Chief Technology Officer (CTO) - Defense Software and Services Company, Camas, WA

Acumen Executive Search; Camas (WA); On-site; USD 240,000 - 320,000; Full time

Job summary

PLEXSYS, a defense software and services company, seeks a Chief Technology Officer in Camas, WA to lead engineering, production, IT, and security. You will drive the technology strategy, software sustainment, and innovation across the organization, reporting to executive leadership and working with the CEO and board as needed.

This executive role requires transforming software delivery, guiding AI integration, and building scalable teams across regulated environments.

Qualifications

• 10+ years leading software development in a senior role.
• Deep knowledge of Live, Virtual, and Constructive (LVC) training frameworks and integration.
• Experience managing large R&D budgets and resource allocation.
• Ability to translate complex technical concepts into actionable business insights for leadership.
• Proven track record building high-performing engineering teams.
• Willingness to travel up to 25% for customer/review meetings.
• Must be able to obtain TS/SCI clearance.

Responsibilities

• Ensure innovation is a persistent tenet and align with company values.
• Implement programs addressing industry compliance issues.
• Promote engineering recruiting, development, and retention of top teams.
• Provide ongoing opportunities for feedback on processes, programs, products, and operations.
• Oversee budgeting for Production and IT services and ensure effective execution.
• Lead development of patentable technologies and maintain competitive advantage.

Skills

Leadership 10+ yrs

LVC Training

Tech-to-Biz insights

KPIs & metrics

AI/ML integration

Change management

Cross-team collaboration

Customer engagement

Education

B.S. in Computer Science

MS/MBA preferred

Tools

HLA

DIS

Cloud-native architectures

Edge computing

Job description

Chief Technology Officer (CTO) - Defense Software and Services Company, Camas, WA

Acumen is honored to partner with PLEXSYS, a software and services organization, to find their next Chief Technology Officer. PLEXSYS is a modeling and simulation (M&S) software company with over 40 years of delivering Live, Virtual, and Constructive (LVC) training readiness solutions and innovation for customers worldwide. Today, PLEXSYS has over 200 employees spread across 15 states and 4 countries. They are dedicated to enhancing training experiences every day, everywhere.

The PLEXSYS culture is one of collaboration, transparency, and is customer driven. Being an ESOP, they have enjoyed long-tenured employees and a great working environment, with a hint of humility. They are in the “Goldilocks” size: large enough to have many contracts (financially sound) but small enough to be agile and customer-facing. Starting in 2027, PLEXSYS will be implementing EOS framework. This is the time to come in and be part of the Executive Team, to usher in the next evolution.

If You:

• Are a technology executive who can connect engineering strategy, product innovation, customer needs, and business performance
• Have led or materially transformed software development and customer delivery systems
• Know how to build, develop, and retain high-performing engineering and technology teams
• Can guide the responsible integration of AI and other emerging technologies into future product generations
• Bring strong change management skills and can lead effectively across technical and business teams
• Can translate complex technical issues into clear, actionable insights for the CEO, Board of Directors, customers, and other non-technical stakeholders
• Are comfortable operating in a defense, government, or highly regulated technology environment

Then, this may be the next leadership opportunity for you.

Position Overview

The Chief Technology Officer will provide executive leadership and strategic direction for corporate engineering, Production, IT, Security, and technology-driven initiatives across PLEXSYS and its subsidiaries. The CTO will shape and execute the company's technology strategy, strengthen software development and sustainment, and ensure innovation, technical excellence, quality, and PLEXSYS core values remain foundational across the organization.

