Chief Engineer for Space Systems

Draper • Cambridge, MA

2d • $180,000 - $340,000

About The Position

Draper is seeking a senior-level technical professional to be the Chief Engineer for the Space Systems Business Area providing and coordinating engineering support for program execution, business development, and strategic planning for the Business Area which develops, tests, delivers, and supports critical, high consequence missions for NASA as well as the national security space community. Space Systems supports customers with exquisite guidance, navigation, control, and avionics systems; radiation hardened electronics; precision sensors; cyber resilience; advanced power sources; autonomy; and fault tolerant computing.
The Chief Engineer for Space Systems will report directly to the Vice President of Engineering.
Develop and execute multi-year strategic technical plans inclusive of Contract Research and Development (CRAD) and Internal Research and Development (IRAD) to scale mission impact consistent with the goals and objectives of the Business Area and Corporation strategies. Analyze market technology trends, incorporate intimate customer mission knowledge, identify technology gaps and opportunities for product line innovation. Accountable for ensuring the success of the technical solutions across a full lifecycle portfolio with a full range of contract vehicles to challenging external and internal customer requirements with viable architectures, designs, development, testing, fielding, and sustainment. Cultivate relationships with the customer community in support of current projects and shaping future growth opportunities. Demonstrate thought leadership in the mission and market space by staying actively engaged with our key external stakeholders. Supports project leadership in the staffing of engineers to projects by coordinating with engineering management on skill needs and sharing of staff across projects within the product line area. Mentors and coaches the product line engineering team in project leadership, communication, adherence to processes, and technical performance. Supports engineering management in the retention, growth, and professional development of engineering staff. Encourage and facilitate the development of common components that are reusable across projects in the product line area and shared outside the area. Accountable for adherence to all corporate policies and procedures defined in Draper’s Operational Framework. Create, demonstrate, and promote a positive culture, and ensure an environment of collaboration, inclusivity, and respect in alignment with the company’s goals and values.
The successful candidate for this position will necessarily have broad and deep knowledge and experience that span the business, customer and engineering/technical needs of Space Systems. In addition, in order to ensure successful program execution, the successful candidate must (1) have a deep understanding of the Engineering organization, (2) exhibit technical excellence in the Draper’s core competencies, (3) be an exceptional communicator and (4) have demonstrated successful leadership on one or more large scale programs. From a business development perspective, the successful candidate must have a deep understanding of Space Systems customers (e.g., NASA, DARPA, the Intelligence Community, and the United States Space Force, in particular Space RCO, Space Systems Command, Space Development Agency, and the Air Force Research Lab), has a keen awareness of the competitive market and Draper’s differentiators, and is able to formulate a successful pursuit strategy that results in successful business capture. The candidate should also have a Master’s degree or higher in a relevant technical field including Mechanical, Electrical or Aerospace Engineering, Physics, and a minimum of 15 years relevant experience. Applicants selected for this position will be required to obtain and maintain a US government security clearance.

Requirements

• Proven track record of leading technical teams to ensure the success of the technical solutions across a full lifecycle portfolio with a full range of contract vehicles to challenging external and internal customer requirements with viable architectures, designs, development, testing, fielding, and sustainment.
• Demonstrated thought leadership in Draper’s markets with well-established customer relationships across the National Security ecosystem.
• Proven track record of translating thought leadership into new programs by providing technical leadership across complex shaping, capture, and proposals using industry standard Shipley Business Winning processes
• Demonstrated subject matter expertise with the product line’s specific capabilities, projects, technologies, and applications.
• Proven skills partnering across the business and the ability to collaborate within and across organizational boundaries.
• Ability to be persuasive and a strong relationship builder.
• Executive level communication skills with experience presenting complex information in a concise and appropriate manner to senior leaders.
• Ability to travel up to 50% of the time to engage with current and prospective customers and partners.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Applications
• Bachelor's degree in technical discipline.
• Minimum 15 years of professional experience directly related experience reflecting increased responsibilities over time.
• Minimum of 10 years of demonstrated strong leadership, coaching and mentoring skills with the ability to achieve results through others. This includes leading large technical teams, preferably including leadership of leaders.
• The successful candidate for this position will necessarily have broad and deep knowledge and experience that span the business, customer and engineering/technical needs of Space Systems.
• the successful candidate must (1) have a deep understanding of the Engineering organization, (2) exhibit technical excellence in the Draper’s core competencies, (3) be an exceptional communicator and (4) have demonstrated successful leadership on one or more large scale programs.
• the successful candidate must have a deep understanding of Space Systems customers (e.g., NASA, DARPA, the Intelligence Community, and the United States Space Force, in particular Space RCO, Space Systems Command, Space Development Agency, and the Air Force Research Lab), has a keen awareness of the competitive market and Draper’s differentiators, and is able to formulate a successful pursuit strategy that results in successful business capture.
• Applicants selected for this position will be required to obtain and maintain a US government security clearance.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree preferred.
• The candidate should also have a Master’s degree or higher in a relevant technical field including Mechanical, Electrical or Aerospace Engineering, Physics

Responsibilities

• Excellence in program execution including phase gate reviews
• Engineering proposal coordination
• Coordination of critical program resource allocation including staff, facilities, and capital equipment
• Business development and domain awareness
• Strategic planning and coordination including critical capabilities and technologies development
• Develop and execute multi-year strategic technical plans inclusive of Contract Research and Development (CRAD) and Internal Research and Development (IRAD) to scale mission impact consistent with the goals and objectives of the Business Area and Corporation strategies.
• Analyze market technology trends, incorporate intimate customer mission knowledge, identify technology gaps and opportunities for product line innovation.
• Accountable for ensuring the success of the technical solutions across a full lifecycle portfolio with a full range of contract vehicles to challenging external and internal customer requirements with viable architectures, designs, development, testing, fielding, and sustainment.
• Cultivate relationships with the customer community in support of current projects and shaping future growth opportunities.
• Demonstrate thought leadership in the mission and market space by staying actively engaged with our key external stakeholders.
• Supports project leadership in the staffing of engineers to projects by coordinating with engineering management on skill needs and sharing of staff across projects within the product line area.
• Mentors and coaches the product line engineering team in project leadership, communication, adherence to processes, and technical performance.
• Supports engineering management in the retention, growth, and professional development of engineering staff.
• Encourage and facilitate the development of common components that are reusable across projects in the product line area and shared outside the area.
• Accountable for adherence to all corporate policies and procedures defined in Draper’s Operational Framework.
• Create, demonstrate, and promote a positive culture, and ensure an environment of collaboration, inclusivity, and respect in alignment with the company’s goals and values.

Benefits

• 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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior