Defense Technology

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Senior Manager, Systems Engineering | Aerospace & Defense Leadership | Waco, TX

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Senior Manager, Systems Engineering

📍 Waco, Texas (Onsite)
🕒 9/80 Schedule – Every Other Friday Off
💰 $190,000 - $220,000 Base Salary
🚚 Relocation Assistance Available
✈️ Aerospace, Defense & Advanced Mission Systems
👥 Engineering Leadership Opportunity

Lead High-Impact Engineering Teams Supporting Advanced Aerospace & Defense Programs

An industry-leading aerospace and defense organization is seeking a Senior Manager, Systems Engineering to lead and develop multidisciplinary engineering teams supporting complex aircraft modification, systems integration, mission systems, and advanced technology programs.

This is an exceptional opportunity for an experienced engineering leader who combines strong technical depth with proven people leadership, strategic planning, and program execution capabilities.

You'll oversee teams responsible for the design, integration, and delivery of sophisticated systems supporting both military and commercial customers while playing a key role in shaping departmental strategy, workforce planning, technical excellence, and long-term business growth.

If you're passionate about leading engineers, solving complex technical challenges, influencing organizational strategy, and delivering mission-critical solutions, this role offers outstanding visibility, responsibility, and career progression.

Why This Opportunity Stands Out

This is not a traditional engineering management role.

You'll operate at the intersection of engineering leadership, program execution, customer engagement, workforce planning, and strategic business growth.

You'll help define how engineering teams support future programs, influence hiring and staffing strategies, drive technical excellence, and partner directly with senior leadership to ensure successful program execution.

Highlights include:

  • Lead multiple engineering teams supporting complex aerospace and defense programs

  • Direct influence on departmental strategy and workforce growth

  • High visibility with executive leadership and customers

  • Opportunity to shape future engineering capabilities and talent development

  • Significant involvement in proposal development and business growth initiatives

  • Exposure to both military and commercial aviation programs

  • Strong technical and leadership career progression opportunities

What You'll Be Doing

Engineering Leadership & Team Development

  • Lead, mentor, and develop a diverse team of Systems Engineers and technical professionals

  • Create a culture focused on technical excellence, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement

  • Establish training and professional development plans to support long-term organizational goals

  • Support employee growth, performance management, succession planning, and talent development initiatives

  • Foster strong collaboration across engineering, program management, operations, and customer teams

Strategic Workforce Planning

  • Forecast engineering resource requirements based on current and future program demand

  • Develop hiring strategies and workforce plans to support business growth

  • Lead recruiting efforts and participate in candidate selection processes

  • Ensure teams are appropriately staffed to meet program commitments and customer expectations

  • Support long-term capability development across the engineering organization

Program & Technical Leadership

  • Provide leadership and oversight across multiple engineering programs and integration efforts

  • Partner closely with Program Managers and Project Engineers to ensure successful execution

  • Review engineering schedules, budgets, risks, and resource allocations

  • Support engineering teams throughout the full program lifecycle

  • Ensure technical solutions align with customer requirements, budgets, and schedules

Systems Engineering Excellence

  • Lead and review systems engineering activities including:

    • Requirements analysis

    • System architecture development

    • Trade studies

    • System integration planning

    • Verification and validation activities

    • Technical baseline management

  • Ensure customer requirements are translated into clear, verifiable system-level requirements

  • Review engineering trade studies for technical accuracy, completeness, and feasibility

  • Support development of complex integrated system architectures

Customer & Stakeholder Engagement

  • Serve as a key technical leader during customer interactions

  • Build strong relationships with military, government, commercial, and internal stakeholders

  • Present technical information to executive leadership, customers, and engineering teams

  • Represent the organization during technical reviews, program meetings, and customer engagements

  • Facilitate collaboration between engineering, program management, and customers to ensure alignment and success

Business Growth & Proposal Support

  • Support new business capture activities and proposal development efforts

  • Participate in labor estimating, Basis of Estimate (BOE) creation, and technical proposal development

