Director of Engineering

COMPENSATION: Competitive salary, bonus, equity and benefits

You may already run a successful engineering function. The question is whether you have the authority, executive access and product ownership your experience deserves.

This opportunity puts you in charge of an entire multidisciplinary engineering organisation, reporting directly to the CTO and Co-Founder and joining the executive team from day one.

The company develops and manufactures Hall-effect electric propulsion systems for operational satellite constellations. It has delivered 33 units to a US national-security programme and now produces around 12 systems each month, with further growth underway.

This is flight-proven technology with real customers and expanding production, supported by the financial strength of an established spacecraft manufacturer.

The opportunity

You will lead around 30 engineers, growing toward 40, across hardware, software and test. The organisation includes four engineering groups and seven direct reports.

As the CTO’s right hand on delivery, you will own engineering schedules, budgets, resources and organisational performance. You will keep current production on track while helping move a next-generation propulsion system toward proto-flight.

The structure is flat, so you will remain close to the technology, teams and decisions. This is not an administrative leadership role or one sitting beneath several management layers.

What you will own

• Engineering delivery across hardware, software and test
• Leadership of four engineering groups and seven direct reports
• Programme schedules, budgets, resources and delivery priorities
• Engineering reporting and decision-making at executive levelResolution of technical, organisational and programme roadblocks
• Development of engineering processes and best practices
• Growth of the organisation from 30 toward 60 engineers

Why this is worth leaving a good role for

• Full ownership of the engineering organisation
• An executive-team seat from day one
• A direct working relationship with the CTO and Co-Founder
• Responsibility for both existing production and next-generation development
• Flight-proven products rather than technology awaiting its first customer
• The pace and visibility of a focused engineering company
• The resources and stability of an established aerospace parent
• Scope to shape the organisation, leadership structure and operating model
• A technical culture focused on delivery without relying on burnout

Your background

This is not a space-only search. Relevant leadership experience could come from space, aerospace, defence, automotive or regulated medical devices.

• Experience leading a sizeable, multidisciplinary engineering organisation
• Strong product-development and manufacturing experience
• Technical grounding across hardware and software
• Ownership of schedules, budgets and complex programme delivery
• Experience taking products from development into repeatable production
• Confidence making technical, commercial and resource trade-offs
• Experience operating within a formal quality system

Why Houghton?

Houghton offers a different proposition from the major aerospace hubs.

It is home to Michigan Technological University and an established engineering community, creating access to technical talent, research and a strong local innovation network.

Located on the Keweenaw Peninsula beside Lake Superior, the area offers year-round access to hiking, mountain biking, boating, skiing and snow sports. It suits people who value outdoor space, a close community and a lifestyle away from the congestion and cost of larger technology centres.

This is an on-site leadership role because the Director needs to remain close to the teams, production activity and technical decisions. For someone interested in combining executive-level engineering ownership with a more outdoor-focused lifestyle, Houghton is an important part of the opportunity.

This role suits an engineering leader who wants full organisational authority, direct influence at executive level and the opportunity to scale technology that is already manufactured, delivered and operating in orbit.