Technical Director Systems Engineering - Counter UAS

Job ID: 114653

The Leonardo DRS Land Systems business is a recognized leader in the design and integration of complex technologies into new and legacy systems and platforms for global military and commercial customers. We are a 5 year running Top Workplace in the Greater St. Louis area.

Job Summary

Leonardo DRS Land Systems is seeking a full time Technical Director of Systems Engineering. This position is based out of our Goleta, CA facility and will have the option to work an in person or hybrid schedule. The Technical Director will serve as the senior technical authority for the Goleta site within the Advanced Technology team, responsible for overall technical performance, technical execution, and engineering excellence across rapid development efforts. This role blends systems engineering leadership with hands-on technical direction to drive requirements to implementation and guide the design of products in a fast-paced, prototype-to-production environment.

Job Responsibilities

Technical Leadership and Site Technical Performance
Act as the site Technical Director and primary technical authority for engineering performance at the Goleta location
Own and drive technical execution, engineering rigor, and delivery quality across assigned programs and IRAD
Establish and maintain technical processes, design reviews, and engineering governance appropriate for rapid development and transition to production
Provide technical oversight of architecture decisions, integration approaches, verification strategies, and risk management

Counter UAS Program Execution
Serve as an expert and provide technical direction for Counter UAS system development, including sensor integration, tracking, command and control, and effectors integration as applicable
Lead requirements decomposition, interface definition, system architecture, and trade studies for C-UAS solutions
Ensure solutions align with mission needs, operational constraints, and customer expectations, including SWaP and latency considerations where applicable

Systems Engineering and Rapid Development
Lead cross-functional teams through the full lifecycle: concept, requirements, architecture, design, integration, test, demonstration, and transition
Champion rapid prototyping best practices, including iterative development, early integration, digital engineering where applicable, and disciplined configuration control
Drive technical planning for demos, customer evaluations, field tests, and capability drops

Cross-Functional Collaboration
Partner with Program Management to align scope, schedule, cost, and technical performance
Coordinate across software, hardware, RF, mechanical, test, cyber, and operations teams to deliver integrated system outcomes. Works closely with engineering management team to provide budget, cost, and schedule input for design assignments
Engage with customers and stakeholders as a technical representative, often the DRS Chief Engineer, including technical interchange meetings, design reviews, and program briefings. Participates extensively in preparation of the more complex and significant proposals. Provide strategic insights and plans to progress Goleta's growth and secure additional C-UAS business

Talent and Engineering Culture
Mentor technical leads, systems engineers, and senior engineers; build bench strength for growth in Goleta
Foster a culture of engineering accountability, innovation, and execution discipline. Support, communicate, reinforce and defend the mission, values and culture of the organization

Qualifications
Master's degree in engineering or an equivalent combination of education and experience
10+ years of relevant experience. Significant experience in systems engineering leadership (requirements, architecture, integration and test, verification, risk management)
Demonstrated experience with Counter UAS programs (development, integration, fielding, test, or operational support)
Experience leading rapid development efforts including prototypes, demos, and accelerated delivery timelines
Proven ability to serve as a senior technical decision-maker and lead multi-disciplinary engineering teams
Strong customer-facing skills: ability to present, defend, and communicate technical approaches clearly
Ability to work onsite in Goleta, California as required to lead site technical performance

U.S. Citizenship required. This position requires an active DOD security clearance or the ability to obtain such clearance within a reasonable time after commencement of employment.

The salary range for this position is $188,727.00/year- $254,782.00/year for the state of California. This range reflects the good faith estimate of pay the employer is willing to offer at the time of posting. Several factors can influence the pay scale, including but not limited to: Federal contract labor categories and contract wage rates, collective bargaining agreements, geographic location, business considerations, scope, and responsibilities of the position, local or other applicable market conditions, and internal equity. Other factors include the candidate's qualifications such as prior work experience, specific skills and competencies, education/training, and certifications. In addition to base pay, employees may be eligible for: annual performance-based bonuses, equity awards, and overtime pay (for non-exempt employees as applicable. Our benefits package includes comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, vision), employer matching 401(k) retirement plan, paid time off including vacation, holidays, and sick leave (including ant state-mandated paid sick leave), parental leave benefits, tuition reimbursement, professional development support, and life and disability insurance coverage.

Taking care of our people is a top priority at Leonardo DRS. We are proud to offer competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental, and vision coverage, a company contribution to a health savings account, telemedicine, life and disability insurance, legal insurance, and a 401(k) savings plan. We champion wellness programs that focus on physical, emotional, and financial well-being. We develop our talent by offering programs and activities to support career-growth, professional development, and skill enhancement. And we understand there is more to life than work, and the importance of offering flexible work schedules with our 9/80 program, competitive vacation, health/emergency leave, paid parental leave, and community service hours.
*Some employees are eligible for limited benefits only

Leonardo DRS, Inc. and its subsidiaries provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. #LSY

Our Vision. To be the leading mid-tier defense technology company in the U.S.

Our Values. The Leonardo DRS culture is defined by our Core Values and Principles:

- Integrity
- Agility
- Excellence
- Customer Focus
- Community & Respect
- Innovation

We strive to uphold them in all aspects of our business practices to inspire our employees and provide outstanding support for our customers.