Working closely with the CEO and other corporate leaders, the CTO will contribute to strategic planning, market strategy, proposal development, and customer engagement. This leader will oversee enterprise technology governance, compliance, testing and quality assurance, fiscal stewardship, and the long-term viability and competitiveness of PLEXSYS products and services.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure innovation is a persistent tenet, and PLEXSYS core values are foundational to all software development/sustainment throughout PLEXSYS and its subsidiaries
• Implement effective programs and solutions to address industry compliance issues
• Promote sound engineering recruiting, professional development, and retention of world-class software engineering teams across PLEXSYS and its subsidiaries
• Promote regular and ongoing opportunities for all staff to give feedback on engineering processes, programs, products, and operations
• Ensure that all engineering activities operate consistently and ethically within the mission and values of the corporation
• Manage and approve the Production and IT services annual operating budgets, approve deviations, and ensure effective execution
• Oversee the development of patentable technologies and maintain the company’s competitive advantage through innovation
• Forecast technological shifts and align the company’s R&D efforts with long-term market needs
• Oversee the strategic direction and governance of corporate Security and IT programs, ensuring enterprise data protection and compliance with applicable framework requirements (e.g., NIST, CMMC, etc.)
• Lead the enterprise-wide Software Testing and Quality Assurance functions to ensure product reliability, compliance, and continuous improvement
• Ensure the continued financial viability of the corporation’s products, programs, and service units through sound fiscal management
• Provide programmatic leadership and input for all strategic planning processes with the CEO, corporate officers, and staff
• Provide effective and inspiring leadership, as well as stewardship, of corporate engineering
• Actively involved in all PLEXSYS programs, products, support, and services
• Perform other duties, as assigned

Qualifications

Candidate Profile

We welcome candidates whose experience demonstrates the core requirements below, even if they do not match every preferred qualification. This executive role requires a record of building or materially transforming technology, customer delivery systems, and incorporating AI/AI-enabled technologies for future product generations. Live, Virtual, and Constructive (LVC) training experience is preferred, with defense technology sector experience a plus. The ability to lead across business and technical teams, including change management experience, is a must.

Required Experience and Capabilities

• Approximately 10 or more years of experience in managing software development in a senior leadership role.
• Deep understanding of Live, Virtual, and Constructive (LVC) training frameworks and the integration of these disparate elements
• Experience managing large-scale R&D budgets, resource allocation, and cost-benefit analysis for new technology acquisitions
• The ability to translate complex technical concepts into actionable business insights for the CEO, Board of Directors, and non-technical stakeholders
• Strong relationship builder and communicator with experience leading diverse software development teams, developing and implementing strategies for successful software product releases, and engaging customers to ensure deliveries meet or exceed requirements
• Demonstrated examples of identifying, reporting, and measuring KPIs
• Ability to travel periodically for meetings with current and potential customers (up to 25%)

Education and Experience

• Bachelor of Science in Computer Science or equivalent. Master of Science and/or MBA is preferred
• Expertise in industry-standard protocols such as HLA (High Level Architecture) and DIS (Distributed Interactive Simulation) is preferred
• Proficiency in guiding the integration of AI/ML (Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning), Edge Computing, and Cloud-native architectures into simulation environment is a plus
• Maintain and adjust resources and budget of Engineering assigned programs, projects, and products
• MUST BE ABLE TO OBTAIN TOP SECRET/SCI CLEARANCE

Leadership Characteristics

• Strategic and enterprise-minded, with the ability to connect technology decisions to business and customer outcomes
• Innovative and forward-looking, while remaining pragmatic about execution, resources, risk, and delivery
• Collaborative and influential, with the confidence to work across executive, technical, operational, and customer groups
• A clear communicator who can make complex technical concepts understandable and actionable
• A strong relationship builder who develops people, encourages candid feedback, and creates accountability
• Customer-driven, ethical, and aligned with PLEXSYS values

Compensation and Benefits

As an employee-owned company, PLEXSYS offers opportunities for advancement based on performance, competitive wages, valuable benefits, and a working environment designed to help employees achieve their personal and professional goals.

• Medical, vision, prescription, and dental benefits
• Life, AD&D, and long-term disability coverage
• Paid holidays, military leave, and paid time off
• 401(k) plan with eligibility beginning on the first day of employment
• Education reimbursement for job-related courses for full-time employees
• Annual Price Club, Costco, or Sam's Club membership

Keywords

Chief Technology Officer, CTO, Chief Technical Officer, VP Engineering, Vice President of Engineering, VP Technology, Vice President of Technology, VP Software Engineering, SVP Engineering, SVP Technology, Head of Engineering, Director of Engineering, Chief Engineer, Technical Director, LVC, Live Virtual Constructive, HLA, High Level Architecture, DIS, Distributed Interactive Simulation, modeling and simulation, defense software, AI, machine learning, edge computing, cloud-native architecture, NIST, CMMC, cybersecurity, Top Secret, TS/SCI.