Engineering Manager

Karman Space & Defense; Mukilteo (WA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Health Savings Account (HSA)

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

Company‑paid life and AD&D insurance

Disability coverage

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Karman Space & Defense seeks an experienced engineering leader to consolidate labor demand, coordinate resource allocation, and drive proactive hiring across multiple programs. You will partner with technical experts to ensure scheduling integrity and program alignment.

The role emphasizes staff development, qualification management, and translating complex engineering requests into actionable work packages to meet program priorities.

Qualifications

• B.S. in Engineering is required.
• 5+ years of engineering leadership experience, including at least 2 years in aerospace/engineering.
• Experience in resource planning, scheduling, and managing technical staff.
• Ability to manage data-driven scheduling across multiple concurrent programs.
• Experience supporting staff career growth while balancing program needs.
• Ability to route design sign-off, waivers, and contested technical decisions.
• Experience translating ambiguous engineering requests into scoped work packages.

Responsibilities

• Leads consolidation of labor demand across programs to create a unified view of needs.
• Coordinates functional resource allocation balancing workload and program priorities.
• Acts as traffic control for resource requests to prevent scheduling issues.
• Drives proactive hiring by identifying staffing gaps from demand data.
• Partners with technical experts to schedule, track, and maintain engineering standards and training.
• Manages qualification tracking for new hires and transfers.

Skills

Engineering leadership

Resource planning

Scheduling

Staff management

Career development

Data-driven scheduling

Design sign-off routing

Education

B.S. in Engineering

Job description

Karman Space & Defense is a leader in the rapid design, development, and production of critical, next-generation system solutions that align with the U.S. Department of War and its allies’ core mission priorities, and meet the accelerating demand for access to space. Building on nearly 50 years of success, we deliver Payload & Protection Systems, Aero/Hydrodynamic Interstage Systems, and Propulsion & Launch Systems to more than 80 prime contractors supporting over 130 space and defense programs.

Schedule

• This role follows a 9/80 schedule, with 9-hour shifts Monday through Thursday, an 8-hour shift every other Friday, and the alternating Friday off.

Responsibilities

• Leads consolidation of labor demand across programs to create a unified view of committed, requested, and open needs.
• Coordinates functional resource allocation, balancing workload, program priorities, and individual career development goals.
• Acts as traffic control for resource requests by sequencing work, identifying conflicts, and preventing reactive scheduling issues.
• Drives proactive hiring by identifying staffing gaps using consolidated demand data.
• Partners with technical experts to schedule, track, and maintain engineering standards and training for the functional group.
• Manages qualification tracking for new hires and transfers, ensuring progression through the qualification ladder.
• Supports programs by breaking down engineering requests into scoped, staffable work packages.
• Works with program leads to define realistic schedule and effort expectations before commitments are made.
• Identifies required skill sets for tasks and routes ambiguous technical requests to the appropriate expert.
• Provides direct people management, including goal-setting, coaching, performance reviews, onboarding support, and routine administrative oversight.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Engineering.
• 5 or more years of engineering leadership experience, including at least 2 years in aerospace or engineering.
• Demonstrated experience in resource planning, scheduling, and managing technical staff.
• Ability to manage data-driven scheduling across multiple concurrent programs.
• Experience supporting staff career growth while balancing program needs.
• Ability to partner with technical experts to route design sign-off, waivers, and contested technical decisions appropriately.
• Experience helping programs translate ambiguous engineering requests into scoped work packages.

Preferred Qualifications

• Discipline-specific technical depth that supports partnership with technical experts.

This position requires U.S. person status under U.S. export control laws, including U.S. citizens and nationals, lawful permanent residents, refugees, and asylees.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off
• Health Savings Account (HSA) with company contribution
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Company‑paid life and AD&D insurance
• Short‑and long‑term disability coverage
• Tuition reimbursement

Karman Space and Defense is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.