Forward Deployed AI Manager

Sierra Nevada Corporation; Englewood (CO); Hybrid; USD 165,000 - 227,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

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

Life insurance

PTO 3 weeks

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Sierra Nevada Corporation is seeking an Engineering Manager II in the United States, Colorado. You will lead a multi-disciplinary team of AI engineers and business advisors to deliver AI solutions to business users.

You will build delivery schedules, manage budgets, and drive AI-driven innovations aligned with strategic goals. The role requires 6+ years in software/AI engineering with at least 2 years in people management, plus a strong understanding of AI development principles and safety

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in a related field.
• 6+ years of progressive software or AI engineering experience, including 2+ years in people or team management.
• Thorough understanding of software and AI development principles and practices.
• Experience with AI/LLM platforms, tools, or automation technologies and how they apply to business problems.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a multi-disciplinary team of AI engineers and business advisors to deliver AI solutions to business users.
• Develop and maintain delivery schedules for AI tools and solutions.
• Monitor and control project costs to stay within budget.
• Drive development and implementation of AI-driven solutions to complex business problems.
• Ensure AI development activities comply with security, data, and engineering standards.
• Mentor and develop staff, promoting continuous improvement and growth.
• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration between engineering, business units, and platform leadership.
• Present status, adoption, and ROI updates to senior management, translating progress into business outcomes.

Skills

AI engineering

team management

project management

Education

Bachelor's of Science degree in a related discipline

Job description

Are you dreaming about a position where you can deliver quality, meaningful results? Come be a part of our diverse, multi-disciplined team of engineers, operating in an agile environment, using the latest tools and methodologies. Develop your technical acumen as well as your leadership skills at a company with huge potential for long‑term career growth. As an Engineering Manager II, you will enhance functional team performance through advanced technical leadership and problem‑solving. By building high‑performing teams, you will drive innovation and successful project outcomes. Your expertise in project management and risk assessment will efficiently manage complex projects, optimize resources, and mitigate risks. You will focus on process improvements, ensuring efficiency and compliance with standards. Through cross‑functional collaboration and innovation management, you will align our initiatives with strategic goals. Your analytical thinking and A&D regulatory knowledge will ensure our solutions are both innovative and compliant. As SNC's corporate team, we provide the company and its business areas with strategic direction and business support spanning executive management, finance and accounting, operations, human resources, legal, IT, information security, facilities, marketing, and communications.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a multi-disciplinary team of AI engineers and business advisors to deliver AI solutions into the hands of business users.
• Develop and maintain delivery schedules, ensuring timely delivery of AI tools and solutions to business teams.
• Monitor and control project costs to stay within budget.
• Drive the development and implementation of AI‑driven solutions to complex business problems.
• Ensure all AI development activities comply with applicable security, data, and engineering standards.
• Mentor and develop engineering and advisory staff, promoting continuous improvement and professional growth.
• Facilitate cross‑functional collaboration between engineering, business domain teams, and platform leadership.
• Present rolled up status, adoption, and ROI updates to senior management, and translate technical progress into business outcomes for domain stakeholders.
• Build and maintain direct relationships with business domain leaders to generate new AI opportunities.
• Own the handoff between use case discovery and engineering delivery, keeping the pipeline of business asks moving into shipped tools.

Qualifications You Must Have

• Bachelor's of Science degree in a related discipline
• Typically, 6+ years of progressive software or AI engineering experience, which includes 2+ years of people or team management experience.
• Thorough understanding of software and AI development principles and practices.
• Experience with AI/LLM platforms, tools, or automation technologies and how they apply to business problems.
• Ability to work in multi‑disciplinary teams that include both engineers and business‑facing advisors.

Qualifications We Prefer

• Previous management experience; exposure to recruiting employees; assigning, directing, and evaluating their work; and overseeing the development and maintenance of staff competence
• Experience with identifying and coordinating resources to ensure the required tools, processes, and training are available/effective and programs are staffed and supported to achieve success
• Understanding of how to prepare project schedules, budgets, bids, and estimates for proposed program work packages
• Background in the Aerospace and Defense Industry is a plus, but not required if the candidate has a strong AI or business delivery background.
• Ability to motivate/work with others Prior exposure to working successfully in a highly collaborative, fast‑paced environment emphasizing rapid prototyping and fielding of capabilities, with minimal supervision Experience presenting to and building buy‑in with non‑technical executives or business unit leaders.

Essential Functions

• Must be able to work in an office environment or hybrid setting.
• Ability to travel as required (up to 10% of the time).
• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Ability to lift up to 15 pounds occasionally.
• Clearly convey technical information, design specifications, and project updates to team members, stakeholders, and management.
• Ability to understand technical documents, schematics, and electronic instrument measurements.
• Ability to work with and collaboratively lead teams of engineers.

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

Estimated Starting Salary Range

Estimated Starting Salary Range: $165,010.21 - $226,889.04. Compensation varies depending on a wide array of factors, such as candidates' key skills, relevant work experience, and education/training/certifications. The disclosed range estimate may be adjusted for any applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled. SNC offers annual incentive pay based upon performance that is commensurate with the level of the position. SNC offers a generous benefit package, including medical, dental, and vision plans, 401(k) with 150% match up to 6%, life insurance, 3 weeks paid time off, tuition reimbursement, and more.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

To conform to U.S. Government international trade regulations, applicant must be a U.S. Citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State or U.S. Department of Commerce. Learn more about the background check process for Security Clearances.

About SNC

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 an 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.