Director I - Engineering - Chief Engineer

Job Description
BAE Systems is hiring a Director I - Engineering - Chief Engineer to support our Combat Mission Systems (CMS) business in Sterling Heights, MI. The Chief Engineer will support Combat Vehicles and serve as the technical advisor to the Combat Mission Systems Engineering organization. Provide expertise of the US Army’s Ground Vehicle modernization objectives and requirements, including advanced technologies in autonomy, cyber security, AI, survivability, lethality, mobility, and electrification. Represent BAE Systems CMS Engineering at US Army’s technology meetings and events. Develop and maintain robust and productive relationships with the US Army’s program and technical user communities. Serve as the trusted focal point for technical performance and the realm of the possible and feasible while also enabling CMS Engineering to deliver technical solutions and capabilities that meet or exceed US Army’s expectations within the program and CMS cost and schedule objectives. This role will report to the Director - Advanced Technology & Capability.

Combat Mission Systems (CMS) Chief Engineer will be a recognized expert of Ground Vehicle technologies on the basis of their body of work, contemporary publications, patent disclosures and awards, and/or professional awards and distinctions. The Chief Engineer is expected to apply their proven technical expertise and experience to solving challenging problems, delivering innovative products and solutions, and growing/sustaining competitive advantage across CMS portfolio of existing and emerging products. The Chief Engineer shall be an individual contributor, unencumbered by supervisor duties, and is expected to spend 50% of their time contributing as a direct charge employee on programs serving in a range of technical capacities as necessary to effectively apply their know-how to solving problems.

• This position will be onsite and located in Sterling Heights, MI
• There may be up to 25% of travel

Responsibilities:

• Serves as a technical advisor to Advanced Technology and Capabilities Director for US Army combat vehicles’ present and future requirements and objectives.
• Represents BAE Systems Combat Mission Systems at technology exchange meetings and events of US Army, particularly for current and future Ground Vehicles.
• Effectively communicate the value of BAE Systems products to customers, DoW leadership, and the warfighter.
• Develops an overall technical strategy for Combat Vehicles modernization, ensuring that this aligns with CMS’ business goals, with a focus on improving customer capabilities and experiences.
• Performs Vehicle Operation Research by interpreting and understanding customer requirements and user needs to define the solution space, supporting business strategy and objectives through understanding the present and future Combat Ground Vehicle’s concept of operations, and executing operational analyses (scientific and mathematical predictions) with key functional organizations.
• Interprets and formulates how the battle space is changing, both tactics and operational states.
• Provide realistic user scenarios for CMS digital environment for concept development and verification activities of proposed future ground vehicles or sub-systems.
• Monitors Army’s technology trends, capabilities, and objectives, as well as industry’s trends, and make recommendations for future CMS technology investments.
• Researches and recommends new systems and technologies as required, as well as helping guide strategic business decisions and develop long-term strategies. This will require that the Chief Engineer thinks about technology in terms of how it can benefit the company’s customers, and how it can boost business objectives and reputation.
• Provides strategic input into technology road maps, efficiently combining customer needs, product capability, and technology.
• Assesses CMS technical capabilities to meet Army’s future technologies and makes implementable proposals to CMS Engineering Director, and Advanced Technology & Capabilities and the Functional Directors.
• Plans, designs, and implements engineering R&D projects; ensures CMS R&D projects align with the Army’s technology R&D projects.
• Collaborates with cross-functional teams, including Technical Fellows, Software Engineers, Electrical Engineers, Mechanical Engineers, Project Managers, and business leaders to ensure that technology solutions align with business and Army’s needs and objectives.
• Solves technical problems and provides solutions that are technically sound and programmatically executable.
• Utilizes knowledge of forensic techniques to perform failure analyses to determine root cause and corrective actions.
• Provides a System of Systems knowledge and approach, using experience with Modular Open Systems Architecture (MOSA) and Ground Combat Systems Common Infrastructure Architecture (GCIA).
• Drives commonality across the Ground Vehicle programs.
• May direct performance (system) optimization activities including Analysis of Alternatives (AOA), Trade Studies, and System Architecture.

Required Education, Experience, & Skills

• At least an Active Secret Clearance
• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or a directly related technical field, and 12 years work experience or equivalent experience
• Up-to-date knowledge of US Army Ground Vehicle’s current and future technologies, and regulatory requirements and standards
• Record of investigating, advising, and consulting on technical matters
• Contribution of discriminating knowledge and experience to business winning pursuits and proposals
• Record of hands-on problem solving on programs/projects
• Ability to resolve complex and difficult problems, requiring an exceptional degree of ingenuity, creativity, and innovativeness
• Demonstrated ability to make decisions of significant scope and complexity regarding technical approach
• Ability to advise and arbitrate on highly complex or sensitive decisions
• Ability to influence internal and external key decision stakeholders
• Demonstrated ability to work in challenging areas requiring collaboration, creativity, and ingenuity in identifying solutions

Preferred Education, Experience, & Skills

• Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in a directly relevant field
• US Army experience with exposure to battlefield operations and tactics
• Membership and/or participation in the US Army Science Board or similar NDIA boards and panels
• Project and/or proposal leadership experience with US Army programs
• Cost Account Management of technology projects (i.e. IRAD, CRAD)
• Multiple platform design/development experience, including Systems, Mechanical, Controls, Software, Electrical, Materials, and Analysis
• Experience with Autonomy enabled systems/solutions to enhance crew performance to include Human Augmentation, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, HFE, Autonomy (Cognitive), Analyses, Design, Integration, Test, User Evaluations

Pay Information
Full-Time Salary Range: $153377 - $260743

Please note: This range is based on our market pay structures. However, individual salaries are determined by a variety of factors including, but not limited to: business considerations, local market conditions, and internal equity, as well as candidate qualifications, such as skills, education, and experience.

Employee Benefits: At BAE Systems, we support our employees in all aspects of their life, including their health and financial well-being. Regular employees scheduled to work 20+ hours per week are offered: health, dental, and vision insurance; health savings accounts; a 401(k) savings plan; disability coverage; and life and accident insurance. We also have an employee assistance program, a legal plan, and other perks including discounts on things like home, auto, and pet insurance. Our leave programs include paid time off, paid holidays, as well as other types of leave, including paid parental, military, bereavement, and any applicable federal and state sick leave. Employees may participate in the company recognition program to receive monetary or non-monetary recognition awards. Other incentives may be available based on position level and/or job specifics.


About BAE Systems Platforms & Services
BAE Systems, Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of BAE Systems plc, an international defense, aerospace and security company which delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. Improving the future and protecting lives is an ambitious mission, but it’s what we do at BAE Systems. Working here means using your passion and ingenuity where it counts – defending national security with breakthrough technology, superior products, and intelligence solutions. As you develop the latest technology and defend national security, you will continually hone your skills on a team—making a big impact on a global scale. At BAE Systems, you’ll find a rewarding career that truly makes a difference.

The Platforms & Services (P&S) sector under BAE Systems, Inc does the big stuff: the armored combat vehicles, naval guns, missile launchers, and ship repair…just to name a few. Our employees take pride in the work they do and why they do it. They are on the front lines every day, building our products to protect the lives of those who serve. We may be biased, but we think P&S does some of the coolest work around, and we think you will too.