Program Chief Engineer in Herndon, Virginia at FIBERTEK, INC.

Herndon, VA - Herndon, VA 20171 US (Primary)

Fibertek seeks a Program Chief Engineer to provide technical leadership for one or more programs in Fibertek’s diverse technology portfolio of laser systems & technologies, lidar sensors, and laser communications systems. Fibertek is a recognized industry leader in delivering critical laser-based technologies that enable next generation missions for military and space applications. As a Program Chief Engineer you will provide technical leadership to advanced development programs through systematic engineering and delivery of first-of-kind systems for initial demonstration or qualification on operational airborne or space missions. This role will be the last line of authority for major program-level technical decisions and the first line of communication to customers and mission partners regarding Fibertek’s technical approach and progress toward delivery.

Essential Job Duties:

The Program Chief Engineer will have high-impact responsibilities that include:

• Technical leadership of select programs resulting in the successful delivery of laser-based systems and technologies that demonstrate new operational capabilities critical to national interests in defense and space exploration
• Responsibility for verified compliance with all technical performance, environmental, and functional requirements
• Support the Program Manager and company leadership to develop execution plans that are achievable, measurable, and reflect company and mission priorities
• Representation of Fibertek serving as the main point of contact to customers and mission partners on system design and technical progress
• Leadership and mentoring of a diverse and extremely talented program team of engineers and scientists with expertise across related disciplines including laser physics, electro-optics, systems engineering, electronics, signal processing, and others
• Leadership of teams through major technical decisions and analyses that have a high impact on program success, including architecture development, design trades, anomaly resolution & troubleshooting, and system verification methods
• Guidance and review of teams preparing for program milestone reviews including Preliminary and Critical Design Reviews, Test Readiness Reviews, Delivery and Acceptance Reviews, and/or other technical milestones
• Provide input on the development and adoption of engineering tools and best-practices that enhance the efficiency and operational success of engineering development programs and incorporate design features that enable predictable manufacturing following initial development and demonstration

Experience and Expertise Required:

• Master’s or PhD degree in a relevant engineering or applied-science field
• >10 years professional experience including demonstrated success leading large and diverse technical teams in an engineering or technology-development organization
• Specific experience engineering, qualifying, and delivering electro-optical systems for US space and/or military applications
• Technical expertise in one or more of the following skill areas: laser systems, LIDAR sensors, optical communication systems, optical systems engineering, and/or qualification of systems and technologies for aerospace and defense
• Familiarity with industry-standard engineering tools in one or more disciplines: requirements tracking and verification, model-based systems engineering, circuit design and simulation, thermal and structural analysis, optical design and tolerance analysis, and/or others
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with the ability to concisely articulate how technical solutions and maturation plans are innovative, technically credible, and responsive to current and emerging mission needs
• US Citizenship and eligibility to obtain a US Security Clearance