Principal Engineering Manager

Ensign-Bickford Industries, Inc.; Simsbury (CT); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company (EBAD) is seeking a Principal Engineering Manager to lead the Principal Engineering Organization and elevate technical capability across Engineering. You will mentor senior engineers, define succession plans, and ensure rigorous problem‑solving and safety practices across product development.

You will partner with Development, Systems, Chief Engineering, Operations, and customers to balance manufacturability, reliability, and safety in high‑consequence

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, Aerospace Engineering, Physics or another relevant technical discipline; advanced degree preferred.
• At least 10 years of progressive engineering experience in aerospace/defense or similarly demanding products.
• Experience leading, coaching, developing and holding senior engineers accountable, including succession and capability development.
• Strong technical credibility across the product‑development lifecycle, from design to production.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary resolution of complex technical problems using structured, data‑driven methods.
• Track record of improving engineering standards, design practices, reviews, or development processes.
• Sound technical judgment to challenge assumptions, evaluate risk, and guide decisions with incomplete information.
• Strong influence and communication skills to align technical experts with business leaders and customers.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop the Principal Engineering team with clear expectations and accountability.
• Strengthen problem‑solving and safety capability by applying EBAD’s methodology and conducting rigorous reviews.
• Improve technical capability by closing systemic gaps across the product development lifecycle and standardizing practices.
• Provide senior technical judgment on complex engineering challenges and ensure multidisciplinary engagement.
• Collaborate with Development, Systems, Operations, and Leadership to align technical decisions with manufacturability and customer outcomes.

Skills

Engineering leadership

Cross-functional leadership

Structured problem-solving

Technical judgment

Influence & communication

Education

Engineering degree (B.S. or higher) in relevant field

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

This opportunity is located within our Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company business, a global leader of mission-critical hardware and systems solutions including precision energetics systems and innovative explosive solutions. Click here to learn more.

Job Description

Position Summary

At Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company (EBAD), our products perform in environments where technical rigor, reliability, and safety are essential. The Principal Engineering Manager leads EBAD’s Principal Engineering organization and strengthens technical capability across the broader Engineering function.

This senior engineering leader develops EBAD’s most experienced technical talent, builds the next generation of technical leaders, and improves how Engineering solves complex, high-consequence problems. The role ensures EBAD has the right expertise, methods, and technical discipline while building scalable organizational capability rather than dependence on a small number of individual experts.

What You’ll Do

Build and Lead the Principal Engineering Organization

• Lead, coach, and develop the Principal Engineering team, with clear expectations, development plans, mentoring responsibilities, succession strategies, and accountability for results.
• Build the technical‑leadership pipeline by enabling Principal Engineers to mentor and develop engineers across the organization and by identifying critical capability gaps.

Strengthen Problem‑Solving and Safety Capability

• Build Engineering problem‑solving capability through effective use of EBAD’s structured problem‑solving methodology, ensuring significant technical problems are clearly defined, analyzed with data, resolved to root cause, and sustained.
• Strengthen product and process safety expertise and ensure appropriate technical rigor is integrated into design reviews, qualification activities, and critical program decisions.

Improve Technical Capability and Results

• Identify and close systemic capability gaps across the product‑development lifecycle by improving engineering standards, methods, reviews, tools, and technical practices, with measurable reduction in development and qualification test failures, late discovery of technical issues, and recurring failure modes.
• Provide senior technical judgment on complex engineering challenges by challenging assumptions, evaluating risk, and ensuring the right multidisciplinary expertise is engaged.
• Use the EBAD Operating System (EBOS) to reinforce effective operating cadence, visual management, standard work, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement within Principal Engineering.

Influence Across the Business

• Partner across Development Engineering, Systems Engineering, Chief Engineering, Program/IPT leadership, Operations, Quality, Technology, Business Development, and customers to align technical decisions with manufacturability, testability, reliability, safety, cost, schedule, and customer outcomes.
• Support critical technical reviews, failure investigations, program decisions, proposals, and customer engagements.
• Translate complex technical considerations into clear risks, recommendations, and business implications for senior leaders, customers, and cross‑functional partners.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or another relevant technical discipline. An advanced degree is preferred.
• At least 10 years of progressive engineering experience supporting complex aerospace, defense, or similarly demanding engineered products.
• Demonstrated success leading, coaching, developing, and holding highly experienced engineers or senior technical professionals accountable, including succession and capability development.
• Strong technical credibility across the product‑development lifecycle, from design and analysis through manufacturing, qualification, and production.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary resolution of complex technical problems using structured, data‑driven problem‑solving methods.
• A track record of improving engineering standards, design practices, technical reviews, or development processes.
• Sound technical judgment, including the ability to challenge assumptions, evaluate risk, and guide decisions when information is incomplete.
• Strong influence and communication skills, with the ability to align technical experts, business leaders, customers, and cross‑functional teams.

Experience That Would Set You Apart

• Experience with energetics, ordnance, aerospace electronics, satellite systems, launch vehicles, or other high‑consequence aerospace and defense products.
• Experience developing a Principal Engineering, Chief Engineering, Technical Fellow, or similar technical‑leadership organization.
• Product and process safety, reliability, qualification testing, or complex failure‑investigation experience.
• Experience working within a mature continuous‑improvement or business operating system.
• Direct experience supporting aerospace and defense customers, proposals, or critical technical reviews.

Additional Requirements

• Must have or be able to obtain a U.S. Department of Defense security clearance.
• Must be eligible to support U.S. Department of Defense and ITAR‑controlled programs.

Why This Role Matters

This is an opportunity to shape the future of technical leadership at EBAD, develop the next generation of technical leaders, and make a measurable impact on Engineering performance across complex, mission‑critical aerospace and defense products. The role has broad influence across Engineering, Operations, Programs, Technology, customers, and senior leadership.

You will also develop as a leader through EBOS, our mature operating system for building organizational capability, improving performance, and sustaining results.

Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, national origin, or veteran status.