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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$150K - $180K *

Transform power generation strategies by leading innovative solutions and optimizing energy contracts. Drive collaboration across teams to enhance project management and accelerate market readiness fo...

United StatesRemote

4 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$120K - $160K *

Join a team that's committed to enhancing our cybersecurity and GRC programs. You'll drive initiatives across risk management, compliance, and operational security, playing a vital role in strengtheni...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$185K - $344K *

Champion the evolution of field intelligence capabilities, driving strategic governance and analytics integration to enhance decision-making and execution support across the organization, ensuring ali...

United StatesRemote

Today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$135K - $160K *

Champion the delivery of innovative data solutions, leading cross-functional teams to modernize platforms and drive AI integration. Ensure project success through effective management of scope, qualit...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$135K - $160K *

Inspire delivery excellence by leading a diverse portfolio of 20+ Scrum teams across regions. Align engineering outcomes with client priorities, enhance AI adoption, and drive measurable value through...

CanadaRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$186K - $353K *

Unlock potential by leading enterprise learning initiatives that drive impact across a global workforce. Collaborate with stakeholders to shape strategic priorities, enhance learning technologies, and...

Colorado, USRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$100K - $166K *

Champion project execution and risk management in complex energy infrastructure, driving operational efficiency and digital innovation while collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance projec...

United StatesRemote

4 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Business Services

$130K - $160K *

Transform program execution by coordinating large-scale data center initiatives, ensuring alignment across stakeholders, managing risks, and driving milestones to successful completion while fostering...

United StatesRemote

Yesterday

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Business Services

$125K - $150K *

Transform complex product concepts into intuitive user experiences across various platforms. Collaborate in a high-ownership role, focusing on enterprise design that meets diverse user needs while ens...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$120K - $160K *

Join a dynamic team to lead large-scale NetSuite projects, enhancing client experiences through strategic project management and collaboration. Utilize your expertise in pre-sales and implementation t...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$165K - $295K *

Join a team that's redefining application security. In this pivotal role, you'll shape vulnerability management and mentor engineers, driving innovation and ensuring the safety of diverse cloud and Io...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$165K - $295K *

Lead the evolution of our application security programs, driving vulnerability management and automation across a multi-product environment while mentoring teams and influencing security strategies to...

New York, NYRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$165K - $295K *

Pioneer innovative application security strategies and vulnerability management programs, driving impactful change in a high-visibility role that balances broad influence with deep technical expertise...

Dallas, TXRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$125K - $190K *

Accelerate progress at a leading Customer Success team, driving renewal outcomes and enhancing team effectiveness through innovative engagement strategies and AI-driven solutions for a diverse portfol...

United StatesRemote

5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$165K - $295K *

Transform the landscape of application security by leading vulnerability management and developing innovative solutions across cloud, IoT, and corporate systems, while mentoring teams and ensuring the...

Seattle, WARemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$80K - $100K *

Lead the charge in delivering enterprise software implementation projects, managing scope, budget, and relationships, while driving innovation using AI technologies to enhance efficiency and client sa...

RemoteRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$160K - $200K *

Drive innovation by designing and developing scalable backend services, collaborating closely with engineering teams to enhance platform performance and reliability while mentoring junior developers a...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Transportation

$142K - $236K *

Join a team that's redefining supply chain strategies for high-volume and low-volume space programs. Leverage your expertise in procurement and supplier management to drive efficiency and reliability...

Palo Alto, CARemote

Today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$150K - $180K *

Unlock potential by leading our Site Reliability Engineering team, ensuring the reliability and performance of our cloud-native platform. Drive technical excellence, cultivate a high-performance cultu...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 4 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$100K - $120K *

Execute comprehensive program management for a critical Air Force contract, leading a diverse team to ensure compliance, quality, and performance across multiple global operations while maintaining 24...

United StatesRemote

5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$180K - $230K *

Lead the charge in strategic financial planning and analysis, driving insights and recommendations for executive leadership. Oversee forecasting, reporting, and team development to enhance business pe...

Georgia, USRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$103K - $181K *

Optimize document control processes by leading the Information Branch, ensuring accurate and accessible records management for a major industrial program while coordinating with various stakeholders a...

United StatesRemote

4 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$82K - $110K *

Transform the productivity landscape by administering and enhancing Microsoft 365 services, including SharePoint, Teams, and Power Platform. Collaborate with teams to deliver scalable solutions and su...

United StatesRemote

4 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$106K - $150K *

Unlock potential by providing expert operational support for Windows environments. Manage complex incidents, ensure service availability, and collaborate across teams to enhance customer experiences i...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$100K - $140K *

Lead the charge in transforming healthcare through cloud solutions, driving modernization and interoperability initiatives. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to design secure, scalable Azure arc...

Texas, USRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

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.