  • Contribute to growth strategies and future program planning

  • Support investment planning and technical roadmap development

Department Operations & Financial Management

  • Manage departmental budgets and overhead spending

  • Ensure engineering teams have the tools, resources, and infrastructure required to succeed

  • Monitor departmental performance against strategic goals and operating plans

  • Drive process improvements and operational efficiencies across the organization

What We're Looking For

Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Software Engineering, Physics, or a related technical discipline

  • Minimum 12 years of relevant engineering experience with a Bachelor's Degree

OR

  • Minimum 10 years of relevant engineering experience with an advanced degree

  • Previous engineering leadership or management experience

  • Strong understanding of Systems Engineering principles and methodologies

  • Experience leading multidisciplinary technical teams

  • Excellent communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills

Highly Preferred Experience

Systems Engineering

  • Requirements management

  • System architecture development

  • Trade study execution and evaluation

  • System integration

  • Verification & validation

  • Technical baseline management

  • Full engineering lifecycle experience

Leadership & Program Management

  • Functional management experience

  • IPT (Integrated Product Team) leadership

  • Workforce planning and hiring

  • Resource forecasting

  • Budget management

  • Engineering operations leadership

  • Strategic planning and execution

Business Development

  • Proposal development

  • Basis of Estimate (BOE) creation

  • Technical volume development

  • Customer engagement and presentations

Aerospace, Defense & Mission Systems

Experience supporting:

  • Aircraft modification programs

  • Avionics integration

  • Mission systems

  • Defense platforms

  • Government programs

  • Complex system integration efforts

Cybersecurity Experience

Experience supporting cybersecurity-focused engineering teams or cybersecurity programs is considered a strong plus.

Leadership Competencies

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

  • Strategic thinking and planning

  • Exceptional problem-solving abilities

  • Strong business acumen

  • Critical thinking and sound decision-making

  • Team leadership and coaching skills

  • Executive-level communication capabilities

  • Accountability and ownership mentality

  • Ability to influence across multiple functions and stakeholder groups

Security & Eligibility Requirements

Candidates must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance.

Preferred

  • Active Secret Clearance

Compensation & Benefits

💰 Base Salary: $190,000 - $220,000

Additional benefits include:

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage

  • Retirement savings plans

  • Paid time off and company holidays

  • Professional development opportunities

  • Relocation assistance for qualified candidates

  • Interview travel reimbursement

  • Long-term career advancement opportunities

  • 9/80 work schedule with every other Friday off

Why Join?

This is an outstanding opportunity to lead talented engineering teams working on complex, high-visibility aerospace and defense programs that have a direct impact on mission success.

You'll help shape engineering strategy, influence future business growth, develop the next generation of engineering talent, and work alongside some of the industry's most respected technical professionals.

If you're an experienced engineering leader looking for a role that combines technical depth, people leadership, business impact, and long-term career growth, we'd love to hear from you.

 

Telecommunications Engineering Specialist – Winchester, VA (Active Secret Clearance Required)

Telecommunications Engineering Specialist

📍 Location: Winchester, VA (Onsite)
💼 Employment Type: Full-Time
🕒 Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM (ET)
🔒 Security Clearance: Active Secret Clearance Required
🚫 Visa Sponsorship: Not Available
🚚 Relocation Assistance: Available
💰 Compensation: $151,000 – $180,000

Overview

A leading communications technology organization is seeking a Telecommunications Engineering Specialist to support mission-critical voice modernization and emergency communications programs within a federal environment.

This role focuses on Ribbon Federal Edge deployments, SIP interconnection engineering, Session Border Controllers (SBCs), and E-911/NG911 call routing integration supporting Army and public safety communications networks.

Key Responsibilities

Telecommunications Engineering

  • Support deployment and integration of Ribbon Federal Edge gateways.

  • Design and support SIP interconnections and policy routing.

  • Analyze and troubleshoot VoIP and SIP call flow issues.

