Draper is an independent, nonprofit research and development company headquartered in Cambridge, MA. The 2,000+ employees of Draper tackle important national challenges with a promise of delivering successful and usable solutions. From military defense and space exploration to biomedical engineering, lives often depend on the solutions we provide. Our multidisciplinary teams of engineers and scientists work in a collaborative environment that inspires the cross-fertilization of ideas necessary for true innovation. For more information about Draper, visit www.draper.com.

Our work is very important to us, but so is our life outside of work. Draper supports many programs to improve work-life balance including workplace flexibility, employee clubs ranging from photography to yoga, health and finance workshops, off site social events and discounts to local museums and cultural activities. If this specific job opportunity and the chance to work at a nationally renowned R&D innovation company appeals to you, apply now www.draper.com/careers.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Draper is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. We understand the value of diversity and its impact on a high-performance culture. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information.

Draper is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, please contact hr@draper.com.

The Systems Production, Mission Operations & Enhancements Division Leader will be responsible for the organizational leadership and second line management of a broad team of Technical Staff Members, Contractors, Administrative Support Personnel, and the Division's graduate and undergraduate students aligned with Draper's Systems Design to Production and Mission Operations capability. The Division Leader will engage engineers in solving challenges related to technical advancement, test, field support, and customer enhancement solutions across all of Draper's business units. The Systems Production, Mission Operations & Enhancements Division resides within the Systems Engineering Directorate in the Engineering Organization.

The Production, Mission Operations, and Enhancements Division is responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining processes for maturing technologies and the associated manufacturing methods (TRL/MRL advancement) throughout the product development lifecycle. The division works collaboratively with cross-functional engineering teams to implement design-for-test, promote the reusability of work products, and establish a systematic approach for controlling product development and manufacturing costs (Design-to-Unit Production Cost).

In addition, the Division provides engineering field support to customers and stakeholders for system integration and test, maintenance, and repair activities and develops, implements, and maintains robust surveillance programs for fielded systems and the associated support and test equipment. The division provides analysis for maintainability and reliability, provides expertise for maintaining product security from initial concept through fielding.

Specific Division Leader Responsibilities include:

Organizational Leadership:

Lead a team of talented engineers by providing clear direction, mentorship, and guidance, while fostering a collaborative and inclusive work environment.
1. Develop and implement a Division strategy (and group strategies) that support Draper's Strategic Plan.
2. Manage personnel resources for projects staffed by the Division.

Staff development:

1. Develop the organization's future leader's careers through mentoring, growth assignments, professional seminars, and other educational opportunities.
2. Foster a learning and growth-oriented atmosphere by providing regular feedback, coaching, and development opportunities for team members.
3. Focus on building a community across the division through various, diverse streams.

Hiring:

1. Actively participate in recruitment efforts to attract top engineering talent, promoting diversity and inclusion within the team.
2. Effectively onboard and provide networking opportunities to new staff for long-term integration.

Technical Leadership:

1. Develop and transition technology to more mature technology readiness levels.
2. Oversee the quality execution of projects led by Division staff.

Systems Engineering Implementation and Oversight:

1. Understand and implement Systems Digital Engineering best practices.
2. Manage the division's overhead and capital budgets.
3. Drive effective communication and collaboration within the engineering team and across the organization, promoting knowledge sharing and best practices.

Strategic Leadership:

1. Demonstrate strong problem solving, decision-making, delegation, and communication skills.
2. Drive the development and execution of engineering strategies that align with our overall goals and vision.
3. Develop and manage budgets, resource allocation, and project timelines to optimize team performance and deliver on strategic objectives.

B.S. required (M.S. or Ph.D. preferred) in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical/Computer Engineering, Computer Science or equivalent with 15+ years of relevant experience in the leadership of strategic systems research and development. The qualified candidate must have substantial prior organizational leadership experience managing a large group or team of people (20+) as a project leader, technical director, or line manager. Experience achieving results through proven use of other leaders is essential.

The qualified candidate must be performance driven, a self-starter, and have demonstrated the ability to set organizational vision and achieve results. The ability to work within a team environment is a must. The final candidate selected will be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information. An existing Top Secret security clearance, or the ability to obtain this clearance, is desired.

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