Staff Project Engineer

Job Summary

Twenty-Six Defense is seeking a highly experienced Staff Project Engineer responsible for the technical management of the Counter-UAS portfolio and oversight of requirements analysis and management, technical planning, system-level design, systems integration, verification and validation, cost and risk management, and supportability and effectiveness analyses for total systems. This role leads and drives excellence across production operations. The ideal candidate will have experience and expertise leading a cross-functional engineering team to develop and deliver engineering solutions on time and within budget. Experience balancing contracted program work and internal research and development investment is critical for this role. This position plays a major role in executing high-visibility strategic programs within the Integrated Solutions business area, rapidly growing a team, and delivering cutting-edge technology to the U.S. Department of Defense. The position is based in Fort Worth, Texas, with occasional travel to customer sites in Detroit, Michigan, and affiliate locations in Israel.

Responsibilities and Tasks

•    Lead the execution of engineering scope across multiple strategic programs.

•    Provide day-to-day leadership and task assignments to a cross-functional engineering team.

•    Support leadership in developing a product-area strategy and associated execution plans.

•    Work directly with Program Management to provide status updates on contract work, resolve issues, and mitigate program risks.

•    Carefully manage cost and schedule to drive the efficient execution of program scope.

•    Develop relationships with key program customers and stakeholders.

•    Ensure the engineering team understands all relevant security restrictions, and develop processes and training to support compliance.

•    Support overall systems engineering activities while developing broad technical knowledge of the products and their design.

•    Support proposal development within the business area.

•    Partner with Program Management and Business Development to shape and grow the counter-UAS portfolio, including the development of business strategy, capture strategy, and the technical roadmap.

•    Lead the execution of independent research and development efforts and subsequent counter-UAS programs, ensuring delivery of technical objectives while managing cost and schedule performance.

•    Provide technical leadership and guidance to cross-functional engineering teams, ensuring alignment, technical excellence, and successful program execution within assigned areas.

•    Own technical, cost, and schedule performance for programs within the Launched Effects domain, driving execution and ensuring program objectives are met.

•    Provide technical and strategic support for capture activities involving emerging capabilities, including Golden Dome initiatives.

•    Support the development of technical integration plans associated with mergers and acquisitions, ensuring alignment with program and enterprise objectives.

Skills & Abilities

•    Demonstrated ability to build relationships and trust with internal and external stakeholders.

•    Strong verbal and written communication skills.

•    Demonstrated ability to develop and communicate strategy effectively to senior leadership.

•    Ability to motivate and facilitate individuals and teams.

•    Strong problem-solving skills, including the ability to determine the appropriate urgency and priority of various activities.

Education, Experience, License, or Certification

•    Bachelor's degree in engineering or an equivalent technical discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

•    10+ years of related project engineering management or systems engineering experience.

•    Working knowledge of engineering processes related to systems engineering, software engineering, and cybersecurity.

•    Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Microsoft Project and associated applications.

•    Experience with system-level block diagram capture tools such as Visio.

•    Experience with other related systems engineering tools.

•    Cost and schedule management experience preferred.

•    Working knowledge of earned value management systems preferred.

•    Cross-functional team leadership experience, particularly balancing contract execution and research and development efforts, preferred.

•    Experience working on classified and sensitive programs preferred.

Travel/Physical Requirements

•    This position is based in Fort Worth, Texas, with occasional travel to customer sites in Detroit, Michigan, and affiliate locations in Israel.