engineers: Functionally manage a team of approximately 10 Space Vehicle Mechanism Systems Test Engineers. Support personalized career advancement tracks, conduct performance reviews, and champion team wellness as the group grows.
• Build a High-Trust Culture: Cultivate an environment centered on psychological safety. Because flight hardware testing involves high-stakes anomalies, you will ensure the team feels empowered to pause testing, speak up, and collaborate openly.
• Support the Pipeline: Partner with talent acquisition to source, interview, and onboard engineering talent, ensuring seamless integration into the company culture.
• Program & Resource Alignment: Act as the technical touchpoint for Project Managers and Mission Leadership. Ensure projects progress in the right direction with the appropriate engineering resources and support the capture of new business.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships within the department, the Strategic Business Units, Strategic Capabilities Units and the Company. Interact appropriately with others in order to maintain a positive and productive work environment.
• Perform other duties as necessary.

On-Site Work Environment: This position requires regular in-person engagement by working on-site five days each normally scheduled week in the primary work location. Travel and local commute between company campuses and other possible non-company locations may be required.

Working Conditions:

• Work is performed in an office, laboratory, production floor, or cleanroom, outdoors or remote research environment.
• May occasionally work in production work centers where use of protective equipment and gear is required.
• May access other facilities in various weather conditions.

Short Term Incentive: Subject to business performance and recommendations of management, this role may be eligible to participate in an incentive compensation plan.

Required Skills and Education

• BS degree or higher in Engineering or a related technical field is required plus 10 or more years related experience.
• Each higher-level degree, i.e., Master's Degree or Ph.D., may substitute for two years of experience. Related technical experience may be considered in lieu of education. Degree must be from a university, college, or school which is accredited by an agency recognized by the US Secretary of Education, US Department of Education.
• A current, active Top Secret/SCI security clearance is required.
• Domain Familiarity: Experience in an engineering or testing environment for high-reliability hardware (Aerospace, Space Systems, or Defense).
• Empathy-Driven Leadership: Exceptional emotional intelligence (EQ), active listening skills, and the ability to navigate complex interpersonal dynamics.
• Career Pathing & Coaching: Proven ability to build career ladders, identify individual motivators, and guide engineers through professional milestones.
• Advocacy & Influence: Excellent communication skills to advocate for team health and bandwidth during demanding delivery schedules.

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Preferred Skills and Education

• 2+ years of direct people management experience with a track record of coaching and leading technical talent.
• Experience in the testing of spacecraft mechanisms such as gimbals, motors, hinges, scan mirrors, and related components.
• Experience scaling engineering teams through periods of organizational growth.
• Previous experience as a practicing Test or Hardware Engineer.
• Experience implementing modern peer-mentorship programs or engineering competency frameworks.
• Familiarity with engineering performance management tools and continuous feedback frameworks.

This position will be posted for at least 5 calendar days. The posting will remain active until the position is filled, or a qualified pool of candidates is identified.

Multiple positions may be available on this opening.