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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$220K - $310K *

Champion the evolution of enterprise business systems, leading a dynamic team to enhance partner and employee experiences across critical functions. Drive product strategy and ensure seamless integrat...

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$210K - $280K *

Drive your career with strategic leadership in cell therapy program management, overseeing complex R&D initiatives and cross-functional collaboration to achieve key milestones in autoimmune indication...

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$108K - $130K *

Champion advanced systems security engineering to enhance USAF weapon systems, ensuring robust cybersecurity and resilience throughout the acquisition life cycle while collaborating with diverse teams...

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$110K - $130K *

Transform data center operations by overseeing the technical delivery and integration of advanced automation systems, ensuring cybersecurity and operational integrity while collaborating with diverse...

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$97K - $146K *

Champion the design and management of cloud network infrastructure, ensuring the availability and functionality of applications while collaborating with cross-functional teams to drive secure, reliabl...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$120K - $145K *

Empower your career by leading a dynamic software engineering team. Drive project success, streamline processes, and support sales initiatives while staying ahead of industry trends in Building Automa...

5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$170K - $220K *

Drive the future of medical robotics by framing solutions to complex design challenges, integrating systems, and collaborating across teams to enhance surgical technology and improve clinical outcomes...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$184K - $276K *

Lead transformative systems engineering efforts, driving cross-discipline integration and innovation for air and sea platforms. Collaborate with diverse teams to ensure compliance and deliver cutting...

Yesterday

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$100K - $120K *

Lead strategic program initiatives, coordinating efforts across multiple stakeholders while ensuring successful execution of Navy modernization objectives through planning, direction, and resource all...

4 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$130K - $260K *

Build and manage Cisco SANs, configure settings, and ensure optimal operations. Collaborate with teams to enhance storage systems in VMware environments while addressing security protocols and mainten...

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$130K - $260K *

Lead the design and maintenance of secure systems in diverse environments, ensuring they meet enterprise-scale requirements while driving automation and compliance. Collaborate on strategic A&A activi...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$180K - $325K *

Transform missile assembly operations by leading strategic initiatives, ensuring safety, efficiency, and compliance while fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement across multiple p...

5 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$108K - $203K *

Take ownership of advanced systems integration and testing, leading efforts in developing and verifying cutting-edge technologies for defense applications. Collaborate across teams to ensure successfu...

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$230K - $290K *

Lead the strategy and architecture for physical AI and robotics, driving innovation in autonomous operations and systems integration across enterprise environments. Oversee multidisciplinary teams to...

6 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$104K - $194K *

Elevate your career by overseeing information system security operations, ensuring compliance, and maintaining system integrity. Collaborate with teams to implement security policies and conduct audit...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$183K - $240K *

Join us to lead a global field service organization, driving operational excellence and customer satisfaction while managing a diverse team across multiple regions to enhance service delivery and supp...

CanadaRemote

Today

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$128K - $189K *

Drive engineering excellence by leading cross-regional teams to deliver innovative platform integrations, ensuring high-quality, scalable solutions that align with strategic business goals in a dynami...

3 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Business Services

$128K - $189K *

Drive engineering excellence by leading cross-regional teams to deliver innovative platform integrations, ensuring high-quality, scalable solutions that align with strategic business goals in a dynami...

3 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Business Services

$152K - $262K *

Lead the charge in strategic and operational excellence for Clinical Engineering across multiple campuses, ensuring compliance, safety, and quality in medical equipment management while fostering a cu...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$120K - $145K *

Optimize complex software systems by providing senior technical leadership in engineering, development, and integration. Collaborate on architecture and automation solutions using low-code/no-code pla...

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$308K - $417K *

Join a team that's redefining data infrastructure by leading engineering efforts to enhance accessibility, reliability, and scalability. Drive transformation and build a world-class team to support AI...

2 weeks ago

  •   15+ years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$104K - $160K *

Drive innovation by collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance AWS infrastructure. You'll solve complex challenges, ensuring optimal performance and reliability while promoting an inclusive...

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Retail & Consumer Goods

$153K - $230K *

Drive technical excellence and team leadership in software engineering, overseeing project delivery and fostering employee development while contributing to algorithm design and software lifecycle man...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$161K - $241K *

Lead the charge in managing a dynamic Systems Engineering team, overseeing technical project execution and functional leadership while fostering a culture of inclusion and high performance across mult...

5 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$110K - $130K *

Manage the end-to-end delivery of network deployment projects across multiple sites, ensuring timely execution and coordination among field teams, vendors, and engineering functions in a fast-paced en...

CanadaRemote

Today

  •   5 - 7 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.