Vice President, Land & Joint Mission Systems

Socket.dev; Calgary; On-site; CAD 260,000 - 380,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Pension plan

Flexible time off

Learning & development

Onsite parking

Employee discounts

Social clubs

Scholarship program

Job summary

General Dynamics Mission Systems-Canada seeks an accomplished executive to lead a complex international business, overseeing strategy, engagement, program execution, engineering, and operations. You will translate market and geopolitical developments into decisive actions while managing multi-year systems integration programs and security clearances.

The role requires building senior relationships with defence customers and government stakeholders, driving growth, and delivering high-performance

Qualifications

• Executive with experience leading defence, aerospace, or complex regulated engineering businesses.
• Strong commercial judgment, systems thinking, and customer insight.
• Experience delivering multi-year systems integration programs and complex governance.
• Ability to build leadership teams and foster accountability-driven cultures.

Responsibilities

• Own portfolio performance including revenue, margin, forecasting, and profitability with sustainable growth.
• Develop and execute growth strategies in defence and international opportunities.
• Provide executive oversight of global programs from concept to delivery with strong governance.
• Remove barriers and align cross-functional teams around top priorities.
• Build senior relationships with defence customers, government stakeholders, and partners.
• Advance innovation, modernization, and adoption of new delivery approaches.

Education

Engineering or Business degree

MBA (preferred)

Job description

The opportunity

As a key member of the leadership team, you will be accountable for the performance and growth of a complex international business, overseeing strategy, customer engagement, program execution, engineering, and operations.

You will set a clear direction for the portfolio, translate evolving customer, market, technology, and geopolitical developments into decisive business action, and connect capabilities across functions and regions. You will also lead the delivery of complex, multi-year systems integration programs while building trusted relationships with defence customers, government stakeholders, and industry partners in Canada and internationally.

This role calls for a visible, energetic executive who can think strategically, move with pace, and turn complexity into focused execution.

What you will lead

• Own portfolio performance, including revenue, margin, forecasting, operational outcomes, and sustainable profitability.
• Develop and execute a growth strategy that strengthens market position, advances major pursuits, and expands into adjacent and international opportunities.
• Shape investment priorities by rapidly assessing customer needs, market signals, emerging technologies, competitive dynamics, and geopolitical trends.
• Provide executive oversight of complex global programs from concept through delivery, ensuring strong governance and disciplined management of risk, quality, safety, regulatory, and contractual commitments.
• Remove barriers, accelerate decisions, and align cross-functional teams around the business’s most critical priorities.
• Build senior-level relationships with Canadian and international defence customers, government stakeholders, and strategic partners.
• Advance innovation, modernization, operational excellence, and the adoption of new technologies and delivery approaches.
• Develop a strong leadership team and foster a culture of accountability, inclusion, collaboration, resilience, and high performance.

You are an accomplished executive with experience leading a significant business, portfolio, or operating unit within defence, aerospace, or another complex, regulated engineering environment. You combine strong commercial judgement with systems thinking, customer insight, and a record of delivering results.

You will bring:

• Accountability for substantial organizational and financial performance.
• Experience leading complex systems integration programs across the full lifecycle.
• A track record of balancing profitable growth, operational performance, and program execution.
• Strong knowledge of defence acquisition, capability development, and government stakeholder environments.
• Experience navigating multinational organizations, international partnerships, and cross-border contracts.
• The ability to synthesize complex information quickly and make sound decisions in ambiguous, fast-moving situations.
• A record of building capable leadership teams, developing talent, and creating high-performance cultures.
• A degree in engineering, business, or a related discipline; an MBA or advanced degree is preferred.
• Identifies opportunities to apply AI for continuous improvement and innovation.

Leadership Profile:

• An enterprise-minded and progressive thinker with a global perspective.
• Commercially astute, financially disciplined, and oriented toward growth.
• Decisive and accountable, with a strong bias for action.
• Skilled at integrating customer, operational, technical, and market perspectives.
• A credible executive presence who can influence, motivate, and build lasting relationships.
• Energized by transformation, complexity, and the opportunity to deliver meaningful outcomes.

It is a requirement that General Dynamics Mission Systems-Canada be registered with the Canadian Controlled Goods program and that all of its workforce be security assessed. Successful applicants must meet all applicable security requirements, including but not limited to the ability to obtain and maintain a Canadian government security clearance. Applicants may be required to meet additional security requirements in order to gain access to technical data, classified areas or information that is subject to international regulations. You must be eligible to work in Canada.

The position offers a competitive base salary and performance-based bonus opportunity, reflecting the seniority, scope and impact of the role.

Benefits

As a full-time employee at General Dynamics Mission Systems-Canada, you’ll enjoy a competitive total rewards package that supports your professional and personal well-being:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and eligible dependents from day one (no cost), including flexible benefits options (HCSA) emergency travel insurance, and 24/7 virtual care services.
• Employee & Family Assistance Program (EFAP), onsite fitness facilities, and employee resource groups.
• Defined Contribution Pension Plan with employer contributions after 3 months, RRSP access from day one, and financial planning support.
• Flexible time off including vacation, holidays, parental leaves with top-up options, sick leave, and disability programs.
• Career development through learning platforms, educational assistance, mentoring, and reimbursement of professional memberships.
• Additional perks such as employee discounts, free onsite parking, social clubs, and an annual scholarship program for employees’ children.

Why join us?

• Purposeful Innovation: You’ll work on innovations that genuinely make a difference. You’ll apply advanced thinking, design expertise, and practical problem-solving to help equip military and allied forces with leading-edge systems. You’ll be surrounded by some of the brightest minds in the defence sector, contributing to next-generation technologies in an environment that celebrates creativity, new ideas, and modern solutions.
• Connection: We believe people do their best work when they feel they belong, and their ideas can flourish. Different perspectives, experiences, and ways of thinking help us innovate and grow. Strong relationships with our teammates help us unite, overcome challenges, and deliver the world-class quality we’re known for. Here, we are committed to inclusivity and ensures every individual feels valued, respected, and empowered.
• Challenging and Rewarding Career Pathways: Your career path matters to us. From mentorship and regular check-ins with your leader to educational support, professional certifications, and continuous training, you’ll have the resources you need to thrive. We encourage internal mobility so you can explore different business areas, broaden your skillset, and expand your network. You’ll be working on high-profile, impactful projects that challenge your skills, expand your expertise, and allow you to both learn from mentors and guide others along the way.

Accommodation

If you require accommodation during any stage of the application process, please contact Human Resources via [e-mail].

Closing Date

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

Build bold. Deliver impact. Win together.

At General Dynamics Mission Systems-Canada, we’re not just engineering technology - we’re shaping the future of defence and security. Our teams design and deliver advanced, mission-critical solutions that enhance national security, strengthen communities, and protect the people we serve.

If you’re looking for meaningful work that contributes to a safer, more secure world, you’ll find purpose here. Every day, your skills will directly impact programs that matter.