  • Support connectivity between Federal Edge, DISA VISP, and Army PSAP systems.

  • Conduct deployment validation and readiness assessments.

E-911 & Public Safety Communications

  • Support E-911 and NG911 routing requirements.

  • Troubleshoot emergency call routing and PSAP integration issues.

  • Assist with call flow analysis and performance optimization.

  • Identify technical risks and recommend mitigation strategies.

Network & Systems Support

  • Support Session Border Controller (SBC) deployments.

  • Track engineering issues and provide technical recommendations.

  • Assist with interoperability testing and gateway performance improvements.

  • Participate in technical coordination across multiple stakeholders.

Required Qualifications

Experience

  • 10+ years of Telecommunications Engineering experience.

  • 5+ years of VoIP and SIP Engineering experience.

  • Experience supporting large-scale voice communications environments.

Technical Expertise

✔ Ribbon Communications / Sonus / Genband

✔ Session Border Controllers (SBCs)

✔ SIP Signaling & Interconnects

✔ VoIP Engineering

✔ E-911 / PSAP Integration

✔ Wireshark Packet Analysis

✔ SIP Call Flow Troubleshooting

✔ Emergency Communications Networks

Security Requirements

  • Active Secret Security Clearance (Required).

Education

  • Bachelor's Degree in:

    • Telecommunications

    • Engineering

    • Information Technology

    • Related Field

Equivalent experience may be considered.

Preferred Qualifications

  • DISA VISP experience.

  • Army Voice Modernization (VMOD) experience.

  • NG911/Public Safety Communications background.

  • PSAP interconnection experience.

  • Cisco CCNP or CCIE certification.

  • Federal or DoD telecommunications experience.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a senior telecommunications engineer with deep expertise in:

  • SIP and VoIP architecture.

  • Ribbon/Sonus/Genband technologies.

  • Session Border Controllers.

  • E-911 and NG911 call routing.

  • Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) integrations.

  • Federal and DoD telecommunications environments.

They should be comfortable troubleshooting at both the network and packet level using Wireshark and have experience supporting mission-critical emergency communications systems.

Candidate Snapshot

Requirement

Details

Experience

10+ Years

VoIP/SIP Experience

5+ Years

Clearance

Active Secret Required

Location

Winchester, VA (Onsite)

Industry

Defense / Telecommunications

Education

Degree or Equivalent Experience

Travel

Minimal

Relocation

Available

Sponsorship

Not Available

Screening Questions

  1. Do you currently hold an Active Secret Security Clearance?

  2. How many years of Telecommunications Engineering experience do you have?

  3. How many years of VoIP/SIP Engineering experience do you have?

  4. What experience do you have with Ribbon Communications, Sonus, or Genband solutions?

  5. Have you deployed or supported Session Border Controllers (SBCs)?

  6. Describe your experience with E-911, NG911, or PSAP integrations.

  7. Have you worked on DISA VISP, Army VMOD, or other DoD telecommunications programs?

  8. How have you used Wireshark for SIP or VoIP troubleshooting?

  9. Are you able to work onsite in Winchester, VA Monday through Friday?

What Makes Someone Successful in This Role?

  • Strong SIP and VoIP troubleshooting expertise.

  • Deep understanding of emergency communications networks.

  • Hands-on experience with Ribbon Federal Edge and SBC technologies.

  • Ability to analyze packet captures and call flows using Wireshark.

  • Experience operating within federal or defense environments.

  • Strong communication skills and ability to coordinate across technical and operational teams.

  • Active Secret clearance and familiarity with mission-critical communications systems.

