Senior Director Engineering - Site Lead

Company Information:

Twenty-Six Defense, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is a leading provider of high-performance products, system solutions, and aftermarket support services focusing on the defense, homeland security, and commercial aviation markets. With facilities throughout the U.S., Twenty-Six Defense supports those who contribute to the national security of the United States. Twenty-Six Defense is wholly owned by Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ: ESLT and TASE: ESLT), a global high-technology company engaged in a wide range of programs for innovative defense and commercial applications.

Job Summary

The role provides strategic leadership for a major engineering organization, directing senior leaders and managers in the development and execution of long-term functional strategies that support enterprise objectives, operational excellence, and sustained business growth. The incumbent is accountable for organizational performance, resource allocation, workforce capability, budget and capital planning, and the optimization of engineering operations across a significant business segment. This leader drives a culture of accountability, innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement while aligning talent, infrastructure, technology, and financial investments with evolving business priorities. Through enterprise-wide influence and cross-functional partnerships, the role shapes organizational capabilities, resolves complex business challenges, develops future leadership pipelines, and ensures engineering strategies and investments deliver measurable value, competitive advantage, and long-term organizational success.

Responsibilities and Tasks

• Anticipate and shape long-term organizational resource strategies, aligning enterprise staffing, capability development, infrastructure, technology, equipment, and capital investments to achieve strategic business objectives and sustain competitive advantage.
• Provide leadership and direction for a major engineering organization by directing engineering functional senior managers and directors, establishing long-term strategic priorities, advancing a high-performance culture, and ensuring alignment between engineering capabilities and enterprise business objectives.
• Lead enterprise-wide fiscal stewardship initiatives by establishing resource allocation strategies, optimizing organizational investments, and driving operational excellence to maximize business performance, profitability, and sustainable growth while maintaining quality and customer commitments.
• Establish governance and oversight for the development of complex cost models, capital forecasts, and financial analyses, ensuring investment decisions align with strategic priorities and long-range business plans.
• Develop, champion, and secure approval for multi-year operating and capital budget strategies, ensuring funding priorities support organizational objectives, business growth initiatives, and long-term functional strategies.
• Build and sustain a collaborative, high-performing organizational culture by influencing senior leaders, resolving complex cross-functional challenges, and driving alignment around enterprise priorities and business outcomes.
• Foster an environment of trust, accountability, inclusion, and engagement across the organization, promoting leadership behaviors and organizational practices that strengthen workforce commitment, collaboration, and performance.

Skills & Abilities

• Successful experience directing engineering leaders across multiple disciplines and functions.
• Ability to implement departmental strategic goals and monitor progress.
• Ability to provide thorough and accurate information to answer customer questions and meet commitment timelines or performance guarantees.
• Ability to identify and propose appropriate solutions or services for customers and adjust services based on customer feedback.
• Understanding of how to direct programs and projects using lean manufacturing principles and effective supply chain management.
• Advanced understanding of quality systems that support high-quality work.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Advanced computer skills, including the use of electronic information to make timely decisions.
• Ability to lead and inspire department staff to achieve successful business results by working effectively in teams and solving technical problems.
• Recognized leadership abilities and willingness to take initiative.
• Willingness to learn and continuously improve.
• Ability to maintain appropriate confidentiality regarding workplace matters.
• Ability to treat managers and peers with respect.
• Commitment to honesty regarding company time and property.
• Willingness to accept assistance from managers, supervisors, and peers.
• Desire to learn about all products and services offered by the organization.
• Ability to communicate suggestions and critical feedback to senior management.
• Advanced knowledge of the defense and military industry, including specific knowledge of the customer base for the assigned product.
• Ability to determine product costs and prices.
• Knowledge of accounting fundamentals, including profit and loss calculations.
• Ability to select behaviors and actions that support the team and contribute to the accomplishment of work tasks.
• Ability to adapt plans, goals, actions, or priorities in response to changing situations and unexpected events.
• Ability to develop and generate multiple approaches to problems.
• Ability to observe and evaluate solution outcomes, determine whether alternative approaches are needed, and identify lessons learned.

Education, Experience, License, or Certification

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science, physics, or a relevant technical discipline.
• Twelve or more years of relevant experience, including seven or more years of formal management experience, required.
• Training prerequisites to be completed within one year of assuming the position: ESD training and safety training as directed by the Safety Department.

Travel/Physical Requirements

• Up to 25% travel is expected.

Here Are Some of the Great Benefits We Offer:

• Most locations offer a 9/80 schedule, providing every other Friday off
• Competitive compensation & 401(k) program to plan for your future
• Robust medical, dental, vision, & disability coverage with qualified wellness discounts
• Basic Life Insurance and Additional Life & AD&D Insurances are available
• Flexible Vacation & PTO
• Paid Parental Leave
• Generous Employee Referral Program
• Voluntary Benefits Available: Long-Term Care, Legal, Identity Theft, Pet Insurance, and more
• Voluntary Tricare Supplement available for military retirees

This job description does not list all the duties of the job. You may be asked by your supervisors or managers to perform other duties. The employer has the right to revise this job description at any time. The job description is not an employment contract. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position. Twenty-Six Defense is an equal opportunity employer as to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

*For Virginia-based positions only* In accordance with Virginia DOL requirements, the listed salary range reflects the anticipated base pay range for this role. Actual compensation will be determined based on factors including skills, experience, education, certifications, business needs, internal equity, and geographic location. Compensation may vary in different locations based on market conditions and cost-of-labor considerations.

Please ensure your résumé meets the Dayforce upload requirements. Dayforce supports résumé files up to 4 MB. To avoid upload issues, please: save your résumé as a PDF, remove photos/graphics/embedded objects, ensure the file is under 4 MB, and avoid password‑protected PDFs. If you encounter difficulties, try using a different browser (Chrome, Edge, or Safari), an incognito/private window, clearing browser cache, or disabling browser extensions. If you are unable to upload your resume for parsing, you may manually add resume details and/or attach your resume to the Additional Documents section. If you have exhausted all troubleshooting issues above, you may contact TechnicalSupport@26Defense.com. NOTE: Simply emailing a resume to this inbox will not be considered an official application to any job posting.