Group Leader – Mission Software Architectures & Applications II

The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.; Massachusetts; On-site; USD 82,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Workplace flexibility

Employee clubs

Health and finance workshops

Off-site social events and discounts

Job summary

The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc. in Cambridge, MA, seeks a Group Leader for the Mission Software Architectures & Applications Group to guide a team of 10–20 engineers.

You will shape long-term capability development and collaborate with customers and Draper programs to deliver mission-critical software architectures. Your role emphasizes leadership, technical depth in embedded systems, and the strategic roadmaps that align with sponsor needs and national security priorities.

Qualifications

• BS / MS or equivalent degree(s) in a technically relevant engineering field with 10+ years of hands-on work and leadership.
• Experience leading medium/large teams through full lifecycle software development in embedded systems.
• Ability to communicate technical concepts effectively with customers, engineers, managers, and other stakeholders.
• Proven leadership, collaboration, and mentoring capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Manage administrative details and career development for group members.
• Convey information from management to group members.
• Lead, mentor, and evaluate performance of group members.
• Shape Draper’s technology offerings and open new business areas based on program and technical experience.
• Collaborate with customers/sponsors and Draper to develop strategic plans and roadmaps.

Skills

Communication

Technical presentation

MS Office

Team leadership

Education

BS in Engineering or related field

MS or equivalent degree

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 Mission Software Architectures & Applications Group is to provide cutting-edge solutions to mission-critical software applications. Robust, highly reliable software architectures must be designed and implemented to give the highest probability of success for the most demanding missions, and the harshest environments. The group must provide architectures for new system capabilities and enabling avionics technologies that ensure success for our sponsors’ most challenging missions. These systems include space systems, 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. The Group Leader is responsible for leading and managing a group of approximately 10 - 20 engineers who have technical and domain expertise related to the group’s focus areas and can provide the highest level of support to our customers. The continual development and advancement of Draper’s expertise for specific mission domains and system software technology is a key focus of the Group Leader. To that end, the Group Leader is expected to:

• Ensure the long-term success of the group, and its contributions to Draper, by shaping the group’s talented workforce, while maintaining and developing key, differentiating capabilities that align with customer and business needs.
• Collaborate regularly with internal group members, Draper Program Offices, Customers/Sponsors, other Draper engineering groups, and the external technical community.
• Partner with Customers/Sponsors, Draper Program Managers and subject matter experts within Draper to develop and implement strategic plans and technology roadmaps.
• Promote and direct internal and external R&D activities, including development and alignment of research proposals with technology roadmaps, collaborations with universities and direction of scholar, coop, and internships cohorts.
• Support and enable the technical and career growth of individual staff members by performing check-in reviews and annual performance reviews, as well as advocating for leadership, mentorship, and training opportunities.

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.

Additional Job Description

Required Qualifications

BS / MS or equivalent degree(s) in a technically relevant engineering field with 10+ years of both direct “hands-on” work in advanced technologies and effective leadership, in both formal and informal roles. Technical domain expertise in maturing new embedded systems technologies and implementing them in the design for advanced first-of-a-kind systems. Prior experience in leading medium and large teams through the full lifecycle development of software in the embedded systems space, preferably mission critical or safety critical systems Critical thinking skills for framing, analyzing, and synthesizing complex problems, both qualitatively and quantitatively. Ability to communicate technical concepts effectively with customers, engineers, managers, and other stakeholders of all relevant disciplines, both written and verbally. Flexibility to multi-task and adapt to evolving priorities and emergent circumstances within a program. Demonstrated skills in leadership, innovation, creativity, collaboration, and team building. Experience with conflict resolution, employee development, and mentoring.

Preferred Qualifications

Foundational experience in software and 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. Experience as a line manager of a technical organization. Interest and/or experience in new technology and market trends. Existing US Government Security Clearance.

Security Requirement

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

Job Location

Job Location - City: Cambridge

Job Location - State: Massachusetts

Job Location - Postal Code: 02139-3563

Salary

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

Benefits

• 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

Equal Opportunity

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].