DevOps System Administrator (AI/ML Infrastructure) - TS/SCI with CI Poly – Scottsdale, AZ

DevOps System Administrator (AI/ML Infrastructure)

📍 Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
🏢 Work Environment: 100% Onsite
💼 Employment Type: Full-Time
🛡️ Security Clearance Required: Active DoD TS/SCI with Polygraph
✈️ Travel: Occasional
🚫 Visa Sponsorship: Not Available

💰 Compensation & Benefits

  • Base Salary: $126,000 – $150,000

  • Full Benefits Package

  • Relocation Assistance Available

  • No commission or overtime eligibility

🚀 Position Overview

A leading defense technology organization is seeking an experienced DevOps System Administrator to support and optimize advanced Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) infrastructure within a highly secure classified environment.

This role will focus on building, maintaining, and automating enterprise-scale infrastructure supporting AI model development, training, testing, and deployment. The successful candidate will work closely with Data Scientists, ML Engineers, and Infrastructure Teams to ensure scalable, secure, and high-performing environments.

This is an excellent opportunity to work on mission-critical technologies supporting national security initiatives while leveraging cutting-edge AI, cloud-native, and automation technologies.

🔧 Key Responsibilities

AI/ML Infrastructure Management

  • Design, implement, and maintain scalable infrastructure for AI/ML model training and inference

  • Manage GPU resources and high-performance computing environments

  • Support machine learning development and deployment workflows

  • Collaborate with Data Scientists and ML Engineers to streamline model development through production

DevOps & Automation

  • Develop and manage CI/CD pipelines for AI applications and ML models

  • Automate:

    • Infrastructure provisioning

    • Configuration management

    • Deployment processes

  • Utilize Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools including:

    • Terraform

    • Ansible

Containerization & Orchestration

  • Deploy and manage containerized environments using:

    • Docker

    • Kubernetes

  • Scale and optimize AI/ML services within secure enterprise environments

Linux & Systems Administration

  • Administer Linux-based operating systems and virtualized server environments

  • Perform:

    • Server configuration

    • Performance tuning

    • Patch management

    • Troubleshooting

    • Monitoring

  • Support both physical and virtual infrastructure environments

Monitoring & Operational Support

  • Implement monitoring, logging, and alerting solutions

  • Analyze system alerts and perform root-cause investigations

  • Create scripts to automate repetitive administrative tasks

  • Troubleshoot networking, storage, and server-related issues

Technical Leadership

  • Serve as a subject matter expert for server and infrastructure operations

  • Mentor team members and provide technical guidance

  • Support system design, analysis, and continuous improvement initiatives

  • Identify opportunities to leverage AI and automation for operational efficiency

✅ Required Qualifications

Education

  • Bachelor’s Degree in:

    • Computer Science

    • Related technical field

    • OR equivalent experience

OR

  • Master’s Degree with 6+ years of relevant experience

Experience

  • 7–10 years of relevant systems administration, infrastructure, or DevOps experience

  • Strong enterprise server administration background

  • Experience supporting large-scale production environments

  • Advanced Linux administration skills

  • Experience supporting virtualized infrastructure environments

🔒 Clearance Requirements (Mandatory)

✔ Active DoD TS/SCI with Polygraph required at time of hire
✔ U.S. Citizenship required
✔ Clearance must be active and current
❌ No sponsorship available
❌ No clearance reinstatement candidates

🛠️ Required Technical Skills

✔ Linux Administration
✔ Docker
✔ Kubernetes
✔ AI/ML Infrastructure Support
✔ CI/CD Pipeline Management
✔ Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, Ansible)
✔ Virtualization Technologies
✔ Enterprise Server Support
✔ Networking & Storage Troubleshooting
✔ Automation & Scripting

⭐ Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience supporting AI/ML development environments

  • GPU resource management experience

  • High-performance computing environments

  • Cloud-native infrastructure experience

  • Container orchestration at enterprise scale

  • Experience within classified or defense environments

🎯 Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a highly technical infrastructure professional with deep Linux expertise, strong containerization skills, and experience supporting AI/ML environments in secure enterprise settings.

