Senior Engineering Leader | Build & Scale Aerospace Teams

Loft Orbital; Arvada (CO); On-site; USD 180,000 - 235,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

100% company-paid medical, dental, and

401(k) plan and equity options

Relocation assistance when applicable

Job summary

Loft Federal is seeking a Senior Manager of Engineering to shape the growth and execution of our engineering organization. You will build and lead teams, managing talent and program resources to hit aggressive mission milestones.

Your role centers on functional management, hiring strategy, and staffing programs to ensure adequately resourced engineering teams across systems, mechanical, electrical, and RF domains for aerospace initiatives.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in engineering; 3+ years in management or leadership roles.
• Strong systems integration and lifecycle understanding.
• Exceptional cross-functional communication across engineering, PM, and executives.

Responsibilities

• Own functional management and strategic direction for cross-functional engineering teams.
• Lead hiring roadmap, interview panels, and closing top engineering talent.
• Allocate resources across concurrent projects to meet cost, quality, and reliability targets.
• Drive talent development, mentorship, and performance management.

Skills

Engineering leadership

Hiring strategy

Programmatic staffing

Cross-functional collaboration

Resource allocation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Tools

Project management tools

Job description

About Loft Federal

Loft Federal is committed to delivering theU.S. national security space communityafast, affordable, and streamlinedpathway to orbit. As awholly owned U.S. subsidiaryof Loft Orbital Solutions, Inc., we specialize in providing mission-ready space infrastructure with unmatched efficiency.

At Loft, we empower our team withautonomy, ownership, and bold problem-solving opportunitieswhile fostering atight-knit, supportive environment. We believe thatdiversity, inclusivity, and communityare the foundation of an open and innovative culture. We valuekind, collaborative, and mission-driven teammateswho excel inproblem-solving and communication—because great solutions come from great teams.

Are you ready to embark on this exciting journey with us?

As the Senior Manager of Engineering, you will be the cornerstone of our engineering organization’s growth and execution. You won't just oversee projects—you will build the teams that deliver them. Your primary focus will be on functional employee management, driving our hiring strategy, and leading programmatic staffing to ensure our engineering teams are optimally resourced to meet aggressive mission milestones.

If you are passionate about mentoring engineers, scaling high-performing teams, and aligning technical talent with complex programmatic needs in the aerospace sector, this is the role for you.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership & Functional Management

• Own the functional management and strategic direction for a cross-functional engineering team spanning systems, mechanical, electrical, and RF engineering.

• Provide ongoing mentorship, career development, and performance management.

• Coach engineers and technical leads, helping them gain the skills needed to architect complex systems, mentor junior staff, and lead through the entire program development lifecycle from requirements definition to integration and test.

• Define goals within team meetings to ensure your teams are executing on short-term deliverables week-over-week while providing them the vision for the future.

Hiring & Team Growth

• Partner closely with talent acquisition and executive leadership to define the engineering hiring roadmap for the next 6-12+ months.

• Write and refine job descriptions, design effective technical interview panels, and directly participate in the interviewing and closing of top-tier engineering talent.

• Build a robust pipeline of aerospace and engineering professionals, championing diversity and inclusion within our engineering ranks.

Programmatic Staffing & Resource Allocation

• Collaborate with Program Managers and technical leads to dynamically allocate engineering resources across multiple concurrent projects to attain business goals consistent with cost, high quality, and reliability.

• Identify critical skills gaps within the organization and strategically deploy personnel to mitigate programmatic risks.

• Balance the immediate tactical needs of aerospace programs with the long-term career growth and functional development of individual engineers.

QUALIFICATIONS

• 10 years of professional engineering experience, with at least 3+ years in a direct engineering management or leadership role, preferably within the aerospace, defense, or hardware-tech startup industries.

• Strong understanding of complex systems integration, hardware/software development lifecycles, and performance analysis

• Exceptional cross-functional communication skills, with the ability to bridge the gap between technical engineering teams, program management, and executive leadership.

• A proven track record of scaling engineering teams, including sourcing, interviewing, and closing competitive technical candidates.

• Demonstrated experience in matrixed organizations or programmatic environments where dynamic resource allocation and capacity planning were critical.

• High emotional intelligence (EQ) with a servant-leadership mindset; you care deeply about your team’s well-being and career progression.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience supporting SCI and SAP level programs

• Familiarity with non-traditional acquisition and rapid capability insertion models

• Product or mission integration experience

• Demonstrated discretion and sound judgment in sensitive environments

• Active Top Secret SCI clearance

Some of Our Awesome Benefits:

• 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance option for employees and dependents
• Flexible Spending (FSA) and Health Savings (HSA) Accounts offered with an employer contribution to the HSA
• 100% employer paid Life, AD&D, Short-Term, and Long-Term Disability insurance
• Flexible Time Off policy for vacation and sick leave, and 12 paid holidays
• 401(k) plan and equity options
• Daily catered lunches and snacks in office
• Fully paid parental leave; 14 weeks for birthing parent and 10 weeks for non-birthing parent
• Carrot Fertility provides comprehensive, inclusive fertility healthcare and family-forming benefits with financial support
• Off-sites and many social events and celebrations
• Relocation assistance when applicable

Per Colorado law, we are required to disclose the base compensation range for this role. This range is intentionally wide as we assess individuals based on their unique abilities and experience to find the best fit for our needs. Ultimately, your compensation will be determined by your education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities.

In addition to a competitive salary and benefits package, you will find a truly remarkable culture guided by transparency and collaboration and work that is challenging and meaningful. We can't wait to meet you and see what you may add to our team!

Salary Range

$180,000—$235,000 USD

Equal Employment Opportunity & Affirmative Action

Loft Federal is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. We consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, ancestry, veteran status, genetic information, disability, pregnancy, or any other legally protected status.

Accessibility & Accommodations

If you require a reasonable accommodation due to a disability when applying for an open position, please contact us at [e-mail] for assistance.

We Hire for Talent, Not Just Resumes

Research shows that while men apply for jobs when they meet about60% of the qualifications, women and other underrepresented groups tend to apply only when they meet100% of the listed criteria. At Loft Federal, wevalue diverse perspectives, respectful debate, and people who challenge assumptions. If you’re excited about a role but don’t meet every requirement, we strongly encourage you to apply.

Third-Party Recruiters & Agencies

No outside recruiters, please. Loft Federal does not accept unsolicited resumes from headhunters, staffing agencies, or third-party recruiters. We will not pay fees for candidates submitted without a signed agreement in place.