Senior Manager, Systems Engineering

Responsibilities:

- Lead and develop a multidisciplinary systems engineering team, including systems architects, requirements engineers, integration and verification engineers, and technical leaders.

- Build a high-performing engineering culture through coaching, mentoring, succession planning, workforce planning, performance management, and employee engagement.

- Own systems engineering execution for new product development, product enhancements, certification programs, and sustaining engineering across the full lifecycle.

- Provide technical oversight of system architectures, requirements decomposition, interface definitions, trade studies, design reviews, integration, verification, validation, and certification evidence.

- Ensure effective application of SAE ARP4754A and ARP4761A principles, including development assurance, functional hazard assessment, system safety assessment, and requirements-based verification.

- Establish and improve requirements management, configuration control, traceability, review, and change-control practices using tools such as IBM Engineering DOORS, Jama Connect, or equivalent platforms.

- Advance model-based systems engineering practices using SysML and architecture tools such as Cameo Systems Modeler or equivalent solutions.

- Partner with hardware and software leaders to align system requirements and assurance activities with RTCA DO-178C, DO-254, DO-160, and applicable FAA, EASA, and customer expectations.

- Drive system integration and verification planning, including test strategy, test readiness, laboratory and aircraft integration, anomaly resolution, and objective evidence closure.

- Partner with senior leaders, program managers, customers, suppliers, and functional stakeholders to resolve technical risk and deliver successful program outcomes.

- Support proposals, product roadmaps, basis-of-estimate development, technical planning, and customer or regulatory technical engagements.

- Own systems engineering process health, metrics, lessons learned, and continuous improvement, balancing rigor with efficient program execution.

- Use AI-enabled engineering workflows responsibly to improve requirements quality, traceability, review efficiency, knowledge reuse, and team productivity.

Basic Qualifications:

- Bachelor's degree in Systems, Electrical, Computer, Software, Mechanical, Aerospace, or a related engineering discipline.

- 12+ years of engineering experience in aerospace, avionics, defense, or another safety-critical industry.

- 5+ years of engineering leadership or management experience, including responsibility for direct reports and technical leaders.

- Demonstrated success leading complex avionics systems development through requirements, design, integration, verification, certification, production, and field support.

- Strong working knowledge of systems engineering methods, requirements management, interface control, verification and validation, and technical risk management.

- Experience with aircraft or avionics certification and development assurance practices, including SAE ARP4754A and system safety processes aligned with ARP4761 or equivalent.

- A people-first leadership record that includes talent development, coaching, performance management, organizational planning, and building inclusive, accountable teams.

- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, sound technical judgment, and the ability to lead through influence in a matrixed, multi-site organization.

Additional Qualifications:

- Master's degree in Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Engineering Management, or an MBA.

- Commercial or military avionics product development experience, particularly with integrated surveillance, communications, navigation, flight display, or aircraft connectivity systems.

- Hands-on familiarity with RTCA DO-178C, DO-254, DO-160, SAE ARP4754A, SAE ARP4761A, MIL-STD-810, and related FAA or EASA certification guidance.

- Experience with IBM Engineering DOORS, Jama Connect, Cameo Systems Modeler, MATLAB/Simulink, or comparable requirements, MBSE, and analysis tools.

- Experience leading system safety, reliability, cybersecurity, human factors, environmental qualification, or aircraft integration activities.

- Experience managing geographically distributed teams and engineering partners, including outsourced or international development organizations.

- INCOSE Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP) or Expert Systems Engineering Professional (ESEP) certification.

Why this role:

- Significant organizational impact and broad responsibility for systems engineering across complex, safety-critical avionics products.

- Ownership of systems engineering strategy, capability, processes, culture, and execution for a growing portfolio.

- Opportunity to develop future technical and people leaders while advancing modern MBSE, digital engineering, and AI-enabled workflows.

- Visibility with senior leadership, customers, and regulatory stakeholders, with direct participation in growth and transformation initiatives.