Director, Systems Engineering Jobs

Explore Director, Systems Engineering opportunities on Ladders, where you can find vetted professional jobs paying $100,000 or more. These senior leaders guide the design, integration, and performance of complex systems while aligning engineering work with business goals.

What Does a Director of Systems Engineering Do?

Directors of Systems Engineering set technical direction across products, platforms, and programs. They oversee systems architecture and requirements, coordinate cross-functional engineering teams, manage technical risks, and help ensure solutions meet performance, reliability, security, and regulatory expectations. The scope varies by organization and industry, from software and telecommunications to aerospace, defense, manufacturing, and healthcare technology.

Common Responsibilities

  • Define systems engineering strategy, architecture principles, and technical roadmaps.
  • Lead managers and multidisciplinary teams through development, integration, verification, and validation.
  • Translate customer and business needs into system requirements and measurable outcomes.
  • Oversee budgets, schedules, staffing, vendor relationships, and program risks.
  • Partner with product, software, hardware, operations, and executive leaders.
  • Improve engineering processes, quality practices, and lifecycle governance.

Qualifications and Skills

Employers commonly seek extensive engineering experience and a record of leading complex programs or large technical teams. A bachelor's degree in systems engineering or a related discipline is often expected; some positions prefer an advanced degree. Valuable strengths include systems architecture, requirements management, integration and test, risk management, technical communication, strategic planning, and people leadership. Specific qualifications depend on the employer and sector.

Find Director, Systems Engineering Roles on Ladders

Browse vetted Director, Systems Engineering openings and compare opportunities by employer, location, industry, and responsibilities. Ladders focuses on professional roles paying $100,000 or more, helping experienced engineering leaders explore their next career move.

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$125K - $150K *

Deliver strategic leadership for a centralized partner data management system, ensuring alignment with business priorities and enhancing user experience. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to dri...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$150K - $225K *

Lead the charge in transforming public safety operations with innovative sUAS solutions. Collaborate with agencies to deliver tailored drone technology, ensuring seamless integration and impactful dep...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$80K - $95K *

Unlock technical excellence by providing critical support for product implementations, ensuring seamless installations and troubleshooting for diverse technologies. Collaborate with teams to enhance c...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$110K - $130K *

Transform the future of cybersecurity compliance by leading certification projects, collaborating with teams to ensure product adherence to industry standards, and providing expert guidance on cyberse...

California, USRemote

3 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$156K - $260K *

Empower cyber defense initiatives by designing, implementing, and optimizing advanced security solutions. Lead investigations, mentor teams, and enhance detection capabilities to proactively mitigate...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$160K - $175K *

Lead transformative initiatives to enhance seller experiences, streamline processes, and drive measurable productivity gains. Collaborate cross-functionally to implement effective solutions that empow...

Irvine, CARemote

5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $180K *

Lead cloud architecture and platform engineering, balancing strategic vision with hands-on technical execution. Drive team growth, ensure compliance, and enhance infrastructure for secure healthcare s...

United StatesRemote

4 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$110K - $143K *

Join a dynamic team as a Data Engineer, where you'll design and maintain data pipelines using SparkSQL and Pyspark. Your work will enhance data analysis efficiency, impacting industries and driving cu...

CanadaRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$75K - $110K *

Engage in the successful delivery of automation projects, supporting execution through commissioning. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure quality, budget, and schedule adherence while de...

Muskogee, OKRemote

4 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$99K - $167K *

Develop and maintain robust data pipelines using SparkSQL and Pyspark, ensuring high-quality data for analytics. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance data analysis efficiency and support...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$146K - $282K *

Engineer high-quality software solutions, mentor team members, and drive architectural decisions in an AI-driven environment, ensuring excellence and collaboration across product development...

Salt Lake City, UTRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$137K - $171K *

Engage in designing and validating automated deployment architectures, enhancing customer workflows through scalable automation solutions. Collaborate with teams to ensure seamless integration and del...

New York, NYRemote

Yesterday

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $180K *

Innovate project execution by overseeing budgets, schedules, and resources. Collaborate with teams to ensure timely, cost-effective completion while mentoring staff and fostering strong customer relat...

Michigan, USRemote

5 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Transportation

$125K - $150K *

Shape the future of higher education by leading strategic initiatives and government affairs. Collaborate across teams to drive revenue opportunities and influence policy, ensuring impactful solutions...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$147K - $233K *

Lead the charge in executing complex government development programs that ensure reliable, secure, and resilient connectivity solutions across various domains, meeting critical mission objectives with...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$181K - $301K *

Elevate your career by leading a global team focused on maturing data protection and insider risk strategies. Drive innovative solutions to protect sensitive information while collaborating with key s...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$122K - $160K *

Transform the future of endpoint management by developing innovative solutions that enhance security and performance across diverse platforms, collaborating with a dynamic team to deliver impactful so...

United StatesRemote

Reposted yesterday

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$143K - $196K *

Elevate healthcare delivery by leading strategic partnerships and enhancing operational performance. Collaborate across teams to drive exceptional customer engagement and ensure alignment with clinica...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$184K - $356K *

Contribute to enhancing security architecture for networking products, collaborating with firmware and hardware teams to identify vulnerabilities and implement robust security features that protect mi...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$110K - $130K *

Develop technical requirements for utility-scale battery energy storage systems. Collaborate with engineering teams to ensure compliance with industry standards and project specifications while drivin...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$80K - $121K *

Champion training initiatives to empower customers in maximizing value from our platform. Drive measurable success through innovative, scalable educational programs, enhancing knowledge across diverse...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$100K - $120K *

Lead the charge in resolving critical network outages by engaging with customers, troubleshooting Ciena products, and collaborating with teams to enhance recovery outcomes and document root cause anal...

CanadaRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$140K - $185K *

Drive technical excellence by developing standards and processes for commissioning, ensuring consistent execution across projects. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance workforce capabili...

United StatesRemote

6 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$127K - $133K *

Elevate your career by managing vulnerability remediation in cloud environments. Collaborate with technical teams to analyze security risks, prioritize vulnerabilities, and implement effective solutio...

United StatesRemote

Reposted today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$114K - $158K *

Drive the development and execution of advanced wireless network solutions, managing projects from inception to completion while collaborating with cross-functional teams and stakeholders to ensure al...

RemoteRemote

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • What does a Director of Systems Engineering do?question toggle

    A Director of Systems Engineering sets technical strategy and oversees teams responsible for system architecture, requirements, integration, verification, and delivery. The role also connects engineering decisions to business objectives, timelines, budgets, and customer needs.

  • What qualifications are commonly required for Director, Systems Engineering jobs?question toggle

    Requirements vary, but employers often look for a bachelor's degree in systems engineering or a related technical field, substantial engineering experience, and a history of leading multidisciplinary teams or complex programs. Some roles prefer an advanced degree or industry-specific credentials.

  • Which industries hire Directors of Systems Engineering?question toggle

    Employers may include companies in aerospace and defense, software, telecommunications, manufacturing, healthcare technology, and other industries that develop or operate complex systems.

  • What skills are important for a Director of Systems Engineering?question toggle

    Commonly valued skills include systems architecture, requirements management, integration and test, technical risk management, strategic planning, cross-functional communication, budgeting, and team leadership.

  • Where can I find Director, Systems Engineering jobs paying $100,000 or more?question toggle

    Ladders features vetted professional job opportunities paying $100,000 or more. Browse current listings to explore Director, Systems Engineering roles by employer, location, industry, and responsibilities.