Chief Engineer (Aerospace)

Location: Lone Tree, Colorado, United States; hybrid or primarily in-office work. Occasional travel to customer or field locations may be required, including potentially hazardous project sites. U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a Secret U.S. Security Clearance are required.

Estimated starting salary: $232,581.24–$319,799.21 per year, with annual incentive pay based on performance.

Company

hirify.global develops aerospace, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, aviation, and national security systems, including manned and unmanned aircraft and C4ISR capabilities.

What you will do

• Provide technical leadership and oversight from concept design through final product release.
• Develop and maintain product-line technical baselines across multiple programs, including consistency, continuity, and configuration control.
• Oversee technology projects and align technical execution with business-unit strategy and customer requirements.
• Review and approve technical proposals and cost volumes.
• Guide Project Engineers and support program and technical reviews, including technical solution synthesis.
• Interface with customers to shape requirements and provide technical support during early pursuit phases.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Aerospace, or a related field. A higher-level relevant degree may substitute for experience.
• 14+ years of engineering experience, including at least 8+ years in a leadership role.
• Thorough understanding of design lifecycle management, including requirements, design, integration, test, and sustainment.
• Advanced knowledge of industry best practices and techniques for program management, science, and engineering programs, plus advanced technical knowledge and awareness of industry trends and historical context.
• Experience working with department-level business leaders and providing workplace leadership.
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, including adapting technical communication for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Experience developing and maintaining product-line technical baselines supporting multiple programs.
• Experience developing technical proposals and cost volumes.
• Ability to support program and technical reviews and guide staff in technical solution synthesis.
• Strong decision-making skills, including clearly stating the bottom line up front, simplifying complex information, and making timely, well-reasoned decisions.
• Ability to work primarily in an office or hybrid environment, use a computer for prolonged periods, and occasionally lift up to 10 pounds.

Nice to have

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 8–10 years of relevant leadership and/or project management experience.
• DevSecOps implementation and operations experience.
• Experience with open architecture standards, military communication systems, FAA and military airworthiness, cybersecurity implementation in information systems, and aircraft design, modification, and sustainment.
• Familiarity with aerospace and defense industry standards and regulations and advanced engineering tools and methodologies.
• Leadership experience in change management, mentoring, career development, training, succession planning, accountability, and annual reviews.
• Team-building, time-management, conflict-resolution, communication, briefing, presentation, and strategic-thinking skills.
• Ability to understand complex technical and program interdependencies quickly.
• Management experience, including recruiting, assigning, directing, evaluating, and developing staff.
• Experience motivating others through a shared vision, linking technology and business strategically, and working both independently and collaboratively.
• Background in aerospace and defense, the U.S. Department of Defense, NASA, civil or commercial space, or the U.S. military, with knowledge of defense, aerospace, intelligence, and adjacent markets.

Culture & Benefits

• Collaborative environment focused on mission execution, agility, and innovation in aerospace and national security.
• Medical, dental, and vision plans.
• 401(k) with a 150% match up to 6%.
• Life insurance, three weeks of paid time off, and tuition reimbursement.
• Annual performance-based incentive pay.