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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1
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$162K - $224K *

Elevate healthcare solutions by driving business development in neurodegenerative disease pathways. Collaborate with health systems and stakeholders to identify needs, develop strategies, and create i...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$140K - $150K *

Join a team that's driving strategic project execution and mentoring talent. Leverage advanced data analytics to build impactful dashboards and navigate stakeholder relationships, ensuring alignment w...

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2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$110K - $130K *

Elevate incident response capabilities by developing dashboards and alerts, optimizing cloud performance, and ensuring security compliance. Collaborate with product teams to enhance IAM needs while dr...

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6 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$90K - $120K *

Innovate and enhance platform operations as a technical expert, driving implementation and administration of HaloPSA. Collaborate with teams to streamline processes, improve visibility, and ensure sea...

Napa, CARemote

6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $215K *

Engage in driving AI-powered customer advocacy by optimizing content strategies and enhancing operational efficiency. Lead cross-functional initiatives to amplify customer success stories and strength...

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5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $180K *

Drive mobile engineering excellence across diverse product teams, ensuring strategic direction, fostering collaboration, and enhancing delivery. Lead managers, shape architecture, and cultivate a prod...

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1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$68K - $143K *

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Today

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$150K - $180K *

Elevate our go-to-market capabilities by owning the technology ecosystem, driving automation, and building scalable solutions that enhance the commercial lifecycle from pre-sales to renewals. Lead a s...

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1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$92K - $166K *

Elevate your career by managing a dynamic engineering team to design electric distribution systems, ensuring high-quality project deliverables while fostering client relationships and team collaborati...

Framingham, MARemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$132K - $251K *

Join a team that's redefining data governance through innovative integration and automation solutions. Collaborate across functions to design scalable architectures that enhance data management capabi...

North Carolina, USRemote

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$95K - $115K *

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Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$110K - $130K *

Optimize onboarding excellence by designing impactful programs that accelerate new sales hires' productivity and ramp times in a high-growth tech environment. Collaborate across teams to ensure practi...

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Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$138K - $185K *

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Toronto, ONRemote

1 week ago

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$135K - $160K *

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  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$135K - $160K *

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Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$104K - $173K *

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Today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$150K - $180K *

Optimize quality operations for large-scale data pipelines, ensuring high standards and consistency across diverse datasets. Lead a team to enhance efficiency and reliability in audio data processing...

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2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$145K - $160K *

Accelerate product development by managing the software lifecycle, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and driving strategic initiatives to enhance user experience and meet stakeholder needs...

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4 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$175K - $190K *

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4 days ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$125K - $140K *

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Ottawa, ONRemote

1 week ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$125K - $150K *

Engage with policymakers and business leaders to drive revenue opportunities. Shape go-to-market strategies and government affairs initiatives, connecting teams to leverage policy insights for impactf...

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2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$76K - $115K *

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1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$160K - $200K *

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1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$160K - $200K *

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1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$107K - $204K *

Drive procurement excellence by managing supplier relationships and compliance, overseeing complex procurements, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure successful program execution an...

Arizona, USRemote

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

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.