Engineering Program Lead

Position Overview
The Engineering Leader serves as the technical authority and coordinator for the engineering subgroup within the Integrated Product Team (IPT), driving the delivery of integrated designs, processes, and automation solutions for high-reliability countermeasures production. This leadership role oversees a team of 2 - 6 direct reports, ensuring technical excellence, compliance, and seamless alignment with program objectives in a defense manufacturing environment. With accountability for all technical aspects, the Engineering Leader facilitates decision-making, mentors staff, and collaborates across the IPT to support capital projects, productivity improvements, and safe operations involving hazardous materials. This position demands strategic oversight, hands-on guidance, and a commitment to fostering innovation in a collaborative, small-team setting (8-12 members). This position collaborates closely with Program Management, Quality Engineers, and Planner.

In addition to leadership and coordination duties, this position is a hands-on technical role—the Engineering Leader is expected to personally execute individual contributor tasks such as design work, analysis, experimentation, and troubleshooting to advance critical development objectives as required.

Key Responsibilities
The Engineering Leader provides overarching technical direction, integrating subgroup efforts to advance program goals in safety, quality, delivery, and cost. Primary duties include:

• Technical Oversight and Coordination:
  • Oversee all engineering tasks, ensuring seamless integration of designs, processes, and automation across the subgroup.
  • Serve as the primary point of contact for technical activities; identify, define, and coordinate key efforts to support the program, leveraging additional staff as needed.
  • Develop and manage project/program plans and technology roadmaps to align with IPT objectives.
  • Collaborate with the IPT on new product, process, and equipment designs to ensure smooth transitions into manufacturing.
• Mentoring and Development:
  • Mentor direct reports (Industrial Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, Controls/Automation Engineer, Engineering Technician) in engineering best practices.
  • Establish and execute personalized development plans to advance team skills and career progression.
• Communication and Status Reporting:
  • Collect and communicate technical status updates to the IPT team and external leadership on a regular basis.
  • Facilitate technical decisions, resolve subgroup conflicts, and escalate issues as appropriate.
  • Interface with internal/external customers on technical matters and lead the technical sections of proposals to cover manufacturing requirements.
• Troubleshooting and Failure Analysis:
  • Perform or guide troubleshooting and root-cause analysis for product, process, and equipment issues to enable rapid recovery and preventive measures.
  • Ensure compliance with safety and quality standards throughout all technical activities.
• Process and Performance Definition:
  • Define new process performance requirements and analyze production metrics/trends to pinpoint KPIs, risks, and improvement areas.
  • Assign and validate corrective actions to restore KPI compliance.
  • Audit procedures and review manufacturing procedures from the Industrial Engineer for technical feasibility and program alignment.
• Capital and Productivity Projects:
  • Identify and drive productivity improvement projects, integrating process, design, and automation enhancements.
  • Coordinate technical aspects of capital projects, recommending equipment/infrastructure based on subgroup expertise and ensuring integration.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related field
• Experience: 3+ years in engineering roles within defense/aerospace manufacturing, 1+ years in a technical leadership or supervisory capacity
• Preferred Experience:
  • Proven track record leading cross-functional engineering teams on capital projects and process optimizations.
  • Familiarity with DoD programs.
  • Experience with hazardous materials or pyrotechnic systems highly desirable
• Technical Skills:
  • Broad expertise across mechanical design, process optimization, controls/automation, and industrial engineering principles.
  • Proficiency in project management tools (e.g., MS Project), simulation software (e.g., ANSYS), and CAD/PLM systems (e.g., SolidWorks, Siemens NX).
  • Strong analytical skills for KPI analysis, failure mode effects analysis (FMEA), and technology roadmapping.
• Soft Skills:
  • Exceptional leadership and mentoring abilities to build high-performing teams.
  • Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills for stakeholder engagement, conflict resolution, and cross-functional collaboration.
  • Strategic mindset with problem-solving acumen and a safety-first approach in high-stakes environments.
• Other Requirements:
  • U.S. citizenship required for ITAR/DFARs compliance.
  • Ability to obtain security clearance.
  • Willingness to engage in shop floor oversight and occasional travel for customer or supplier interactions