Group Lead - Operating Systems and Emulators

Draper Labs; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 82,300 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Workplace flexibility

Employee clubs

Health and finance workshops

Off-site social events

Museum discounts

Job summary

Draper Labs in Cambridge, MA seeks a senior leader for the Operating Systems and Emulators Group to guide RTOS selection, development, and customization for high-performance avionics applications.

You will lead a team of engineers in developing reliable, secure OS solutions tailored to mission-critical platforms and customer priorities. This role requires technical leadership and a track record of managing complex systems.

Qualifications

• Excellent communication and written skills.
• Ability to present technical material to diverse engineering audiences.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
• Strong ability to supervise a team of 10–20.

Responsibilities

• Manage administrative details and career development for group members.
• Convey relevant information from management to group members.
• Lead, mentor, build depth their area of expertise and conduct performance evaluations of group members.
• Maintain awareness of staffing requirements, write job requisitions (responsibilities and required qualifications) for hiring as required, review and disposition incoming resumes, conduct interviews.
• Serve as Lead Subject Matter Expert for Area of specialty.
• Shape Draper’s technology offerings and open new business areas based on program and technical experience.
• Analyze Draper strategy and work with management to build capability in key areas that align Draper’s capabilities with customer’s strategic priorities.

Skills

Communication skills

Technical presentation

MS Office applications

Team leadership

Education

Engineering or related discipline

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:

As part of the Software Engineering Division, the primary focus of the Operating Systems and Emulators Group is to provide leadership in RTOS selection, development and customization for optimal system performance. The group has deep expertise in multi‑core processors & GPUs, microkernels, OSAL implementation, secure boot loaders and overall system security. The group provides innovative and cutting edge solutions to the toughest embedded computer technology problems through its stewardship of Draper’s Operating System Center of Excellence. The Operating System Center of Excellence will be a national leader in the conceptualization, development, and deployment of custom real‑time operating systems that are optimized for specific processing architectures, platforms, and mission requirements.

The innovative operating systems developed by this group must be highly reliable and robust in order to architect new system capability solutions and enabling avionics technology that will ensure success for our sponsors' most challenging missions. These systems include hypersonic weapon systems, autonomous and collaborative systems, integrated air & missile defense systems, global strike and power projection in contested environments, and other systems critical for our nation's security and defense.

Job Description:

Duties/Responsibilities

• Manage administrative details and career development for group members.
• Convey relevant information from management to group members.
• Lead, mentor, build depth their area of expertise and conduct performance evaluations of group members.
• Maintain awareness of staffing requirements, write job requisitions (responsibilities and required qualifications) for hiring as required, review and disposition incoming resumes, conduct interviews.
• Serve as Lead Subject Matter Expert for Area of specialty.
• Shape Draper’s technology offerings and open new business areas based on program and technical experience.
• Analyze Draper strategy and work with management to build capability in key areas that align Draper’s capabilities with customer’s strategic priorities.

Skills/Abilities

• Excellent communication and written skills.
• Excellent ability with presenting technical material to various levels of the engineering organization and customers.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Applications.
• Strong ability to supervise a team of 10‑20.

Education

Requires a degree in Engineering or related discipline.

Experience

5‑7 years of experience in the engineering; design, development, and management of complex systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Foundational experience in operating system technologies used in guidance, navigation, and control hardware of complex systems
• Technical leadership experience, serving as a Technical Director, Task Leader, or Principal Investigator in the development of new technologies and applications.
• Experience with Earned Value Management (EVM), with direct experience in cost and schedule management of tasks.
• Experience leading or contributing to technical and cost proposals.

Security Clearance

Applicants selected for this position will be required to obtain and maintain a government security clearance. Secret Clearance is required.

Job Location

City: Cambridge

State: Massachusetts

Postal Code: 02139‑3563

Salary Range

The US base salary range for this full-time position is $82,300.00 - $220,000.00.

Benefits and Work‑Life Balance

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. If this specific job opportunity and the chance to work at a nationally renowned R&D innovation company appeals to you, apply now www.draper.com/careers.

Equal Opportunity & ADA

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].