Director - System Engineering

About the Role Director, System Engineering provides strategic direction, technical leadership, and operational oversight for the system-engineering group that designs, integrates, and validates the complex satellites and End-to-End systems, in a matrix organization. The role partners with the Chief Architect, Director of Engineering, program managers, and senior business leaders to establish system-engineering standards, allocate resources across programs, and ensure regulatory compliance. What You'll Do

• Strategic Leadership – Define and execute the system‑engineering roadmap aligned with satellite systems objectives; shape organizational structure, career paths, and resourcing models for the system‑engineering community.
• Proposals and Programs Support – Provide cost‑effective guidance for the system work.
• Process Improvement – Lead continuous improvement of system‑engineering processes, methods, standards, policies and guidelines (MBSE, requirements management).
• Resource Allocation – Supply skilled system‑engineering resources for program, proposal, research‑development, and technology‑development activities.
• Program Execution Resources – Deploy and manage system‑engineering talent for all active satellite programs, ensuring on‑time delivery of architecture, interface control, and integration deliverables.
• Complex Issue Resolution – Synthesize solutions for high‑impact technical challenges that involve multiple disciplines and intangible variables; allocate expert resources to resolve them.
• Competitiveness & Lessons Learned – Drive business‑process improvements and institutionalize lessons learned to boost operational competitiveness.
• Risk Management – Participate in risk‑identification workshops; develop mitigation strategies for system‑level risks and track their implementation.
• Innovation & IR&D – Keep abreast of technology trends, new satellite architectures, and product improvements; recommend initiatives to the Chief Architect for Internal Research & Development (IR&D) and product management.
• Talent Acquisition & Development – Oversee hiring of system‑engineers; ensure robust training, mentoring, and career‑planning programs for the discipline.
• Performance Management – Conduct performance appraisals for direct reports and contribute to evaluations of indirect reports; foster a high‑performance culture.
• Capacity Optimization – Balance engineering capacity across all system‑engineering disciplines to meet current and future program demands without excess.
• Budget & Financial Stewardship – Own the system‑engineering annual budget; develop forecasts, control expenditures, and ensure adherence to cost targets.
• Leadership and Management – Manage all system‑engineering staff, planning, budgeting, and expense prioritization; create and revise policies when existing guidance does not fully address new or unique situations, maintaining compliance and responsibility; assess external environmental factors (regulatory changes, market trends, technology shifts) and apply independent judgment to mitigate risk and capture opportunity; define and implement a long‑term roadmap for system‑engineering capabilities, identifying new opportunities and optimizing existing processes; communicate the company’s vision, mission, and objectives to managers and contributors, ensuring alignment across the organization. What We're Looking For
• Minimum 15 years of progressive system‑engineering experience in space or high‑reliability programs; at least 5 years in senior leadership.
• Proven track record delivering complete systems architectures, from concept through verification.
• Expertise in communications or radar systems.
• Deep expertise in MBSE, requirements management (DOORS, Jama, etc.), and system‑level testing.
• Strong leadership, collaboration, and strategic thinking capabilities; able to manage budgets, staffing, and multi‑program delivery.
• Excellent communication skills, with ability to articulate complex technical and business concepts to diverse audiences.