Director 3 – Senior Director of Systems Engineering

Draper; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 200,000 - 353,000; Full time

Job summary

Draper in Cambridge, MA is seeking a senior engineering leader to direct a directorate of ~500 engineers responsible for System Concept Development, Architectures, and V&V, with emphasis on Digital Engineering and CI within the Vee model.

The Systems Engineering Director reports to the VP of Engineering, oversees 10–15 directors and lead engineers, and collaborates across programs to meet DoD and national security requirements.

Qualifications

• Requires 15+ years management experience within Engineering and familiarity with DoD program execution.
• Requires a Master’s Degree or higher in Engineering or other technical discipline or Business Administration with a demonstrated equivalent technical background.
• Applicants selected for this position will be required to obtain and maintain a U.S. Security Clearance.

Responsibilities

• Provide the vision and strategy to develop and maintain a high-performing organization.
• Partner with Engineering leadership and program office teams to ensure engineering and business objectives are achieved.
• Attract and retain high-potential employees to support the business; resolve resource / staffing issues.
• Identify and develop critical skills required to meet business objectives.
• Meet financial objectives (indirect expenses and labor utilization).

Skills

Program management

People leadership

Contract management

Communication skills

Travel readiness

Education

Master's Degree in Engineering or technical discipline or MBA

Job description

Overview

Draper is an independent, nonprofit research and development company headquartered in Cambridge, MA. The 2,000+ employees of Draper tackle important national challenges with a promise of delivering successful and usable solutions. From military defense and space exploration to biomedical engineering, lives often depend on the solutions we provide. Our multidisciplinary teams of engineers and scientists work in a collaborative environment that inspires the cross-fertilization of ideas necessary for true innovation. For more information about Draper, visit www.draper.com.

Job Description Summary

Draper is seeking a senior-level technical professional to lead a directorate of approximately 500 engineers working System Concept Development and Trades Analysis, System Architectures and Requirements, Software/Hardware-in-the-Loop Integration & Test, and Validation and Verification. A particular focus is incorporating Digital Engineering and Continuous Integration into the overall System Engineering development “Vee”. The Systems Engineering Director reports to the Vice President of Engineering and will have between 10-15 direct reports comprised of directors and lead engineers.

Duties/Responsibilities

Job Description

• Provide the vision and strategy to develop and maintain a high-performing organization.


• Partner with Engineering leadership and program office teams to ensure engineering and business objectives are achieved.


• Attract and retain high-potential employees to support the business; resolve resource / staffing issues.


• Identify and develop critical skills required to meet business objectives.


• Meet financial objectives (indirect expenses and labor utilization).


• Foster an atmosphere of collaboration that allows all team members to be empowered to innovate.


• Develop strategies for improving and optimizing organizational performance.


• Develop break-out opportunities and required corporate investments to secure them, develop capture plans, proposal strategies and teaming relationships in pursuit of new business.


• Develop and maintain measures related to performance, quality and affordability of Engineering solutions and lead adoption and continuous improvement activities.


• Establish goals and standards of performance, create budgets, staffing plans, and short and long-term strategic roadmaps/plans.


• Understand industry trends and best practices to ensure Draper develops and maintains the capabilities required to provide technical discriminators.

Skills/Abilities

• Strong program and people management skills.


• Knowledge and expertise in technologies aligned to the business.


• Experience managing firm fixed price contracts - in comparable leadership positions with frequent customer interaction.


• Self-starting, visionary team builder with demonstrated leadership qualities.


• Established network of contacts & government acquisition process in the intelligence community and supporting industry.


• Outstanding interpersonal, presentation and communication skills.


• Excellent understanding of the impact / role of technology on operations in: communications, collection, data analytics and cyber security.


• Flexibility for frequent travel 30%.

Education

Requires a Master's Degree or higher in Engineering or other technical discipline or Business Administration with a demonstrated equivalent technical background.

Experience

Requires 15+ years management experience within Engineering and familiarity with DoD program execution.

Additional Job Description

The ideal candidate will have a relevant degree in science or engineering with at least fifteen years of leadership experience in the application of technology to the solution of complex engineering problems. The qualified candidate must be a performance driven self-starter and have demonstrated consistently outstanding performance in his/her career, including experience achieving results through proven use of other leaders.

Applicants selected for this position will be required to obtain and maintain a U.S. Security Clearance.

Job Location - City

Cambridge

Job Location - State

Massachusetts

Job Location - Postal Code

02139-3563

The US base salary range for this full-time position is

$200,000.00 - $352,500.00

Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target salaries for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Union ranges will be in compliance with the collective bargaining agreement's approved rates by location and role. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process. Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and does not include bonuses or benefits.

Our work is very important to us, but so is our life outside of work. Draper supports many programs to improve work-life balance including workplace flexibility, employee clubs ranging from photography to yoga, health and finance workshops, off site social events and discounts to local museums and cultural activities.

Draper is committed to creating an inclusive environment. We understand the value of inclusivity and its impact on a high-performance culture. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. Draper is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, please contact [e-mail].