Chief Engineer - ISR

The Chief Engineer – ISR is the senior technical authority responsible for shaping, executing, and transitioning advanced ISR technologies from concept through deployment. This role balances direct program execution (approximately 65%) with new business capture and proposal leadership (approximately 35%).

The Chief Engineer will work closely with program managers, business development, and senior leadership to ensure technical excellence, rapid transition to the warfighter, and alignment with customer mission needs.

Bascom Hunter provides solutions to the Department of Defense (DoD) and Aerospace markets across various disciplines. Our Defense Electronics Group currently provides products and services across four product lines:
Advanced Systems, RF Front Ends, Mixed Signal and Digital Solutions.

Compensation will be commensurate with experience.

• Serve as technical lead and chief architect for ISR programs across development, integration, test, and transition to production
• Define system and subsystem architectures for ISR solutions, including sensors, RF front ends, digital processing, networking, and open-architecture platforms
• Lead technical execution on classified and unclassified programs, ensuring compliance with customer requirements, schedules, and risk posture
• Provide technical oversight and mentoring to engineering teams across multiple disciplines (RF, digital, photonics, software, systems)
• Interface directly with government and industry customers as the technical authority
• Support transition of technologies into Phase III and program-of-record funding, including production scaling considerations
• Ensure alignment with DoD standards, modular open systems approaches (MOSA), and mission-relevant performance metrics

• Lead or significantly contribute to proposal development, including:
• SBIR Phase I, II, and III proposals
• White papers, RFIs, and RFP responses
• Technical volumes, system concepts, and solution architectures
• Shape capture strategies by identifying customer pain points and translating them into compelling technical solutions
• Work closely with Business Development to:
• Identify new ISR opportunities
• Define technical discriminators
• Assess feasibility, risk, and investment requirements
• Participate in customer briefings, concept reviews, and technical interchange meetings (TIMs)
• Support IRAD planning and technology road-mapping aligned with customer demand and future programs

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Physics, or related technical field (Master’s or PhD preferred)
• 10+ years of experience in ISR, defense electronics, or national security systems
• Demonstrated experience serving as technical lead or chief engineer on complex defense programs
• Prior experience writing and contributing to technical proposals
• Direct experience with SBIR proposals preferred (Phase I and/or Phase II)
• Active DoD security clearance (Secret minimum; TS/SCI preferred)
• Strong background in one or more of the following:
• Digital signal processing
• Edge computing / AI / ML processing
• Strong technical judgment with the ability to balance innovation, risk, and schedule
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Hands-on leader who can move between architecture definition and detailed technical execution
• Mission-focused mindset with an emphasis on fielding capability to the warfighter
• Collaborative leader comfortable working across engineering, programs, and business development
• Experience transitioning SBIR or IRAD efforts into Phase III or program-funded contracts [Preferred]
• Familiarity with DoD acquisition pathways and rapid prototyping efforts [Preferred]
• Experience working with both government customers and prime contractors [Preferred]
• Prior responsibility for technical strategy or technology roadmaps [Preferred]
• Experience supporting programs from early development through production and sustainment [Preferred]

Bascom Hunter is an equal opportunity employer. We recruit, employ, train, compensate and promote without regard to race, religion, sex, color, national origin, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, disability/veteran, status as a protected veteran, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state and local law.