Program Chief Engineer, SIP

WHAT YOU'LL DO Serve as the technical owner and chief engineer for the SIP portfolio, responsible for system architecture, technical execution, integration strategy, fielding readiness, and sustainment outcomes. Lead end-to-end delivery of complex mission systems that include Anduril products, Lattice integrations, third-party hardware/software, customer-furnished equipment, tactical networks, sensors, effectors, compute, communications, and operational workflows. Translate ambiguous customer needs into executable technical plans, product requirements, integration roadmaps, test plans, fielding plans, and sustainment concepts. Take new capabilities from 0 to 1 quickly, including early concept definition, rapid prototyping, R&D product creation, integration, test, operational demonstration, proposal support, and transition into program execution. Make pragmatic engineering decisions with incomplete information, often with 60% of the data available, while clearly identifying risks, assumptions, tradeoffs, and decision points. Own systems integration across internal and external systems, including third-party sensors, payloads, effectors, communications systems, navigation systems, C2 systems, vendor platforms, and government-provided interfaces. Drive technical execution across hardware, software, firmware, networking, autonomy, cyber, manufacturing, logistics, test, deployment, and field operations teams. Build and maintain technical baselines across deployed sites, including configuration control, version tracking, site-specific deviations, integration dependencies, and operational constraints. Lead ATO/RMF strategy, creation, maintenance, and continuous authorization efforts, including coordination across cyber, product, program, customer, and mission operations stakeholders. Create and maintain technical artifacts required for program execution and customer confidence, including architectures, requirements, interface control documents, test plans, CONOPS, deployment guides, sustainment plans, risk registers, cyber documentation, and executive-level technical briefings. Support proposals, task orders, BOEs, RFP responses, customer white papers, and growth efforts by shaping technical scope, schedule, staffing, assumptions, exclusions, risks, dependencies, and delivery plans. Partner with business development and program leadership to shape new opportunities, assess technical feasibility, define product gaps, and convert customer needs into fundable, executable work. Lead engineering execution through design reviews, technical interchange meetings, integration events, field demonstrations, operational test events, cyber reviews, readiness reviews, and customer briefings. Drive theater-based deployment and sustainment of systems, including shipment readiness, site integration, spares planning, RMAs, field support, troubleshooting, training, operational handoff, and long-term sustainment processes. Own technical recovery when things go wrong: rapidly diagnose failures, coordinate cross-functional tiger teams, establish corrective action plans, brief leadership and customers, and drive issues to closure. Build scalable operating mechanisms for the program, including engineering rhythms, risk reviews, configuration control boards, integration readiness reviews, deployment readiness reviews, and sustainment feedback loops. Mentor engineers and technical leads across the program, raising the bar for ownership, communication, systems thinking, field awareness, and mission-focused execution. Travel to customer sites, test events, integration facilities, vendor locations, and deployed/theater locations as required to deliver and sustain operational capability. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS Bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, physics, mathematics, systems engineering, aerospace, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related technical field. 8+ years of relevant experience in systems engineering, mission systems integration, defense technology, aerospace, autonomy, C2, tactical networks, cyber-physical systems, or deployed operational systems. Demonstrated experience serving as a technical lead, chief engineer, systems lead, or equivalent owner for complex hardware/software programs. Experience integrating complex systems of systems involving software, hardware, networking, sensors, communications, compute, autonomy, fielded equipment, and third-party systems. Experience taking ambiguous customer or mission needs and turning them into executable technical plans, architectures, requirements, schedules, test plans, and delivery milestones. Experience supporting deployed or operational systems, including troubleshooting, configuration management, field support, sustainment, and customer-facing technical execution. Experience with DoD programs, government customers, operational users, or defense acquisition environments. Experience supporting proposals, RFP responses, task orders, BOEs, technical volumes, white papers, or customer growth efforts. Familiarity with ATO, RMF, cybersecurity authorization, system security planning, vulnerability management, continuous monitoring, or cyber compliance processes. Strong systems engineering fundamentals, including requirements definition, architecture, interface management, verification and validation, test planning, configuration control, and risk management. Ability to make timely technical decisions in ambiguous, fast-moving environments with incomplete information. Strong communication skills, including the ability to brief senior leaders, customers, operators, engineers, vendors, and cross-functional stakeholders. Ability to balance speed, mission urgency, technical risk, customer commitments, and long-term scalability. Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance. Willingness to travel to customer sites, integration events, test events, and field/deployment locations as required. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS Activ