POSITION SUMMARY

The Vice President of System Engineering & Integration serves as the senior technical leader responsible for defining and executing the company's systems engineering strategy across all programs. This role oversees the full lifecycle of complex systems-from early architecture development through integration, verification, validation, and delivery-to ensure technical rigor and mission success. The VP leads multidisciplinary engineering teams, establishes robust systems engineering processes, and drives cross-functional collaboration to integrate hardware, software, avionics, propulsion, and mission-critical subsystems. The position requires deep expertise in aerospace system design, centralized based engineering, risk management, and large-scale integration, along with the ability to guide technical decisions that support cost, schedule, and performance objectives. This executive also represents the company with customers, partners, and regulators, strengthening technical credibility and advancing next-generation aerospace capabilities.

KEY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide strategic leadership for all systems engineering and integration activities across all company programs.
• Define and maintain the enterprise systems engineering vision, processes, and technical standards.
• Oversee system architecture development, requirements management, and technical baseline control.
• Lead integration, verification, validation, and certification efforts for complex aerospace systems.
• Direct multidisciplinary engineering teams and ensure alignment with program and corporate objectives.
• Drive adoption of Centralized Based Engineering and digital engineering practices.
• Establish rigorous technical review processes, including SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, and FRR.
• Partner with Program Management to ensure engineering execution meets cost, schedule, and performance commitments.
• Collaborate with Operations, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain to ensure seamless system integration and producibility.
• Identify and mitigate technical risks through structured risk management and trade-study processes.
• Serve as the senior technical authority in customer, partner, and regulatory engagements.
• Ensure compliance with aerospace standards, safety requirements, and mission assurance practices.
• Developing engineering talent, succession planning, and organizational capability growth.
• Champion cross-functional communication and decision-making across engineering, operations, and executive leadership.
• Guide the development of next-generation technologies and system architectures to support long-term business strategy.
• Communicating project progress, status, and potential issues to stakeholders and leadership.
• Implementing and maintaining agile project management methodologies throughout the project lifecycle.
• Perform additional job duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related engineering field required; Master's or PhD preferred.
• 20+ years of experience in mission operations, launch operations, or spacecraft systems engineering preferred by not required.
• Minimum 5 years in a senior leadership or executive management role within the aerospace, defense, or space industry.
• Proven track record of managing and delivering complex, high-stakes missions on schedule and within budget.
• Experience leading large technical and operational teams (25+ personnel) across multiple programs strongly preferred.
• Track record of making things happen in ambiguous, fast-moving environments.
• Uses good judgement to problem-solve proactively, positively impacting hard challenges.
• Demonstrated organization skills to meet tight deadlines with high quality results.

Core Skills

• Passion for space and the mission
• Entrepreneurial, growth mindset
• High EQ and ability to collaborate within teams and cross-functionally
• Tech-solutioning in using systems and tools to move smarter and faster

Core Competencies:

Embody our core values of leadership, innovation, and teamwork. In addition, to perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Accountability
• Technical Rigor
• Execution Discipline
• Pride of Delivery

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Generally, an office environment, but can involve inside or outside work depending on the task.

Requirements

• Must be able to complete a U.S. government background investigation.
• Management has the prerogative to select at any level for which the position is advertised.
• Proof of U.S. Citizenship or US Permanent Residency is a requirement for this position.
• Must be willing to work evenings and weekends as needed to meet critical project milestones.

Physical Requirements

• Work may involve sitting or standing for extended periods (90% of the time)
• May require lifting and carrying up to 25 lbs. (5% of the time)
• Equipment and Machines
• Standard office equipment (PC, phone, printer, etc.)