Title:  Chief Engineer

Job Title:  Chief Engineer

Job Code : 29898

Job Location: Herndon, VA

Schedule: 9/80

Job Description:

The Surface and Airborne Integrated Systems (SAIS) Business Unit Chief Engineer is responsible for delivering the technical, cost, and schedule performance of the engineering content for a program portfolio. SAIS is a Business Unit within L3Harris’ Undersea Systems Division comprised of a diverse program portfolio including Anit-Submarine Warfare Dipping and towed Sonars, Surface Ship Hull Mounted Sonars, advanced acoustic processing services, Tactical Management systems, and Tactical Datalinks. The SAIS Business Unit Chief Engineer provides technical leadership, establishing and directing all aspects of the business unit engineering policies, objectives, and initiatives based on long-term product and profitability goals.  S/he is responsible for maintaining adequate resources for all engineering functions in the pursuit of the portfolio’s strategic goals and operational plans. S/he will supervise and develop program engineering leaders.

The Chief Engineer is responsible for shaping, developing, and leading an engineering team in execution of the Engineering content of the program and will be the primary engineering representative to the SAIS business working closely with the SAIS General Manager. The position requires flexibility to manage multiple customer requirements (cost, schedule, technical capabilities), while using analytical and strategic skills to guide the engineering team to successful program deliveries of customer needs. A key part of this role is to work collaboratively across organizational boundaries and ensure programs are smoothly transitioned to production and deployment phases. The successful candidate is an experienced technical and business professional who can focus simultaneously on near and long term objectives.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND BASIC DUTIES

• Build, develop, and lead an 80-person cross-functional engineering team to execute programs meeting requirements on budget and schedule.
• Manage and lead a group of 3-6 Program Chief Engineers who are responsible for individual program execution within the business portfolio.
• Maintain accountability of technical, cost, and schedule for project execution across the business portfolio including both customer funded and Internal Research and Development (IRAD) efforts.
• Decision maker for high level / high impact engineering technical issues.
• Planning and execution of product development, from proposal to product definition, production transition, and sustainment to meet portfolio goals and objectives.
• Establish the engineering staffing demands and work plans for the business and collaborate with the functional engineering organization (matrix organization) to ensure appropriate resources are assigned to execute programs in accordance with time limitations and funding.
• Review and approve Estimates to Completes (ETC) of the engineering content for all programs within the business.
• Represent engineering organization with major customers and stakeholders through clear communication.
• Directly collaborate with the Business General Manager as the primary engineering representative.
• Work to achieve annual business objectives including revenue and overhead budget management.
• Work and communicate effectively with all functions at all levels of the organization.
• Develop and support a culture of continuous improvement and best practices.
• Use tools such as Earned Value Management and engineering metrics to analyze program performance and apply corrective actions.
• Maintain a climate fostering a high level of employee motivation, performance, and commitment.
• Support new business pursuits and proposal cost reviews to ensure proper technology readiness, Design to Cost, and resource alignment.

Basic Qualifications: 

• A Bachelor’s degree in Engineering with a minimum of 12 years of prior relevant experience; A Master’s degree in Engineering or a Master of Business Administration with a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience. In lieu of a degree, minimum of 16 years of prior related experience.
• 10 years of experience leading cross functional engineering teams (including at least one assignment leading a 40+ person engineering team) through program lifecycles from proposal to production and sustainment.
• Active DoD Secret Clearance which requires US Citizenship.
• Good working knowledge of Control Account Management (CAM) and Earned Value Management, Risk and opportunity management, as well as understanding and reporting of engineering metrics.
• Prior experience operating within an Integrated Product Team (IPT) environment as a Program Chief Engineer or equivalent.
• Bid/Proposal experience including technical volume writing and BOE review and approval.
• Program baselining experience including review and approval of WBSs, work packages, Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) and budgets.
• Working knowledge and experience implementing disciplined System Engineering Processes.
• Experience presenting high-stakes technical briefs to internal and external stakeholders.
• Position requires travel up to 20%, estimated to reduce to up to 10% within 1 year.

Desired Qualification:

• Experience transforming disparate engineering teams into a streamlined, united, and effective team using disciplined engineering processes to successfully execute programs on cost and schedule.
• Undersea Systems engineering expertise and experience.
• Sonar/Acoustics, Software, tactical management systems, or combat management systems expertise and experience.
• Sonar, Software, or Systems Engineering background.
• Fixed price development program execution experience.
• International defense development program execution experience.
• DoD development programs execution experience.
• Experience as an engineering discipline functional manager.
• Model Based System Engineering (MBSE) experience.