Group Leader-System Validation, Deployment, and Surveillance

Draper Labs; Titusville (FL); On-site; USD 95,000 - 245,000; Full time

Job summary

Draper Labs is seeking a Group Leader for the Production Design, Verification & Validation Group in Space Force Station, Florida. You will lead a team of 10–15 engineers focused on GN&C system evaluation, test concepts, and verification to deliver robust, reliable platforms for warfighters.

The role requires engineering experience, strong leadership, and the ability to drive strategic roadmaps, staff development, and cross-group collaboration within Draper’s defense programs.

Qualifications

• Requires a degree in Engineering or related discipline.
• 7+ years of engineering, design, development, and management of complex systems.
• Active U.S. Government Security Clearance is preferred/required.

Responsibilities

• Manage administrative details and career development for group members.
• Convey relevant information from management to group members.
• Lead, mentor, build depth in area of expertise, and conduct performance evaluations.
• Maintain awareness of staffing requirements, write job requisitions, review resumes, and 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 strategy and align Draper’s capabilities with customers’ priorities.
• Maintain cognizance of group member activity and address issues.

Skills

Communication

Leadership

MS Office

Team supervision

Presentation

Education

Engineering 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

The Production, Mission, Operations, & Enhancements Division within the Systems Engineering directorate is seeking a Group Leader to lead our System Validation, Deployment, and Surveillance. The Division serves as the system integrator for technologies and product lines developed using Draper’s core capabilities. The Division plans, executes, and manages I&T activities starting from early test concept development through system certification, including test concepts and requirements development, technology maturation, system and sub-system integration, verification and validation (V&V), performance evaluation, and acceptance testing. In addition, the Division leverages multi-disciplinary engineering expertise and collaborates with front-end Systems Engineers and the Digital Engineering & Enabling Technologies Division to establish clear, verifiable, and traceable requirements, inform and drive system concepts, architectures, and designs to promote testability, and utilizes resident expertise and lessons learned to support the development of highly reliable, robust, and complex systems.

Job Description

The primary focus of the Production Design, Verification & Validation Group is to integrate, test, and ensure design compliance of Draper’s advanced GN&C system technologies into new platform solutions that enable warfighters to successfully execute their missions by enhancing resilience, precision, and reliability. Programs supported by this group are focused on tactical, nav and strategic grade systems, autonomy, performance in contested environments, production support, and surveillance.

The Group accomplishes their innovative work through the application of evaluation of GN&C systems, including inertial technology, celestial object sighting technology, vision-aided navigation sensors, and ultraprecision timing and communications.

The Group Leader is responsible for leading and managing a group of approximately 10‑15 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 advancement of Draper’s expertise in developing and maturing the most advanced technologies for GN&C systems 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, co‑op, and internship cohorts.
• Support and enable the technical and career growth of individual staff members by performing check‑in reviews and annual performance reviews, and 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 in their area of expertise, and conduct performance evaluations of group members.
• Maintain awareness of staffing requirements, write job requisitions 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 customers’ strategic priorities.
• Maintain cognizance of group member activity and address issues.
• Conduct performance evaluations of group members.

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

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

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with strategic weapons, DoD, space, GN&C, or inertial systems.
• Experience integrating and testing complex hardware/software systems.
• Experience in System Requirements development and traceability and/or verification and validation.
• Implementation of specialized test development for verification and validation, such as Enhanced Ground Test (EGT).
• Demonstrated ability to present complex data in a compelling manner both verbally and visually.
• Experience leading or contributing to technical and cost proposals.
• Technical leadership experience, serving as a Technical Director, Task Leader, or Principal Investigator in the development of new technologies or applications.
• Existing (active) U.S. Government Security Clearance.

Security Requirement

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

Job Location

City: Space Force Station

State: Florida

Postal Code: 32920-0246

Compensation

The U.S. base salary range for this full‑time position is $95,000.00 – $245,000.00. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target salaries for the position across all U.S. locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job‑related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

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.

Equal Opportunity Employer

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].