Director of Engineering

Director of Engineering

Location: Newport News, VA

Job Type: Direct Hire

Starting Salary: $90,000+ annually (higher based on experience)

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced Director of Engineering to lead a multi-disciplinary engineering organization across Mechanical, Structural, Electrical, and Aerodynamic disciplines. This leadership role is responsible for driving engineering strategy, overseeing technical execution, managing program delivery, and developing high-performing teams throughout the product development lifecycle-from concept and design through qualification testing and production.

The ideal candidate has extensive engineering leadership experience within the aerospace or defense industry and a proven ability to manage multiple complex programs while ensuring quality, compliance, and on-time delivery.

Responsibilities

• Lead engineering program execution across multiple concurrent projects.
• Plan and allocate engineering resources, including staffing, scheduling, budgeting, and workload management.
• Build, mentor, and develop a high-performing engineering team through coaching and career development.
• Monitor engineering milestones and provide regular project updates to senior leadership.
• Identify project risks and implement corrective actions through continuous improvement initiatives.
• Establish and maintain engineering governance, design review processes, and technical standards.
• Conduct and oversee engineering design reviews to ensure technical excellence and regulatory compliance.
• Define departmental goals, KPIs, and strategic initiatives aligned with business objectives.
• Serve as the primary technical liaison supporting cross-functional teams, including Sales and Operations.
• Collaborate on proposal development by evaluating technical requirements and project feasibility.
• Foster a culture of innovation while maintaining a strong focus on product safety, manufacturability, quality, and cost-effectiveness.
• Stay current on emerging engineering technologies, tools, and industry best practices.
• Support quality management systems, including AS9100 and Lean initiatives.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related engineering discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 10+ years of progressive engineering management experience, preferably within the aerospace or defense industry.
• Experience with aerospace product development, FAA certification processes, and Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) programs.
• Strong knowledge of FAR compliance within FAA and/or military certification environments.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience with FAA regulatory compliance and engineering approval authority.
• Experience managing multiple engineering programs simultaneously.
• Strong leadership, organizational, project management, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to communicate complex technical concepts effectively.
• Proficiency with SolidWorks and Microsoft Office.
• Ability to analyze technical and business requirements and develop effective solutions.
• U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Residency required.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret U.S. Security Clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Background in Business Administration or Finance.
• Experience with commercial and Department of Defense (DoD) contracting processes.

Additional Requirements

• Ability to travel up to 50% domestically and internationally.
• Ability to occasionally lift or move items weighing over 50 pounds.
• Participation in a Drug-Free Workplace drug testing program is required.
• Commitment to ongoing professional development, engineering training, and compliance with quality management systems.

What You'll Bring

• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Strong strategic planning and resource management skills.
• Experience driving continuous improvement and engineering excellence.
• Commitment to delivering high-quality, compliant engineering solutions on schedule.
• Passion for innovation, collaboration, and developing engineering talent.