Sierra Nevada Corporation · 15 hours ago
Chief Engineer - Sustainment & Production Programs
Lone Tree, CO
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
$222K/yr - $305K/yr
14+ years expSierra Nevada Corporation is a leader in aerospace and national security, seeking a Chief Engineer to support the growth of their ISR and aviation business area. The role focuses on sustainment engineering, production oversight, and strategic planning, requiring strong leadership and technical expertise to contribute to existing and new engineering efforts while collaborating with cross-functional teams.
AerospaceCyber SecurityHardwareNavigationProduct DesignSecuritySoftware
No H1B
Security Clearance RequiredU.S. Citizen Only
Responsibilities
Sustainment Engineering Support and sustain systems already fielded, ensuring continued performance and reliability. Develop and lead new initiatives for existing products, including reverse engineering and upgrades. Manage sustainment of products without OEM Engineering Data Packages (EDPs), creating innovative solutions to meet customer requirements. Conduct Root Cause and Corrective Action (RCCA) analysis to identify, resolve, and prevent design-related issues, ensuring robust and reliable engineering solutions
Design & Manufacturing Support Provide expertise in design for manufacturing, reliability, cost, certification, supply chain, and assembly to ensure stakeholder involvement and increase design quality. Conduct cost-benefit analyses and implement approaches to reduce serial production costs. Oversee and support production programs, ensuring seamless collaboration with operations and manufacturing teams. Provide technical oversight for specific designs, such as electronic warfare (EW) trailers and other mission-critical systems
Strategic Roadmap Development Collaborate with the partner Chief Engineer for the sister product line to define and execute the strategic roadmap for a family of systems and products. Develop and refine technical roadmaps and architectures for emerging capabilities in software, sensing, and UAS defeat domains, ensuring alignment with customer requirements and market trends. Foster innovation and consistency across product lines by leveraging shared technologies and best practices. Work jointly to identify opportunities for collaboration, IRAD investments, and future product development
Project & Staff Management Develop engineering staffing plans and manage coordination across multiple business units. Act as a liaison between engineering, production, and external stakeholders, ensuring alignment across teams. Oversee vendor and technical subcontractor activities to ensure quality, schedule, and cost objectives are met. Support engineering efforts during Requests for Proposals (RFPs), including preparing, reviewing, and approving complex EBOMs, creating comprehensive WBSs, and generating budgetary estimates such as Basis of Estimates (BOEs) and Rough Order of Magnitudes (ROMs). Build strong-identity teams that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals
Process Improvement & Technical Expertise Implement configuration control board processes and procedures, including product configuration management and configuration control plans, to address issues such as fielding product upgrades and obsolescence. Enhance and maintain software and hardware configuration management processes for improved product control and traceability. Apply Earned Value Management (EVM) principles to track project performance and cost-effectiveness. Leverage Internal Research and Development (IRAD) projects to drive innovation and meet program objectives. Champion process improvements to enhance efficiency, quality, and collaboration across teams
Customer & Stakeholder Engagement Build and maintain strong relationships with customers, effectively communicating technical information and addressing concerns to ensure satisfaction and alignment with project goals. Articulate a compelling, inspired, and clear vision, and communicate this vision with a sense of purpose about the future
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's of Science degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Computer Science, Systems Engineering, or a related technical discipline
Typically 14 or more years of experience in program management, defense mission systems, aerospace & defense, or engineering programs
Demonstrated expertise across multiple engineering disciplines, with the ability to direct activities in mechanical, electrical, structural, systems, and software engineering
Proficient leadership abilities, including successful change management, mentoring, career development, training, succession planning, holding people accountable, and conducting yearly reviews
Proven ability to manage the cost, schedule, and technical performance of multiple programs, from inception to completion
The ability to obtain and maintain a Secret U.S. Security Clearance is required
Thorough understanding of all phases of design lifecycle management to include requirements, design, integration, test, and sustainment
Advanced knowledge and understanding of industry best practices and techniques for program management, science, and engineering programs
Possess advanced technical knowledge and experience; working knowledge of industry trends and historical context
Proven ability to work with department-level business leaders and to provide leadership within the workplace
Strong organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills, including the ability to clearly express technical concepts in verbal and written forms; ability to tailor conversations to adapt to technical vs. non-technical audiences
Prior experience developing and maintaining product line technical baselines that support multiple programs, ensuring consistency, continuity, and configuration control
Experience developing technical proposals and cost volumes
Ability to support program and technical reviews, and provide guidance to staff on technical solution synthesis
Preferred
Typically 8-10 years of relevant leadership and/or project management experience
Master's degree or higher in an Engineering or similar field of study
Proven leadership abilities inclusive of successful change management, mentoring, career development, training, succession planning, holding people accountable, and conducting yearly reviews
Proven experience and skills in team building, time management, conflict resolution, communication, briefing, presentation, and strategic thinking
Previous management experience; ability to recruit employees; assign, direct, and evaluate their work; and oversee staffing development and maintenance
Demonstrated passion for ideation and innovation, as well as motivating others to act by creating a shared sense of vision or purpose
Ground-based systems experience (preferred over air systems) in the Aerospace and Defense Industry, the US Department of Defense (Civilian), NASA/Civil or commercial space and/or US Military, with an understanding of defense, aerospace, intelligence, and adjacent markets
Proven experience with production builds and close collaboration with operations teams
Strong knowledge of vendor and subcontractor oversight, ensuring project success through effective partnerships
Hands-on involvement in production, with experience working on the production floor and addressing real-world challenges
Familiarity with reverse engineering processes and sustaining products that lack original baseline designs
Demonstrated expertise in RCCA analysis to resolve and prevent design-related issues
Ability to develop detailed engineering staffing plans and timelines to meet program goals
Proficiency in Earned Value Management (EVM) methodologies for tracking and managing project performance
Expertise in software and hardware configuration control and management processes to ensure product integrity
Benefits
Medical
Dental
Vision plans
401(k) with 150% match up to 6%
Life insurance
3 weeks paid time off
Tuition reimbursement
And more
Company
Sierra Nevada Corporation
Sierra Nevada Corporation is an aerospace and defense contractor.
1001-5000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
John Reifenberg
Senior Director of Technology - Entrepreneurship
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