Chief Engineer

Sierra Nevada Corporation; Plano (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical plans

Dental plans

Vision plans

401(k) with 150% match up to 6%

Life insurance

3 weeks paid time off

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Sierra Nevada Corp seeks a Chief Engineer to lead technical direction across multiple programs in the Mission Solutions and Technologies (MST) area. You will guide architecture, baselines, and lifecycle activities for ELINT/ESM and SIGINT systems, interfacing with customers and stakeholders worldwide.

Role requires extensive defense engineering experience, Top Secret/SCI eligibility, and strong leadership, strategic planning, and proposal expertise.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Aerospace, or related field.
• 14+ years engineering experience with 8+ years in a leadership role.
• Deep understanding of ELINT/ESM principles, RF system design, DSP, and sensor integration.
• Hands-on experience in system engineering lifecycle for ELINT/ESM products.
• Experience with RF cascade analysis for complex RF systems.
• Experience with threat databases used for ESM intelligence libraries.
• Knowledge of Radar parameter measurements and measurement techniques.
• Experience with hardware/software integration and real-time embedded systems (C4ISR).
• Active Top Secret/SCI clearance and ability to obtain/maintain it.
• Proven leadership, strategic planning, and cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership across the product lifecycle from concept to release.
• Develop and maintain product baselines to support multiple programs.
• Oversee technology projects ensuring alignment with strategy and customer requirements.
• Review and approve proposal technical and cost volumes.
• Provide operational guidance to Project Engineers.
• Interface with customers to shape requirements during pursuit phases.
• Support program and technical reviews with guidance on solution synthesis.

Skills

Technical leadership

System engineering

ELINT/ESM

C4ISR

RF design

Threat databases

Mentoring teams

Strategic planning

Budget oversight

Proposal development

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

RF analysis tools

Embedded systems development

MIL-STD compliance

Job description

Join our team as a Chief Engineer and lead the charge in innovation and efficiency. Leverage cutting-edge technology and your unparalleled expertise to drive our projects beyond the boundaries of possibility. As a Chief Engineer you will play a pivotal role in providing technical leadership, guidance, and oversight throughout the product development lifecycle. You will be responsible for maintaining technical baselines, ensuring consistency across multiple programs, and providing input on technical investment needs and staffing forecasts. Additionally, you will review and approve proposals and provide operational guidance to project engineers. The Mission Solutions and Technologies (MST) business area provides affordable, turn-key command/control, communications, integrated ISR, force protection and security solutions worldwide. The MST team has a long legacy of supporting the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, commercial and international customers with years of experience in platform operations, engineering and full lifecycle management across domains - air, land, sea, space and cyber.

Responsibilities

• Technical Leadership Provide technical guidance and oversight throughout the product lifecycle, from concept design to final release.
• Technical Baseline Management Develop and maintain product line technical baselines that support multiple programs, ensuring consistency, continuity, and configuration control.
• Project Oversight Oversee and manage technology projects, ensuring alignment with business unit strategy and customer requirements.
• Proposal Review Review and approve proposal technical and cost volumes to ensure alignment with company standards and customer expectations.
• Operational Guidance Provide operational guidance to Project Engineers, ensuring technical alignment and project goal achievement.
• Customer Interface Interface with customers to shape requirements and provide technical support during early pursuit phases.
• Technical Reviews Support program and technical reviews, providing guidance on technical solution synthesis.