They will bring:

  • Active TS/SCI Poly clearance

  • Strong Docker and Kubernetes experience

  • Advanced troubleshooting capabilities

  • Enterprise systems administration expertise

  • Automation and DevOps mindset

  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively

  • Passion for emerging technologies and AI-driven innovation

📋 Screening Questions

  1. Do you have hands-on Linux administration experience?

  2. Do you have experience with Docker, Kubernetes, or similar container platforms?

  3. Are you comfortable working onsite full-time in Scottsdale, AZ?

  4. Do you currently hold an active DoD TS/SCI with Polygraph clearance?

📌 Candidate Snapshot

Requirement

Details

Experience

7–10 Years

Seniority

Mid-Senior

Industry

Defense / Technology

Education

Bachelor’s Degree or Equivalent

Clearance

Active TS/SCI Poly Required

Work Model

100% Onsite

Travel

Occasional

Relocation

Available

🌟 Why Join

Award-Winning Culture

  • Recognized as a Gallup Exceptional Workplace

  • Strong employee engagement and retention

  • Average employee tenure of 12 years

Work-Life Balance

  • Flexible 9/80 schedule

  • Every other Friday off

  • Generous PTO and parental leave

Outstanding Benefits

  • 401(k) with company match and immediate vesting

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage

  • Tuition assistance and professional development support

Meaningful Work

  • Support cutting-edge technologies including:

    • Artificial Intelligence

    • Cloud Native Platforms

    • Advanced Cyber Systems

    • National Security Programs

Collaborative Environment

  • Strong engineering culture

  • Low micromanagement

  • High autonomy and ownership

  • Opportunities to innovate and contribute to mission-critical solutions

This role offers the opportunity to combine advanced DevOps expertise with next-generation AI technologies while supporting some of the most important missions in the defense and intelligence community.

 

Business Segment Director – Space Mission Systems | TS/SCI Poly | Scottsdale, AZ

Business Segment Director – Space Mission Systems

📍 Location: Scottsdale, Arizona / Remote Flexibility Available
🏢 Work Model: Remote with Travel Requirements
💼 Employment Type: Full-Time
🔐 Security Clearance Required: Active TS/SCI Clearance Required at Time of Hire
🔒 CI Polygraph Preferred (Must be eligible and willing to obtain post-hire if not currently held)

💰 Compensation & Benefits

  • Base Salary: $200,000 – $290,000
    (Depending on experience and qualifications)

  • Full comprehensive benefits package

  • Relocation assistance available for ideal candidates

  • Interview travel reimbursement provided

📍 Location & Travel Expectations

  • The role can ultimately be performed remotely with travel as needed

  • However, the first 3 months will require significant onsite presence in Scottsdale to support onboarding, stakeholder integration, and operational ramp-up

  • Following this initial period, candidates may be based remotely but must be willing to travel when required for program, customer, and leadership engagements

🚀 The Opportunity

A leading defense and aerospace organization is seeking a Business Segment Director to lead a portfolio of advanced national security and space mission programs supporting critical missions globally.

The portfolio includes technologies and programs related to:

  • Data networking & secure data transport

  • Cybersecurity & high-assurance cryptography

  • Mission-critical space systems

  • Satellites & embedded mission technologies

  • Secure communications & networking platforms

This executive leadership role oversees high-value development and production programs and is responsible for strategic growth, operational execution, customer engagement, financial performance, and organizational leadership across a highly complex classified portfolio.

The ideal candidate is a proven defense industry executive with deep expertise across space systems, secure technologies, avionics, cybersecurity, cryptographic solutions, or embedded mission systems, combined with strong operational leadership and business development capabilities.

