Engineering Operations and Execution Manager, Payload Engineering

Job Description Help define the future of the Payload Engineering Center as the Engineering Operations and Execution Manager. The Operations and Execution Manager will assist the Payload Engineering Director with day-to-day and strategic operations, and tracking and monitoring of Payload program performance, as we scale to meet business demand. Work with a high performing team of payload leaders in the identification of strategic initiatives and improvements, process initiatives, and resource allocation and management.
The Payload Engineering Center combines engineering talent in payload architecture, payload systems engineering, test engineering, detector engineering, optical engineering and cryogenics engineering, with specialty labs and flight production and test facilities (optical test and manufacturing facility, detector technology center, cryogenics lab and the small payload test facility). This position is 75-100% indirect and reports to the Director of Payload Engineering.
What you’ll do:
Work closely with the Payload Engineering Director to drive day‑to‑day operations across the Payload Engineering Center, ensuring smooth coordination among specialty labs, centers and engineering departments.
Develop and provide monthly program execution summaries to trend payload program/subsystem performance, synthesizing metrics, risks and accomplishments for leadership review.
Provide execution support and guidance to payload integrated product team (IPT) leads, particularly during program initiation, baselining, planning for realization of opportunities, and resolving problems.
Support development of cost and schedule estimates for new business efforts through analogous payload efforts and program actuals.
Maintain organization‑wide staffing and workload visibility; use existing dashboards and tools to track resource needs, forecast demand, and support workforce planning with engineering leaders.
Organize department‑wide initiatives, process improvements, tools, and operational frameworks to improve efficiency and execution quality.
Assist Payload Director, labs and department leaders with annual budget planning, cost tracking and financial performance monitoring.
Lead special projects, initiatives, and internal improvement efforts, including scoping, scheduling, resourcing, and delivery oversight.
Support strategic planning activities by providing operational insights, data analytics and cross-functional coordination.
Serve as a central point of contact for operational queries, inter‑team dependencies, and cross‑organizational alignment.
Required Education, Experience, & Skills Required Education, Experience, & Skills:
- BS/BA in related field plus 12 years or more related experience.
- Each higher-level degree, i.e., Master’s Degree or Ph.D., may substitute for two years of experience. Related technical experience may be considered in lieu of education. Degree must be from a university, college, or school which is accredited by an agency recognized by the US Secretary of Education, US Department of Education.
- Must possess and maintain an active TS/SCI security clearance.
- Demonstrated experience with technical management and program execution, including cost and schedule estimating, Earned Value (EV) techniques, risks and opportunity management, strategic staffing, and lifecycle gated milestones (LCM)
- Demonstrated experience in a Payload related discipline and understanding of payloads as a system.
- Ability to self-start, excellent interpersonal and communication skills, strong attention to detail, and ability to work independently and with a team.
- Ability to operate at the system level and interface to all engineering disciplines, labs, manufacturing and test facilities, and organizations.
- Relevant work experience, demonstrating knowledge of payload engineering with DoW, intel community, commercial, and NASA customers.
- Demonstrated excellent leadership and interpersonal skills in relevant business environments.
- Excellent collaboration, influencing, decision making, relationship building and communication (written/verbal/presentation) skills.
Preferred Education, Experience, & Skills Preferred Education, Experience, & Skills:
- Degree in a relevant Engineering or technical field, preferred.
- Experience through the full lifecycle of aerospace products from proposal through delivery, and operations.
- Prior experience working in and with controlled, classified security environments preferred.
- Experience in leading through change.

Pay Information
Full-Time Salary Range: $173023 - $294137

Please note: This range is based on our market pay structures. However, individual salaries are determined by a variety of factors including, but not limited to: business considerations, local market conditions, and internal equity, as well as candidate qualifications, such as skills, education, and experience.

Employee Benefits: At BAE Systems, we support our employees in all aspects of their life, including their health and financial well-being. Regular employees scheduled to work 20+ hours per week are offered: health, dental, and vision insurance; health savings accounts; a 401(k) savings plan; disability coverage; and life and accident insurance. We also have an employee assistance program, a legal plan, and other perks including discounts on things like home, auto, and pet insurance. Our leave programs include paid time off, paid holidays, as well as other types of leave, including paid parental, military, bereavement, and any applicable federal and state sick leave. Employees may participate in the company recognition program to receive monetary or non-monetary recognition awards. Other incentives may be available based on position level and/or job specifics.
About BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems BAE Systems, Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of BAE Systems plc, an international defense, aerospace and security company which delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. Improving the future and protecting lives is an ambitious mission, but it’s what we do at BAE Systems. Working here means using your passion and ingenuity where it counts – defending national security with breakthrough technology, superior products, and intelligence solutions. As you develop the latest technology and defend national security, you will continually hone your skills on a team—making a big impact on a global scale. At BAE Systems, you’ll find a rewarding career that truly makes a difference.

Headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, Space & Mission Systems is a leading provider of national defense and civil space applications, advanced remote sensing, scientific and tactical systems for government and commercial customers. We continually pioneer ways to innovate spacecraft, mission payloads, optical systems, and other defense and civil capabilities. Powered by endlessly curious people with an unwavering mission focus, we continually discover ways to enable our customers to perform beyond expectation and protect what matters most.

This position will be posted for at least 5 calendar days. The posting will remain active until the position is filled, or a qualified pool of candidates is identified.

Multiple positions may be available on this opening.