Corporate Senior Director of Engineering

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Madison Heights, MI, US

Salary Range: $ To $ Annually

Building on our legacy of engineering and manufacturing vehicle-based products for the military, ND Defense is expanding into maritime, aerospace, electronics, and adjacent defense markets. As the platforms our customers require are increasingly software-defined, electrified, and automated, we are seeking an engineering leader with a solid vehicle systems foundation and experience in (and enthusiasm for) one or more of the following: software, electrification, or automated platforms.

This role owns engineering delivery for the company, develops and leads the engineering team, and serves as the senior technical voice with customers and in new bid efforts.

We are seeking a strong engineer with a clear record of career progression who is prepared to modernize how an established engineering organization works.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

DESIRED TRAITS

• An AI-forward approach to engineering.A demonstrated interest in using modern tools to increase what a lean engineering team can deliver. Extensive experience is welcome but not required; curiosity, willingness to experiment, and a history of adopting new tools quickly matter more.
• Team leadership and on-time delivery.The ability to build enthusiasm within an experienced engineering group for working differently, while consistently closing programs on schedule.
• Cross-functional collaboration.A commitment to building a positive, collaborative engineering culture that partners effectively with Supply Chain, Quality, Manufacturing, Contracts, Finance, HR, BD and IT.
• Comfort with risk and ambiguity.The ability to make timely decisions confidently with incomplete information, own the outcome, and adjust as conditions change.
• A lean operating instinct.A track record of questioning inherited process, eliminating low-value steps, and achieving more with a small team.
• Hands-on technical credibility.Sufficient depth in vehicle systems to be able to engage personally in technical detail and provide assistance to the engineering team as needed.

TECHNICAL DEPTH

We require demonstrated engineering strength in at least one of the following areas, with working knowledge of the others.

• Vehicle Systems engineering and integration.This role requires working familiarity with heavy truck, tactical vehicle, or comparable heavy-duty vehicle systems. Specialist depth in chassis or driveline is not necessary, but candidates must have sufficient command of vehicle-level integration to make sound technical and resourcing decisions.
• Software and embedded systems.Software-defined vehicle architecture, embedded computing, vehicle networks, controls software, and open architecture approaches, including the discipline required to manage software development within a hardware-centric organization. IP development experience preferred but not required.
• Electrification.High-voltage architecture, energy and power management, battery and power electronics integration, and thermal management.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the engineering function across new program starts, owning delivery on schedule, within budget, and to customer technical requirements. (
  
  Note:
  
  Program Management is embedded in the engineering function, and Engineering Technical Leads and PM’s report through the engineering organization.)
• Participate directly in architecture and design decisions across mechanical, electrical, systems, software, and test disciplines.
• Function as a working engineer when workload overflow dictates.
• Assess engineering workload by program and discipline, translating scope into staffing plans, schedules, and external resource requirements.
• Work with contracts and compliance to ensure compliance with ITAR, export control, FAR/DFARS, MIL-SPEC/MIL-STD, CMMC, and program-specific CDRL requirements.

Team Development and Modernization

• Build, develop, and lead a multi-disciplinary engineering organization spanning mechanical, electrical, systems, software, and test…