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Director Chief Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

White Lodging

Chief Engineer

Raleigh, NC

If you're a Chief Engineer, Director of Engineering, Facilities Manager, or senior hotel maintenance professional looking for Chief Engineer jobs in Raleigh, North Carolina or hotel engineering ...

Dynamic Aviation

Chief Engineer

Bridgewater, VA · On-site

The Chief Engineer reports to the Director of Engineering and PMO and serves as a peer to the Engineering Manager. Technical authority to design standards, baseline approval, qualification governance ...

Bowhead

Chief Engineer

Panama City, FL

Overview Chief Engineer (TYAFB-2026-25046): Bowhead Marine Support Services seeks a Chief Engineer ... Operate and maintain the 120' Missile Retriever main engines and propulsion equipment in direct ...

Campus Apartments

Chief Engineer

Washington, DC · On-site

Direct and coordinate maintenance and repair activities for all facility systems. * Develop and ... Chief Engineer Qualifications * Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Facilities Management, or a ...

Campus Apartments

Chief Engineer

Washington, DC · On-site

Direct and coordinate maintenance and repair activities for all facility systems. * Develop and ... Chief Engineer Qualifications * Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Facilities Management, or a ...

Alutiiq, LLC

Chief Engineer

Washington, DC · On-site

$68.41/hr

Position Overview The Chief Engineer is responsible to assist the PM in the supervision of the ... Afognak Native Corporation and Afognak's direct and indirect subsidiaries, partnerships, joint ...

Cushman & Wakefield

Chief Engineer

Concord, NC

Job Title Chief Engineer Summary The Chief Engineer will be responsible for managing the daily ... Direct or participate in various facility programs and committees relating to assigned ...

Jones Lang LaSalle IP, Inc.

Chief Engineer

Franklin, MA · On-site

Chief Engineer - Critical Operations Lead Serve as a technical engineering leader at JLL! The Chief ... Please direct any other general recruiting inquiries to our Contact Us page > I want to work for ...

Cushman & Wakefield

Chief Engineer

Arlington, VA

Job Title Chief Engineer Summary Chief Engineer is responsible for the effective daily leadership ... Participate and coordinate annual scheduling and execution of the C&W Safety Program as directed by ...

Cushman & Wakefield

Chief Engineer

Concord, NC · On-site

Job Title Chief Engineer Summary Chief Engineer is responsible for the effective daily leadership ... Participate and coordinate annual scheduling and execution of the C&W Safety Program as directed by ...

Cushman & Wakefield

Chief Engineer

Concord, NC · On-site

Job Title Chief Engineer Summary Chief Engineer is responsible for the effective daily leadership ... Participate and coordinate annual scheduling and execution of the C&W Safety Program as directed by ...

Cushman & Wakefield

Chief Engineer

Concord, NC

Job Title Chief Engineer Summary Chief Engineer is responsible for the effective daily leadership ... Participate and coordinate annual scheduling and execution of the C&W Safety Program as directed by ...

Cushman & Wakefield

Chief Engineer

Houston, TX

Job Title Chief Engineer Summary POSITION SUMMARY Chief Engineer is responsible for the effective ... Participate and coordinate annual scheduling and execution of the C&W Safety Program as directed by ...

Janicki Industries, Inc.

Chief Engineer

Hamilton, WA

We are looking for a Chief Engineer to join our growing team. This position is located on-site in ... Lead and direct multidisciplinary engineering teams through all phases of product development, from ...

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How much do director chief engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 20, 2026, the average yearly pay for director chief engineer in the United States is $194,709.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $141,500.00 and $253,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by a Director Chief Engineer when leading multidisciplinary engineering teams?

A Director Chief Engineer often oversees teams composed of professionals from different engineering disciplines, which can present challenges in aligning goals, communication styles, and technical approaches. Successfully managing these teams requires strong leadership to ensure cross-functional collaboration, clear delegation of responsibilities, and conflict resolution. Additionally, the role demands staying updated on industry trends and technological advancements to guide the team strategically, while balancing project deadlines and resource allocation. Building a culture of innovation and continuous improvement is key to overcoming these challenges.

What are Director Chief Engineers?

Director Chief Engineers are senior engineering leaders responsible for overseeing the technical direction and strategy of an organization or large engineering department. They combine executive-level management skills with deep technical expertise to guide engineering teams, ensure high-quality project delivery, and align engineering goals with business objectives. Their role often includes mentoring engineers, establishing engineering standards, and collaborating with other executives to drive innovation and organizational growth.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Director Chief Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Director Chief Engineer, you need extensive experience in engineering leadership, advanced technical knowledge in your field, and typically a bachelor’s or master’s degree in engineering or a related discipline. Familiarity with project management tools, engineering software (such as CAD or simulation platforms), and relevant certifications like PMP or PE are commonly required. Exceptional soft skills include strategic thinking, strong communication, and the ability to motivate and lead multidisciplinary teams. These skills ensure that complex engineering projects are executed efficiently, align with organizational goals, and drive innovation and operational excellence.

