Engineering Manager

Alright, let's talk about this job. I'm helping Leidos find someone to lead a specific group of engineers in San Diego, CA. This isn't a generic management role; you'd be the one steering the team that designs the actual sensors for space based infrared systems. It's a hands on technical leadership position where your expertise directly shapes what gets built and flown.

The Role

You'll manage the Sensor Engineering team. That means optical, electro optical, opto mechanical, and image/data processing engineers. Your job is to guide them from concept to a finished design that can be manufactured and supported on the ground.

It's about providing strategic and technical direction for space based sensor programs. You'll drive innovation and product improvements based on what the mission actually needs. A big part of that is making sure everything is designed with manufacturing in mind from the start.

• Lead engineering efforts across architecture, requirements, and design integration.
• Mentor a cross functional team through the entire product lifecycle.
• Work closely with our Solution Architect and Emerging Technologies groups to pull new tech into active programs.
• Help shape the team's culture and develop your people while delivering product.

What You Absolutely Need

The basics are non negotiable here. We need someone who's been in the trenches and knows how to build things for space.

• A BS degree with 12 to 15 years of relevant experience, or a Masters with 10 to 13 years. A Doctorate in a technical field works too.
• At least five years supervising or leading teams or projects.
• Extensive, practical knowledge of optical design practices and opto mechanical integration for space based systems. You need an in depth understanding of how these things are actually designed and built.
• You must be a U.S. Citizen. You also need to either hold an active Final Secret Clearance right now or be immediately eligible to obtain one and maintain it.

The Stuff That Will Make You Stand Out

If you have this experience, we really want to hear about it.

• Direct experience with Space Based Infrared Sensor solutions, including their image processing and final data products.
• Exposure to DoD program execution; think contracts, finances, subcontractor management.
• Hands on knowledge of specific tools: Zemax, SolidWorks, MATLAB. Experience with CodeV or other optical modelling tools is a big plus.
• The ability to read mechanical drawings, electrical schematics, and manufacturing docs is required.
• A history of collaborating with design engineers, manufacturing engineers, and technicians to plan builds and troubleshoot assembly issues is essential.

A Bit About The Work

The team you'd join works on advanced sensor products for satellite constellations. They handle everything from initial design and prototyping all the way through production support for ground operations. It's part of Leidos Defense's Space Business Area.