Head of Vehicle Engineering - Millennium Space Systems

Job Description
At Boeing, we innovate and collaborate to make the world a better place. We're committed to fostering an environment for every teammate that's welcoming, respectful and inclusive, with great opportunity for professional growth. Find your future with us.
Millennium Space Systems, a part of Boeing Defense, Space and Security (BDS), is a fast, agile small satellite company focused on national security space. Our missions have direct impact to global security, like missile warning and Earth observation.
Our team is curious, bold and innovative. We take risks, innovate and explore new techniques and technologies. We influence change because we challenge the status quo. And when we watch our satellites launch, we know each one of us made it happen.
Job Summary:
As Director of Vehicle Engineering, you will inspire, coordinate, and lead the vehicle engineering team to deliver the technical work products, schedules, and budgets. The director is the advocate for the functional engineering team to ensure they have the required resources to exceed customer expectations. You will work with the other directors and the VP of engineering as a team representing the companies' engineering leaders. You will develop and sustain a vision for continued growth and improved efficiency for the vehicle engineering team. The vehicle engineering teams own design integration, vehicle performance, and subsystem program execution for scope across; mechanical, thermal, structural, harness, propulsion and mechanical ground support engineering teams.
Position Responsibilities:
Engineering Communication & Strategic Alignment

• Communication with Engineering Teams:
  • Provide overall company happenings and provide context to get ahead of swirl. Explain situations in context of the employee, the team, and Millennium
  • Provide rationale and background for higher level decisions Sets the technical direction and standards for mechanical, thermal, structural, harness, propulsion and mechanical ground support engineering teams
  • Establish and maintain the standardization of project management tools to drive commonality in how we implement our design (e.g. template IMS and WBS)
  • Establish Objectives and KPIs that align with company goals and measure engineering performance across the organization
  • Implement organizational initiatives and corrective actions to meet and improve upon performance targets

Program Execution & Technical Oversight

• Functional Oversight and Support of Program Execution
  • Coordinates risk management across teams; escalates and prioritizes critical risks
  • Oversee program-level schedules, ensure resource balancing, and approve staffing plans
  • Review and approves proposal labor estimates and technical baselines; manages bid efforts
  • Manages communication with program directors and PMs regarding technical work products and performance, as well as communicating impacts due to corporate prioritization

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Cross-team collaboration to enforce commonality of tools, analysis, processes, and standards
• Partner closely with Quality and Safety team to ensure risk posture is well understood, and standards are up to date with your team's processes
• Work closely with Manufacturing leadership teams to provide support in designing for manufacturability and resolution of complex non-conformance resolution during all working shifts
• Work with Manufacturing team to scale design as required across program portfolios - establish processes and standards within your team to support this effort
• Work in conjunction with Program Management to meet execution milestones and address blockers/help needed

Process Improvement & Operational Efficiency

• Process Improvement: look for cross-team relationships and help set priorities on what team managers recommend Establish & maintain interview processes and staffing plans
• Approves tools/software for efficient use across engineering teams; manages associated costs
• Manage OH budget across engineering teams (managers, meetings, software, training, tools & equipment), including approval of software with means for efficient use across teams

Talent Development & Leadership

• Mentoring and Performance Reviews of Front-Line Managers ETLs and any other direct reports:
  • Providing regular 1:1 meeting with direct reports
  • Providing formal feedback and raising requests per company guidelines
  • Identification of talent for Technical Fellow positions and career growth paths
  • Sponsors cross-team initiatives to drive innovation; identifies and supports transformational technologies

This position's internal job code is Mech & Structural Engr Mgr. Our team is currently hiring for level L.
This position is expected to be 100% onsite. The selected candidate will be required to work onsite at one of the listed locations.
This position requires the ability to obtain a U.S. Security Clearance for which the U.S. Government requires U.S. Citizenship. A Final U.S. Top Secret Security Clearance is required post start.
Basic Requirements: (Required Skills/Experience):

• Minimum of 14 years of experience as an engineering professional in the aerospace and/or defense industry
• 4 years' experience as a functional manager
• Experience having served as or currently serving as a Project Lead, and/or functional manager in spacecraft development
• Demonstrated knowledge of satellite systems and components
• Demonstrated ability in vehicle engineering design integration, and analysis for spacecraft bus/structure products.
• Experience in the following fields:
  • Structural Design and Analysis (static, dynamic, loads, FEM)
  • Thermal Design and Analysis
  • Mechanical Systems and Mechanisms
  • Propulsion Systems
  • Harness and Cable Design
  • Design for Manufacturability and Sustainment
  • Integration, Assembly, and Test (AI&T) flow
• This position requires the ability to obtain a U.S. Security Clearance for which the U.S. Government requires U.S. Citizenship. A Final Post-Start Top Secret Clearance is required.

Preferred Qualifications (Desired Skills/Experience):

• Experience with iterative and/or agile development processes
• Experience with CAD tools (NX, SolidWorks, Creo) and PLM systems (Teamcenter)
• Experience with 3D harness modeling or other integration tools
• Experience with structural/thermal analysis tools (Nastran, Patran, Thermal Desktop)
• Experience with designing vehicles for production at scale (>100 per year)
• Experience with git, JIRA, confluence
• Aerospace industry experience
• National Security experience
• Active U.S. Top Secret/SCI Security Clearance

Conflict of Interest:
Successful candidates for this job must satisfy the Company's Conflict of Interest (COI) assessment process
Drug Free Workplace:
Millennium Space Systems, a Boeing Company, is a Drug Free Workplace (DFW) where post offer applicants and employees are subject to testing for marijuana, cocaine, opioids, amphetamines, PCP, and alcohol when criteria is met as outlined in our policies.
Total Rewards:
At Millennium Space Systems, a Boeing Company, we strive to deliver a Total Rewards package that will attract, engage and retain the top talent. Elements of the Total Rewards package include competitive base pay and variable compensation opportunities.
Millennium Space Systems also provides eligible employees with an opportunity to enroll in a variety of benefit programs, generally including health insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life and disability insurance programs, and a number of programs that provide for both paid and unpaid time away from work.
The specific programs and options available to any given employee may vary depending on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.
Pay is based upon candidate experience and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations.
Summary Pay Range:

• Level L: $174,500 - $260,000

Millennium is DDTC-registered, ITAR-compliant Company. This position is located at a facility that requires special access. Applicants MUST be U.S. citizens and eligible for a security clearance. Additionally, applicants must be willing to apply for and maintain a security clearance. We encourage all interested candidates to apply for any open position for which they feel they are qualified.
Category = Engineering
Applications for this position will be accepted until Oct. 09, 2026
Export Control Requirements:
This position must meet U.S. export control compliance requirements. To meet U.S. export control compliance requirements, a "U.S. Person" as defined by 22 C.F.R. §120.62 is required. "U.S. Person" includes U.S. Citizen, U.S. National, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee.
Export Control Details:
US based job, US Person required
Relocation
Relocation assistance is not a negotiable benefit for this position.
Security Clearance
This position requires the ability to obtain a U.S. Security Clearance for which the U.S. Government requires U.S. Citizenship. An interim and/or final U.S. Top Secret Clearance Post-Start is required.
Visa Sponsorship
Employer will not sponsor applicants for employment visa status.
Shift
This position is for 1st shift
Equal Opportunity Employer:
Boeing is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.