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Engineering Leadership Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

IDEX

Engineering Manager

Linthicum, MD · On-site

This role combines technical leadership, people leadership, and hands-on engineering execution. Initially, the successful candidate will operate as a working manager, directly contributing to ...

IDEX Corporation

Engineering Manager

Linthicum, MD · On-site

This role combines technical leadership, people leadership, and hands-on engineering execution. Initially, the successful candidate will operate as a working manager, directly contributing to ...

IDEX

Engineering Manager

Linthicum, MD · On-site

$124 - $186/hr

Engineering Leadership * Lead engineering activities supporting the existing product portfolio throughout the product lifecycle. * Own execution of engineering priorities, including product ...

TekWissen

Engineering Manager

Manassas, VA

Experience leading teams and departments in meeting continuous improvement goals, making step ... S. in Engineering * Manufacturing experience in one or more of the following: * Advanced Cells ...

[solidcore]

Director of Engineering

Arlington, VA · Hybrid

This leader will oversee internal engineers, external engineering partners, and QA resources while partnering closely with Product, Digital, Business Systems, Marketing, Lifecycle, CX, and Operations ...

M.C. Dean, Inc

Deputy Engineering Leader

Annapolis, MD · On-site

$104K - $130K/yr

They provide engineering leadership for the functional, physical, commissioning and project engineering disciplines, as well as being responsible for client ownership, engineering finances and ...

[solidcore]

Director of Engineering

Arlington, VA · On-site

This leader will oversee internal engineers, external engineering partners, and QA resources while partnering closely with Product, Digital, Business Systems, Marketing, Lifecycle, CX, and Operations ...

[solidcore]

Director of Engineering

Arlington, VA · Hybrid

This leader will oversee internal engineers, external engineering partners, and QA resources while partnering closely with Product, Digital, Business Systems, Marketing, Lifecycle, CX, and Operations ...

Everfox

Head of Product Engineering

Herndon, VA · On-site

$171K - $177K/yr

Leadership Expectations This role will: * Create a culture of execution and operational excellence. * Build trust through transparency, accountability, and disciplined decision-making. * Lead ...

M.C. Dean, Inc

Engineering Leader 2

Tysons, VA · On-site

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) training * National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET) training The Engineering Leader 2 required skills are:

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Engineering Leadership information

See Washington salary details

$52.7K

$166.3K

$197.1K

How much do engineering leadership jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 25, 2026, the average yearly pay for engineering leadership in Washington is $166,342.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $131,900.00 and $195,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is engineering leadership?

An Engineering Leadership job involves guiding and managing engineering teams to deliver technical projects effectively. Leaders in this role balance technical expertise with team management, ensuring productivity, innovation, and alignment with business goals. Responsibilities often include hiring, mentoring engineers, setting technical direction, and collaborating with other departments. Strong communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills are essential.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in engineering leadership?

To thrive in Engineering Leadership, you need a robust background in engineering principles, project management, and team oversight, typically backed by an engineering degree and experience in technical roles. Familiarity with project management tools like Jira, agile methodologies, and certifications such as PMP or Six Sigma are valued. Strong communication, conflict resolution, and strategic thinking distinguish top performers in this position. These skills ensure effective guidance of engineering teams, successful project delivery, and alignment with organizational goals.

What are the common challenges faced in engineering leadership roles and how can they be addressed?

Engineering Leadership roles often involve balancing technical priorities, managing diverse teams, and aligning project goals with business objectives. Leaders may face challenges such as resolving resource constraints, integrating new technologies, and navigating stakeholder expectations. Success in this role requires proactive communication, continuous team development, and flexibility in problem-solving. By building strong relationships across departments and fostering a culture of innovation, engineering leaders can effectively guide their teams through complex projects and drive impactful results.

How to get into engineering leadership?

To enter engineering leadership, professionals typically need several years of technical experience, strong problem-solving skills, and leadership abilities. Gaining management experience, developing communication skills, and pursuing relevant certifications or advanced degrees can also support advancement into leadership roles.

What is the hierarchy of engineering leadership positions?

