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Chief Engineer, Rapid Reaction Portfolio

Workplace
On-site
Commitment
Full-time
Seniority
Executive
Posted
Location
Indianapolis, United States
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The Portfolio Area Chief Engineer (PACE) serves as the technical executive for a business segment, reporting directly to the Business Chief Engineer. The PACE is the primary engineering leadership point of contact for all programs in the area and is accountable for the technical execution rigor, strategy, and performance across the 5-year plan (AoP), pipeline, and roadmap. The role establishes and manages the area technical vision, strategy, and goals, ensuring solutions meet in-scope requirements, customer expectations, and business objectives. It coordinates the delegation of technical authority to program chief engineers and/or project engineering leads, mentors technical leaders, chairs major internal reviews, and drives growth through solutions architecting and technically compliant bids. The PACE is the primary technical interface to new customers and manages relationships with existing customers across the area.

Responsibilities

  • Establish and maintain the area technical roadmap aligned to Rapid Reaction business AoP and pipeline; ensure reuse, cost reduction, and competitiveness across products.
  • Partner with Program Management and Business Development on pursuits and capture activities (Initial Lead through Kickoff); provide or engage Solutions Architects for the portfolio.
  • Coordinate pursuit strategy, set initial cost targets, and designate proposal volume leads.
  • Coordinate the supply and delegation of technical authority (PCEs, project engineers, SMEs) to meet each program’s needs.
  • Own the execution rigor framework for all programs in the area; ensure AoP targets are met/exceeded.
  • Establish tailored, compliant, and efficient engineering processes aligned to area needs; represent Engineering at Business Reviews.
  • Drive technically compliant and executable bids with known risks and opportunities; approve estimates within Delegation of Authority (DoA).
  • Determine the Independent Review (IR) Chair for internal engineering gates; chair large internal design reviews and uphold proper SME review rigor across programs.
  • Support critical customer meetings/reviews; serve as the primary customer interface for technical matters at the area level.
  • Be accountable for ensuring Independent Research and Development (IR&D) meets the needs of the technical roadmap/AoP; drive Principle Investigators to manage technical execution of investment programs.
  • Act as the primary technical POC to new customers and manage relationships with existing customers across the area.
  • Provide the voice of the customer across programs to ensure solutions meet in‑scope requirements and expectations.

Requirements

  • 15+ years of experience leading complex systems engineering across programs—ideally in DoD or equivalent national security environments.
  • Demonstrated experience providing technical briefs to subcontractors, executives, and customers.
  • Proven background in complex systems integration, verification, and validation (lab and field).
  • Experience planning, managing, and leading execution of area‑level integration/IV&V activities, with an emphasis on reuse, modularity, and affordability.
  • U.S. citizenship required.
  • This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a Department of Defense (DoD) Secret Level security clearance
  • Bachelor’s degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM).

Nice to have

  • Experience leading cross‑product teams to resolve challenging technical problems in multi‑stakeholder environments.
  • Experience in new business development for rapid prototype systems and transition to production.
  • Full lifecycle proposal execution (competitive analysis → capture strategy → proposal delivery); approval within DoA.
  • Expertise in Requirements Development & Management at portfolio scale.
  • EVMS certification with strong cost/schedule management for multi‑program portfolios.
  • Experience leading large, multi‑disciplinary engineering teams in Digital Engineering‑centric areas (MBSE, authoritative source of truth, model‑based verification).
  • Direct technical expertise as Subject Matter Expert (SME) in any of the following Department of War (DoW) areas:
  • Offensive/Defensive UAS
  • Ground/Air Vehicle Autonomy
  • Weapon Systems Integration
  • C5ISR & Avionics
  • Active and transferable U.S. Secret clearance (or higher).