Qualifications You Must Have

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Aerospace, or a related field.
• 14+ years of engineering experience with at least 8+ years in a leadership role.
• Higher level relevant degree may substitute for experience.
• Deep understanding of ELINT/ESM principles, architectures, and technologies, including RF system design, digital signal processing, and sensor integration
• Hands-on experience in system engineering lifecycle (requirements analysis, design, integration, verification, and validation) for ELINT/ESM products
• Experience performing RF cascade analysis for complex RF systems
• Experience analyzing threat databases used for ESM intelligence libraries
• Extensive knowledge of Radar parameter measurements and measurement techniques
• Experience with hardware/software integration, real-time embedded systems, and C4ISR systems
• Knowledge of relevant military standards and compliance (e.g., MIL-STD-461, 810, 704, 882)
• Minimum 10+ years of systems engineering experience, with at least 5 years in Electronic Intelligence (ELINT), Electronic Support Measures (ESM), Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), or related defense electronic warfare fields
• Proven track record of successfully delivering complex, mission-critical ELINT/ESM or SIGINT systems or products to government or defense customers
• The ability to obtain and maintain a Secret U.S. Security Clearance is required
• Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, and develop high-performing engineering teams
• Experience in strategic planning, resource management, and budget oversight for large-scale engineering programs
• Proven ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams (program management, business development, manufacturing, quality, and customer stakeholders)
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills; able to represent engineering to executive leadership and external customers
• Demonstrated experience in proposal development, technical writing, and customer briefings
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally as required

Qualifications We Prefer

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field
• 8-10 years relevant leadership and/or project management experience
• Familiarity with industry standards and regulations in the Aerospace and Defense sector
• Experience with advanced engineering tools and methodologies
• Proven leadership abilities inclusive of successful change management, mentoring, career development, training, succession planning, holding people accountable, and conducting yearly reviews
• Previous management experience; ability to recruit employees; assign, direct, and evaluate their work; and oversee staffing development and maintenance
• Demonstrated passion for ideation and innovation, as well as motivating others to act by creating a shared sense of vision or purpose
• Background in the Aerospace and Defense Industry, the US Department of Defense (Civilian), NASA/Civil or commercial space and/or US Military, with an understanding of defense, aerospace, intelligence, and adjacent markets
• Prior experience working directly with military or intelligence agencies
• Active Top Secret/SCI clearance
• Experience applying AI tools and techniques to ESM processing

Essential Functions

• Ability to lift up to 10 pounds occasionally
• Prolonged periods of working on a computer
• Hand and finger dexterity for computer use
• Occasional travel to customer or field locations may be required
• Capability to work in potentially hazardous environments when visiting project sites

Compensation and Benefits

• Annual incentive pay based upon performance that is commensurate with the level of the position
• Medical plans
• Dental plans
• Vision plans
• 401(k) with 150% match up to 6%
• Life insurance
• 3 weeks paid time off
• Tuition reimbursement
• and more

This posting will be open for application for a minimum of 5 days and may be extended based on business needs.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This position requires current/active Top Secret with SCI eligibility U.S. Security Clearance.

U.S. Citizenship status is required as this position needs an active U.S. Security Clearance for employment. Non-U.S. Citizens may not be eligible to obtain a security clearance.

The Department of Defense Consolidated Adjudications Facility (DoD CAF), a federal government agency, handles the adjudicative aspects of the security clearance eligibility process for industry applicants. Adjudicative factors which affect the outcome of the eligibility determination include, but are not limited to, allegiance to the U.S., foreign influence, foreign preference, criminal conduct, security violations and illegal drug use. Learn more about the background check process for Security Clearances.

SNC is a global leader in aerospace and national security committed to moving the American Dream forward. We’re known and respected for our mission and execution focus, agility, and disruptive and rapid innovation. We provide leading edge technologies and transformative solutions that support our nation’s most critical security needs. If you are mission-focused, thrive in collaborative environments, and want to make our country stronger with state-of-the-art technologies that safeguard freedom, join our team! SNC is a Equal Opportunity Employer committed to an environment free of discrimination. Employment decisions are made based on merit without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran or other characteristics protected by law.

SNC is a trusted global leader in aerospace and national security. Our innovative solutions enable connected protection through command, control and communications systems, as well as ISR, cyber, electromagnetic spectrum management, and other high capabilities for systems across all domains - sea, land, air, space and cyber.

As a longstanding leader in defense technology, SNC is the optimum intersection of commercial, defense and non-traditional contractors. We are one of the only privately owned mid-tier A&D contractors and we pride ourselves on our ability to invest early and often to ensure mission success on or ahead of schedule. It’s part of our mission to always stay one step ahead; working on solutions today to solve the problems of tomorrow.

Founded in 1963, SNC is owned by Chairwoman Eren Ozmen and CEO Fatih Ozmen.