Senior Project Engineering Leader — Naval Defense Programs

Ultra Electronics Group; Columbia City (IN); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO up to 140 hours first year

3 floating holidays

401k plan with company match

Tuition reimbursement

Wellness program

Job summary

Ultra Maritime in the United States seeks a senior engineering leader to turn complex challenges into mission-ready solutions, guiding project teams from proposal through delivery. Leadership ensures on-time, on-cost, high-quality outcomes with disciplined execution and continuous improvement.

The role requires 12+ years in complex engineering, 3+ years of people management, and the ability to obtain a security clearance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in Engineering or a related technical field.
• 12+ years of progressive experience in a complex engineering environment, including demonstrated leadership of technical execution, program and/or project delivery, and cross-functional engineering teams from proposal through product development and delivery.
• 3+ years of engineering leadership or people-management experience.
• May be required to obtain and maintain a security clearance.
• Demonstrated experience leading engineering teams through complex projects, programs, or product development lifecycles.
• Strong understanding of engineering execution, technical risk, resource planning, and program delivery.
• Experience developing or reviewing technical content for bids, proposals, or customer commitments.
• Demonstrated ability to make sound decisions and drive results in complex, ambiguous, and time-sensitive environments.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and influencing skills, with the ability to work effectively across technical and business functions.
• Proven ability to develop technical talent and build high-performing engineering teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead project engineering execution: Set direction and priorities for engineering teams supporting complex projects and programs, ensuring technical work is aligned with program commitments and business objectives.
• Own technical delivery: Provide engineering accountability from proposal through product development and delivery, ensuring solutions meet customer requirements for performance, quality, cost, and schedule.
• Lead through complexity: Serve as a senior escalation point for complex technical and engineering challenges, applying sound judgment, technical expertise, and innovative thinking to drive effective solutions.
• Shape executable solutions: Provide engineering leadership for bids and proposals, evaluating technical approaches, resource requirements, risks, and delivery commitments to ensure proposed solutions are achievable.
• Anticipate and manage risk: Identify technical, resource, and execution risks early and establish mitigation strategies that protect program outcomes.
• Optimize engineering resources: Develop plans that align people, technical expertise, and resources to the highest-priority work while balancing current program demands with future business needs.
• Partner across the business: Work closely with Program Management, Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, Business Development, and other functions to resolve issues, align priorities, and deliver successful customer outcomes.
• Build engineering capability: Develop engineers, technical leaders, managers, and emerging experts through coaching, mentorship, challenging assignments, and opportunities to expand their technical and leadership capabilities.
• Build and strengthen the organization: Establish talent and workforce strategies that support the long-term needs of the engineering organization, including hiring, succession planning, promotions, performance management, and organizational development.
• Drive continuous improvement: Identify and implement improvements to engineering processes, tools, and ways of working that increase execution efficiency, predictability, quality, and scalability.
• Influence strategic decisions: Provide senior leadership with clear technical insight, recommendations, and tradeoffs on engineering strategy, program execution, resource priorities, and other high-impact decisions.

Skills

Leadership

Engineering leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Risk management

Decision making

Technical mentorship

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Master's degree in engineering or related field

Job description

Ultra Maritime in the United States seeks a senior engineering leader to turn complex challenges into mission-ready solutions, guiding project teams from proposal through delivery. Leadership ensures on-time, on-cost, high-quality outcomes with disciplined execution and continuous improvement.

The role requires 12+ years in complex engineering, 3+ years of people management, and the ability to obtain a security clearance.