About this role
Dir I- Technical
Job Description: BAE Systems is seeking an experienced and energetic Chief Engineer (CE) to help lead our Tactical Datalink (TDL) product area. TDL is part of our Adaptive Communications and Sensing (AC&S) product line in C4ISR. In this role you will be the ‘hands on’ technical lead of a product area ensuring the system(s), product(s), and service(s) being developed and delivered are viable, fit for purpose, and will satisfy customer needs, product/system requirements, and the mission and/or application. TDL is a growing business area with several development programs aswell as high-rate production programs with a common mission to protect the warfighter.
As a Portfolio Chief Engineer, you are a technical leader for a portfolio of products within the TDL product area, you will be the technical conscience of the program, ensuring the system(s), product(s), and service(s) being developed and delivered are viable, fit for purpose, and will satisfy customer needs, product/system requirements, and the mission and/or application. With the ability to develop and drive a cohesive technology roadmap across the airborne communications portfolio, balancing customer needs, modernization, obsolescence management, and future mission capability growth. The PCE is the primary owner of the technical solution and the technical interface to Program, Engineering, Functional and Executive leadership.
Job Responsibilities Serves as a technical advocate across a diverse portfolio, guiding engineering teams, influencing customer discussions, and supporting strategic business growth Leads (system) architecture design and optimization activities, trades and analyses Strong systems engineering mindset with the ability to oversee complex integrated radio systems, ensuring technical rigor, interoperability, performance, and mission effectiveness across airborne platforms Ensures system design and implementation meet technical requirements and customer/mission needs within allocated engineering cost & schedule Drives technical risk and opportunity definition, identification, and mitigation/realization Technical interface to Customer, Program Management Office, and executive leadership Understand requirements, missions, use cases, and constraints
About BAE Systems Electronic Systems: BAE Systems, Inc. is a defense, aerospace, and security company headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, with more than 40,000 employees worldwide. We serve, supply, and protect those who protect us. As one of the most geographically diverse international defense companies, we deliver a full range of products and services spanning air, land, maritime, space, and cyber, including advanced electronics, intelligence solutions, and dedicated customer support.
Our culture is performance-driven and values-led, built on curiosity, creativity, and collaboration. Purpose isn't a tagline here. It's what drives us. We're developing breakthrough technologies that defend national security and make a lasting impact on our communities and our planet. When you join BAE Systems, you're not just building a career. You're contributing to a mission that truly matters.
This position will be posted for at least 5 calendar days. The posting will remain active until the position is filled, or a qualified pool of candidates is identified.
Required Skills and Education: • Bachelor's Degree (or equivalent experience in a relevant field) with a minimum work experience of: 10+ years • Active Secret DoW clearance with ability to obtain Top Secret and SAP/SAR • Technical leader for significant size team (Chief Engineer, Project Engineering Manager, or equivalent) • Technical understanding of Tactical Data Link systems with NSA Type 1 cryptographic engines, including legacy systems such as Link 16 radios; avionics, navigation and landing systems; and Doppler technologies. • Technical understanding of government emerging next-generation communications architectures • Ability to develop and drive a cohesive technology roadmap across the Tactical Data Link portfolio, balancing sustainment of legacy products with modernization initiatives, emerging mission capabilities, and future customer requirements. • Experience with waveform enhancements, waveform development, weapon data links, and Small Form Factor (SFF) communications, with an understanding of how common technologies and building blocks can be leveraged across the portfolio • Demonstrated ability to maximize technical leverage and reuse across products by driving common architectures, shared processing capabilities, waveform reuse, and scalable engineering solutions that improve affordability and execution • Strong systems engineering mindset with the ability to oversee complex, integrated communications and data link systems, ensuring technical rigor, interoperability, performance, and mission effectiveness across multiple airborne and platform applications • Technical leadership in continuous improvement initiatives, including engineering process maturity, technology reuse, design standardization, risk reduction, and cross-product collaboration to accelerate development and transition to production • Ability to serve as the technical integrator across a diverse portfolio of Chief Engineers, fostering collaboration, aligning technical strategies, identifying synergies, and ensuring consistent execution of portfolio-wide technology investments
Preferred Skills and Education: • Experience maximizing technical leverage and reuse across products, identifying common architectures, shared waveform capabilities, and scalable engineering approaches to improve affordability and execution. • Technical leadership in continuous improvement initiatives, including development process maturity, engineering efficiency, design reuse, and risk reduction across the portfolio • Proven ability to connect emerging DoD and industry technology trends—including advanced tactical data links, open communications architectures, multi-function processing, and next-generation networking—to actionable product strategy and long-term business growth. • Familiarity with NSA certification processes for secure communications products, including experience supporting Crypto Modernization 1 (CM1), Crypto Modernization 2 (CM2), or similar certification efforts for cryptographic or communications systems. • Model based systems engineering experience with tools such as MagicDraw • Active Top Secret DoW clearance with ability to obtain SAP/SAR
Benefits Information: 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.
Intern Benefits: Temporary employees generally are not eligible for BAE Systems benefits, but can elect to participate in the 401(k) savings plan. Temporary employees working 20+ hours per week are eligible for medical benefits, the employee assistance program, and business travel accident insurance.
Please note: Some benefits may be different for union employees that are governed by a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) or for positions covered by a wage law called the McNamara-O’Hara Service Contract Act (SCA).