Director of Engineering
Direct HireJob Overview
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.
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.