Research Engineering Director

Standard Job Description 
 The Director of Engineering provides overall leadership for the engineering organization supporting the SOF GLSS contract. This role is responsible for all product development, functional management, and engineering infrastructure across a ~ $1 B/year portfolio that includes Fixed Wing, Rotary Wing, ground vehicle, and maritime platforms. The selected candidate will drive cost, schedule, and quality excellence while fostering a high performance culture and strong partner collaboration. Approximately 25-50% travel is the expectation if the candidate is not based in Lexington, KY.

Leadership & Management – Direct and mentor a functional engineering team of >180 personnel, including Mission Area Chief Engineers, Platform Project Engineers, and functional managers (ME, EE, SEIT, SW, AeroSciences). Portfolio Oversight – Manage 75+ engineering task orders, ensuring successful execution of design, integration, test, and sustainment activities across AC/MC‑130J, MH‑6, MH‑60, MH‑47, and maritime platforms. Strategic Planning – Develop and maintain the engineering organization roadmap, staffing plans, and 6‑month manpower forecasts using ETCs from COBRA and proposal win forecasts. Process Development – Lead continuous improvement initiatives, including the implementation of concurrent engineering processes, automated dashboards, and Lean/Six‑Sigma methodologies. Customer & Partner Relations – Establish and sustain strong relationships with USSOCOM customers, subcontractors, and broader Lockheed Martin Business Areas; act as primary technical liaison for all engineering related matters. Proposal & Business Development – Contribute to proposal development, Statement of Work creation, cost estimating, and support contract recompete efforts. Risk & Configuration Management – Oversee aircraft and vehicle configuration management, risk assessments, and compliance for airworthiness and sustainment requirements. Reporting & Communication – Provide monthly status briefings to senior leadership (USG, Director, VP, and MFC senior leadership) and maintain rigorous business rhythms (weekly/monthly RYG status). Additiional Information About This Opportunity This role is located in either Lexington, KY or Fort Walton Beach, FL MUST BE A US CITIZEN: This role requires the selected candidate to have the ability to obtain a Secret security clearance Basic Qualifications 
 Minimum 15 years of experience in complex systems development, integration, and test across missiles, ground, fixed wing, rotary wing, and maritime platforms. Demonstrated ability to lead large, distributed engineering teams in GOCO and IDIQ environments. Proven track record managing multi‑task‑order portfolios. Strong expertise in proposal development, SOW creation, schedule management, and cost control. Excellent interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills; ability to interact at all organizational levels. Must be a US citizen and have the ability to obtain an interim Secret clearance after accepting an offer and before starting the position. Desired Skills 
 Broad Multi Platform Technical Expertise – Hands on knowledge of Fixed Wing, Rotary Wing, ground vehicle, missile, and maritime systems to credibly guide engineers across all portfolio platforms. Configuration & Change Management – Proven ability to establish and maintain rigorous configuration baselines (airframe, vehicle, weapons) and to control change across distributed subsystems. Risk & Reliability Leadership – Experience applying FMEA, RCM, and MBSE techniques to anticipate and mitigate technical risks in high tempo, mission critical environments. Advanced Modeling & Simulation – Knowledgeable with ANSYS, MATLAB/Simulink, and CATIA to validate designs, perform performance trades, and provide rapid feedback to engineering teams. Software & Cyber Secure Systems – Understanding of embedded software development