Head of Vehicle Engineering

Salary Range: 165000 to 245000 (Currency: USD) (Pay period: per-year-salary)

Head of Vehicle Engineering

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Own end-to-end engineering delivery of hardware products - structures, fluid systems, mechanisms, primary structure, avionics enclosures - from concept through manufacturing, qualification, and field support
• Lead, hire, develop, and mentor a team of engineers; set the bar for technical excellence and total ownership across the department
• Define and execute the technical roadmap for the Vehicle Engineering department, balancing flight-ready execution with the build-out of containerized, mass-producible product lines
• Own department headcount, schedule and planning; allocate resources to maximize mission impact per dollar
• Drive design reviews, qualification plans, and risk-based decision-making; serve as the senior technical authority on hardware architecture and major trade studies
• Partner cross-functionally with propulsion, avionics, GNC, manufacturing, supply chain, and test/launch leadership to integrate hardware into flight-ready systems on aggressive schedules
• Represent Long Wall hardware capabilities to executive leadership, customers, and program partners, including the U.S. Government and allied defense organizations

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Education: B.S. in Mechanical, Aerospace, or related engineering discipline from an accredited university
• Experience: 8–12 years of progressive industry experience in hardware design and development, including direct people-management responsibility for multiple engineers, disciplines, or sub-teams

REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Proven track record taking flight or mission-critical hardware from concept through qualification and field operations in aerospace, defense, or similarly high-stakes environments
• Direct management of engineering teams with accountability for hiring, performance, and career development
• Ownership of departmental roadmap and investment, with experience making cost/schedule/risk trade-offs across multiple programs
• Deep technical fluency in mechanical design, structural mechanics, fluid systems, manufacturing processes, GD&T, and DFM/DFA principles
• Strong analytical foundation across hand calculations and FEA/CFD tools (e.g., ANSYS, ABAQUS, NASTRAN); able to challenge analysis and red-team designs
• Excellent written and verbal communication; able to brief executive leadership, customers, and government stakeholders on technical scope, risk, and progress

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Prior experience as a Head, Director, or Senior Manager of hardware engineering at a launch, missile, satellite, or defense systems company
• Experience scaling a hardware engineering function from prototype to rate production, including the introduction of containerized or mass-producible designs
• Familiarity with U.S. missile defense, hypersonics, or tactical/strategic deterrent programs and the associated customer environment (MDA, DoD, allied partners)
• Working knowledge of major CAD platforms (NX, CATIA, CREO/Pro-E) and PLM systems (e.g., Teamcenter, Windchill)
• Demonstrated ability to lead through ambiguity and shifting priorities on aggressive, mission-driven schedules
• Active or recent U.S. security clearance (Secret or above)

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Ability to sit or stand for extended periods of time
Ability to use a computer to complete assignments
Ability to communicate with individuals and groups in person, by phone and telepresence
Ability to lift up to 50 lbs
While performing the duties of this job, the employee will typically work in an office environment
Ability to travel between sites as needed by company