Director of Engineering

The Director of Engineering provides senior leadership for multi‑disciplinary engineering teams and ensures engineering is a direct contributor to business growth, market competitiveness, and operational execution. This role requires a leader who combines strong people leadership, business acumen, and technical credibility. The Director ensures engineering strategy, R D investment, and execution priorities are tightly aligned with sales growth, customer needs, and long‑term business objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership & Culture Lead and develop engineering managers and technical staff across multiple disciplines Establish a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement Mentor, coach, and develop talent; identify skill gaps and upgrade capabilities where needed Set clear expectations and hold teams accountable - firm, fair, and consistent Promote constructive, cross‑functional problem‑solving and decision‑making Business Strategy & Growth Monitor aerospace and defense industry trends, customer priorities, and emerging technologies Translate trends into engineering strategies, product roadmaps, and R D investment plans Ensure R D activity supports sales growth, competitive differentiation, and market share expansion Partner with executive leadership on strategic planning and long‑range business objectives Sales Support & Technical Proposals Serve as a key engineering leader in the sales and new business development process Drive creation, review, and approval of technical proposals, including: Technical architecture and approach Risk identification and mitigation strategies Resource estimates and execution plans Assess technical feasibility, schedule risk, and cost realism for new opportunities Ensure proposals align with current and future engineering capabilities Engage directly with customers during pursuit, proposal, and post‑award technical discussions Engineering Execution Oversee day‑to‑day engineering operations and resource allocation Ensure projects meet cost, schedule, quality, and customer requirements Partner with Program Management to support design reviews, test readiness, and execution risk management Ensure disciplined systems engineering, verification, validation, and qualification planning Budget & Resource Management Develop and manage departmental engineering budgets Create and maintain project budgets, staffing plans, and forecasted spend Own engineering headcount planning, including hiring, workload balancing, and capacity forecasting Ensure engineering resources are aligned with program demand and strategic priorities Actively manage costs while maintaining technical quality and delivery commitments Cross‑Functional Collaboration Work closely with Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, Finance, and Program Management Ensure engineering decisions consider manufacturability, quality, cost, and full lifecycle support Reinforce that engineering success is measured by business and customer outcomes

Quality & Compliance:

Ensure compliance with AS9100 and applicable aerospace standards Partner with Quality leadership to enforce disciplined engineering and design assurance processes Support regulated and safety‑critical product development environments Technical Background (Foundation Needed) This role requires technical breadth and credibility, not daily hands‑on design responsibility. Preferred experience includes: Aerospace electrical, power, or control systems Safety‑critical or certified product development Familiarity with DO‑160, DO‑178B/C, DO‑254 Multi‑discipline environments (systems, hardware, software, test)

Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Electrical, Hardware, Software, or related field) 10+ years of progressive engineering experience, including senior leadership roles Demonstrated success leading multi‑disciplinary engineering organizations Proven ability to link engineering strategy and execution to business growth Strong financial and resource planning experience within engineering organizations

Leadership Attributes We Value Most:

Strong, confident people leadership across diverse teams Strategic mindset with a clear understanding of how engineering enables business success Collaborative leadership style with firm but fair accountability Comfortable owning decisions related to cost, schedule, and risk Passion for developing teams and building a durable engineering culture

Why This Role Matters:

This role ensures engineering is not a support function — but a growth engine for PDS. The right leader will shape technical direction, enable sales success, and build a collaborative organization capable of sustained aerospace leadership.