Engineering leadership positions typically follow a hierarchy starting from Engineering Manager or Lead Engineer, progressing to Director of Engineering, then Vice President of Engineering, and ultimately Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Each level involves increasing responsibility for strategic planning, team management, and technical decision-making. Advancement often requires strong technical skills, leadership ability, and experience managing larger teams or projects.

What are popular job titles related to Engineering Leadership jobs in Washington?

For Engineering Leadership jobs in Washington, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Engineering Leadership jobs in Washington look for?

The top searched job categories for Engineering Leadership jobs in Washington are:

Engineering Leadership jobs near you
Infographic showing various Engineering Leadership job openings in Washington as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 87% Full Time, 10% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 79% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 19% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $166,342 per year, or $80 per hour.

Director, Engineering Excellence & Enablement

Washington, DC • On-site

Shield AI
Software Development • 11 - 50 employees
Learn more about Shield AIexternal

$210K - $320K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 4 days ago

Job description

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, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. 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 Director of Engineering Excellence & Enablement is a strategic leader responsible for improving the effectiveness, efficiency, and execution maturity of the engineering organization. Reporting to the VP of Engineering, this leader partners closely with Engineering, Product, Program Management, and other cross-functional leaders to translate company and product strategy into scalable engineering capabilities, operational rhythms, and enterprise-wide initiatives. 

This role is equal parts strategy, execution, organizational design, and operational excellence. Success is measured by enabling engineering teams to deliver predictably, operate efficiently, and continuously improve while maintaining alignment across the broader organization. 

What you'll do:
Engineering Strategy & Organizational Enablement 
  •  Partner with the VP of Engineering to translate business and product strategy into engineering capabilities, operating models, and execution plans. 
  • Develop and evolve the engineering operating system, including planning processes, governance, decision-making frameworks, and organizational rhythms. 
  • Identify capability gaps and recommend investments in people, processes, tooling, and organizational structure. 
Engineering Excellence 
  • Define and drive engineering excellence initiatives focused on developer productivity, quality, reliability, operational maturity, and continuous improvement. 
  • Establish engineering effectiveness metrics and dashboards that provide visibility into organizational health, delivery performance, and engineering productivity. 
  • Champion adoption of modern engineering practices, standards, and continuous improvement methodologies. 
Operational Cadence & Execution 
  • Establish and facilitate consistent engineering operating cadences including strategic planning, quarterly planning, roadmap reviews, engineering leadership meetings, business reviews, and operational retrospectives/after-action reviews. 
  • Drive accountability for execution across engineering leadership while identifying and resolving organizational bottlenecks. 
  • Improve planning accuracy, prioritization, dependency management, and execution predictability. 
Enterprise Engineering Initiatives 
  • Lead complex, cross-functional engineering initiatives that span multiple teams and organizations. 
  • Drive strategic programs such as AI enablement, developer experience improvements, technical governance, and organizational scaling initiatives. 
  • Coordinate executive communications, status reporting, risk management, and stakeholder engagement for enterprise programs. 
Organizational Effectiveness 
  • Partner with engineering leaders to improve organizational health, team effectiveness, and leadership maturity. 
  • Standardize engineering processes where appropriate while preserving team autonomy. 
  • Foster a culture of operational excellence, continuous learning, and data-informed decision making. 
Required qualifications:
  • 10+ years of engineering leadership, technical program management, engineering operations, or related experience. 
  • Demonstrated success leading large-scale cross-functional initiatives in complex technology organizations. 
  • Experience establishing engineering operating models, governance, planning processes, and execution frameworks. 
  • Strong understanding of modern software engineering organizations, Agile development, DevOps, and engineering metrics in the Aerospace & Defense industry. 
  • Proven ability to influence senior leaders without relying on direct authority. 
  • Exceptional communication, facilitation, organizational, and executive presentation skills. 
  • Strong analytical mindset with experience using data to drive organizational improvements. 
Preferred qualifications:
  • Experience partnering directly with VP or C-level technology executives. 
  • Experience scaling engineering organizations through periods of rapid growth or transformation.
  • Familiarity with developer productivity and organizational effectiveness measurement. 
#LF

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.