Director of Engineering

At Heads Up Technologies, we’re redefining what’s possible in the air. Since our beginnings in a Dallas hangar in 1985, we’ve grown into a global leader in aviation technology driven by innovation, precision, and a relentless pursuit of better in-flight experiences. From pioneering digital audio and lighting systems to uniting with STG Aerospace, ALTO Aviation, and Innovative Advantage under one brand, we continue to lead the way in cabin systems integration for business and commercial aircraft.

Join us as we shape the future of aviation where lighting, entertainment, safety, and audio come together to elevate every journey.

As part of the HUT Group, the HUT business unit in Addison is the hub for integrated cabin systems including Cabin Management Systems (CMS) and In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) systems – serving leading OEMs, MROs, and operators in business and commercial aviation.

We’re looking for a Director of Engineering to lead our ~20‑person, multidisciplinary engineering team (Electrical, Mechanical, Software, FPGA) and help take our products – and our engineering culture – to the next level.

The Director of Engineering for HUT is responsible for:

• Leading and developing a multidisciplinary engineering team that designs and sustains HUT’s products (lighting, CMS/IFE, audio, safety, and related systems).
• Owning and evolving the product development practices used in Addison Texas, ensuring they align with HUT Group standards and AS9100-driven quality expectations.
• Delivering programs on time, on quality, and on cost, from early concept through certification, production release, and in-service support.

This is a hands‑on leadership role: you’ll spend time in design reviews, helping resolve technical trade-offs, and coaching engineers, while partnering closely with Production Engineering, Systems Engineering and Product Management, Program Management, Operations, and Customer‑facing teams.

• Work Days and
  
  Hours:
  
  Monday to Friday. Flexibility to set schedule.
• Location:
  
  This is a full‑time onsite position located in Addison, TX.
• Compensation:
  Based on qualifications and comprehensive benefits package.
• Work Eligibility:
  Must be a United States citizen.

• Define, evolve, and enforce HUT engineering and product development practices, including:
• Software development practices and configuration management
• Hardware / PCB layout and FPGA design standards
• Requirements, specifications, and verification practices
• Design review and sign‑off criteria across disciplines
• Ensure engineering processes support safety‑critical and high‑reliability aviation products (DO‑160, DO‑254/DO‑178 environments, AS9100 expectations) in partnership with Production Engineering, Manufacturing, and Quality.
• Drive continuous improvement in how we scope, design, verify, and release products – reducing cycle time while protecting quality and compliance.

• Translate business objectives and product roadmaps into clear engineering priorities and resource plans for the HUT design engineering team.
• Ensure shared understanding of product intent, requirements, and constraints across electrical, mechanical, software, and FPGA teams.
• Balance new product development, sustaining engineering, and customer commitments, making trade‑offs explicit and data‑driven.

• Directly lead and develop a ~20‑person team, including managers, technical leads, and individual contributors across multiple disciplines.
• Set clear expectations around ownership, technical rigor, documentation, and collaboration.
• Provide regular, candid feedback and coaching – recognizing strong performance, addressing gaps early, and supporting career growth.
• Build and maintain a high‑trust, accountable culture where engineers are encouraged to raise risks early, ask questions, and propose better ways of doing things.

• Guide teams through complex technical decisions, asking the right questions rather than dictating answers; help engineers converge on sound solutions even outside your home…