What is the difference between Director Chief Engineer vs Project Engineer?

AspectDirector Chief EngineerProject Engineer
CredentialsEngineering degree, professional engineer license, extensive experienceEngineering degree, relevant certifications, some experience
Work EnvironmentOversees engineering teams, strategic planning, high-level decision makingManages specific projects, coordinates with teams, technical execution
Employer & Industry UsageEngineering firms, construction, manufacturing, energyConstruction, civil engineering, infrastructure projects

The main difference is that the Director Chief Engineer focuses on strategic leadership and overseeing multiple engineering projects or departments, while the Project Engineer handles the technical execution and management of individual projects. Both roles require engineering credentials, but the Director Chief Engineer has a broader scope and higher-level responsibilities.

What cities are hiring for Director Chief Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Director Chief Engineer job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Chief Engineer jobs? The most popular types of Chief Engineer jobs are:
What states have the most Director Chief Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Director Chief Engineer jobs include:
Director Chief Engineer jobs near you
Sr Director, Chief Engineering (R4667)

Sr Director, Chief Engineering (R4667)

Shield AI

Washington, DC

Full-time

Posted 16 days ago

Be an early applicant

Job description

Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software and V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube. 

Job Description:
The Chief Engineering Sr Director leads and develops a team of Chief Engineers responsible for technical execution and delivery of software development and integration of Hivemind across multiple customer platforms. Chief Engineers serve as the primary engineering interface for their assigned projects and are responsible for maintaining the technical continuity across all engineering disciplines, ensuring execution on schedule and deliverables that delight the customer. 
 
This role ensures the Chief Engineering team is equipped, aligned, and empowered to define scope, remove technical blockers, manage cross-functional dependencies, identify integration issues, and prevent technical debt before it materializes. The Sr. Director drives consistency in how Chief Engineers balance technical rigor, risk, schedule, and cost in close partnership with Program Management. 
What you'll do:
  • This is a senior leadership role combining technical depth, organizational influence, and people development. Core responsibilities for this role as follows: 
 
  • Team Leadership and Development:
  • --Manage, mentor, and grow the team serving as project technical authorities on Hivemind Solutions projects 
  • --Set clear expectations for ownership, decision velocity, and accountability 
  • --Coach on cross-functional influence, executive communication, and customer-facing leadership 
  • --Conduct performance reviews and career development planning 
 
  • Functional Excellence:
  • --Establish and improve Chief Engineering standards, tools, and best practices, including in the areas of scope definition, trade management, technical risk identification and management, project execution, technical integration and problem solving 
  • --Drive lessons learned and continuous improvement initiatives 
 
  • Technical Alignment:
  • --Ensure projects maintain a consistent system-level view through integration of project inputs from all applicable engineering disciplines including Flight Systems Integration, Test, Infrastructure, etc 
  • --Identify interface risks, integration gaps, and technical debt early and prevent downstream churn 
  • --Promote disciplined decision-making that considers cross-functional interdependencies 
  • --Facilitate technical alignment through design reviews
 
  • Program Manager Partnership:
  • --Ensure Chief Engineers actively assess the impact of technical decisions on risk, schedule, and cost 
  • --Create clear escalation paths for cross-project technical conflicts 
  • --Ensure technical risks are surfaced, documented, and mitigated 
  • --Reinforce the expectation that Chief Engineers proactively steer projects 
  • --Support proposal development, estimating, and resource planning, coordinating cross-discipline Engineering inputs as a single voice for Engineering to the project 
 
  • Culture:
  • --Build a collaborative culture where teams are empowered to move fast while remaining technically rigorous 
  • --Foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement, reinforcing extreme ownership of outcomes 
  • --Develop a culture of integrators, listeners, organizers, motivators, and communicators 
  • --Promote clarity in technical communication and decision rationale 
Required qualifications:
  • 15+ years of experience in complex technical systems (autonomy, aerospace, defense, distributed software, or similar domains) 
  • Prior experience as a Chief Engineer, Technical Lead, Project Engineer, or equivalent system-level authority 
  • Deep cross-functional understanding across software, autonomy, systems engineering, and integration 
  • Proven experience leading cross-functional teams of senior engineers or technical leaders 
#LI-ED1
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Full-time regular employee offer package:
Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity
 
Temporary employee offer package:
Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)
 
Salary compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check. Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits. Please speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information.
 
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Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know. 

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.