🔧 Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Growth

  • Lead and expand a portfolio of mission-critical defense and space programs

  • Develop and execute short- and long-term business growth strategies

  • Identify and capture adjacent and new business opportunities

  • Drive business development and customer engagement initiatives

  • Support strategic portfolio growth within national security and classified environments

Program & Operational Leadership

  • Oversee execution of complex development and production programs

  • Manage financial, operational, schedule, and customer satisfaction objectives

  • Ensure successful delivery across highly classified and technically complex environments

  • Balance mission urgency, execution discipline, and customer expectations

  • Lead operational performance across multiple programs and business initiatives

Customer & Stakeholder Engagement

  • Serve as senior interface to government and defense customers

  • Build trusted relationships across:

    • Space systems organizations

    • Cryptographic and cybersecurity communities

    • Networking and avionics sectors

    • Certification and mission authorities

  • Communicate effectively with executive, operational, and technical stakeholders

  • Represent the business segment with senior internal and external leadership

Organizational & Team Leadership

  • Lead and mentor high-performing engineering and program leadership teams

  • Drive accountability, collaboration, and organizational alignment

  • Support transformation and change management initiatives

  • Foster an inclusive, innovative, and mission-focused culture

  • Build and sustain high-performing cross-functional teams

Technical & Mission Leadership

  • Support programs involving:

    • Satellites and space mission systems

    • Secure networking solutions

    • High-assurance cryptographic systems

    • Embedded mission technologies

    • Secure communications platforms

  • Collaborate across engineering, operations, and customer teams to deliver mission success

  • Support Agile development environments and innovation initiatives

  • Identify opportunities for AI-enabled operational improvements and efficiencies

✅ Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree required

  • 15+ years of leadership experience within defense contracting or related national security environments

  • Proven experience managing:

    • Complex development programs

    • Production programs

    • Large portfolios or business segments

  • Strong expertise in one or more of the following areas:

    • Space systems

    • Satellites

    • Cryptography

    • Cybersecurity

    • Secure networking

    • National security systems

  • Active TS/SCI clearance required at time of hire

  • Ability and willingness to obtain CI Polygraph clearance

  • U.S. Citizenship required

⭐ Preferred Background

  • Embedded systems or avionics experience

  • Experience supporting compartmented programs

  • Agile development environment experience

  • Existing relationships across aerospace and defense communities

  • Experience operating within large matrix organizations

  • Strong financial and operational leadership capability

  • Experience leading organizational transformation initiatives

🛠️ Core Skills

✔ Strategic Planning
✔ Business Development
✔ Program Execution
✔ Space Systems Leadership
✔ Cryptographic Solutions
✔ Cybersecurity
✔ Financial Management
✔ Customer Relationship Management
✔ Change Management
✔ Team Leadership
✔ Defense Contracting
✔ Agile Development
✔ Operational Leadership
✔ National Security Programs

🎯 Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is an executive-level aerospace or defense leader who:

  • Brings deep expertise across mission-critical national security programs

  • Understands complex space mission systems and secure technologies

  • Has successfully led large organizations through growth and transformation

  • Combines strong operational execution with strategic business leadership

  • Is highly customer-facing and trusted within classified defense environments

  • Thrives in fast-moving, high-accountability mission environments

  • Demonstrates strong leadership presence, communication, and stakeholder management capability

🌟 Why This Role Stands Out

  • Lead highly strategic national security and space mission programs

  • Influence cutting-edge technologies in cybersecurity, cryptography, and secure space systems

  • Significant executive visibility and organizational influence

  • Opportunity to shape the future of secure space mission capabilities

  • Join a highly respected defense and aerospace organization supporting critical global missions

  • Strong long-term growth and leadership opportunity

📋 Additional Details

  • Travel required based on program and customer needs

  • Director-level executive leadership position

  • Relocation assistance available for exceptional candidates

  • Candidates must possess an active TS/SCI clearance and be eligible to obtain a CI Polygraph

  • Remote flexibility available following initial onboarding period

Recruiter Summary

This is a highly visible executive leadership opportunity within a premier aerospace and defense environment supporting advanced national security and space mission programs. The position offers the opportunity to lead complex classified portfolios involving secure communications, cybersecurity, cryptography, satellites, and mission-critical technologies while influencing long-term strategic growth and operational direction across the organization.

Ideal candidates will bring a blend of strategic leadership, operational excellence, technical credibility, customer engagement experience, and deep understanding of classified defense environments.

 

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