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Engineering Manager Defense Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Sales Manager -Defense

Waverly, IA · On-site

$150 - $200/hr

MBA, MS in Engineering, relevant technical post-graduate qualification, Program Management ... S. defense primes, defense innovation companies, and DoD program offices; capturing and growing ...

... defense contractor partners. Working alongside an existing team that manages U.S. government ... Coordinate with Wolfspeed's engineering, operations, and supply chain functions to ensure internal ...

... defense contractor partners. Working alongside an existing team that manages U.S. government ... Coordinate with Wolfspeed's engineering, operations, and supply chain functions to ensure internal ...

$150 - $200/hr

Test Development Engineering Manager (Defense and Aerospace, North Reading, MA) Date: Sep 1, 2026 Location: North Reading, MA, US We are the global test and automation specialists, powering next ...

Program Manager- Defense

Durham, NC · On-site

$125 - $150/hr

... defense contractor partners. Working alongside an existing team that manages U.S. government ... Coordinate with Wolfspeed's engineering, operations, and supply chain functions to ensure internal ...

Program Manager- Defense

Durham, NC · On-site

$125 - $150/hr

... defense contractor partners. Working alongside an existing team that manages U.S. government ... Coordinate with Wolfspeed's engineering, operations, and supply chain functions to ensure internal ...

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Engineering Manager Defense information

See salary details

$46.5K

$146.9K

$174K

How much do engineering manager defense jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for engineering manager defense in the United States is $146,868.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $116,500.00 and $173,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an engineering manager in defense do?

An Engineering Manager in Defense oversees engineering teams that design, develop, and maintain military systems, equipment, or technologies. They coordinate projects, ensure compliance with defense industry standards, and liaise with stakeholders to meet project goals. Additionally, they manage budgets, timelines, and team performance while ensuring security protocols and quality standards are met. Their role is crucial in delivering innovative and reliable solutions to support national defense objectives.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an engineering manager in defense?

To thrive as an Engineering Manager in Defense, you need a strong background in engineering principles, project management, and often a relevant degree such as in electrical, mechanical, or systems engineering, along with security clearance. Familiarity with defense industry standards, systems engineering tools (like DOORS or MATLAB), and certifications such as PMP or Six Sigma are typically required. Leadership, problem-solving, and excellent communication skills are crucial for managing multidisciplinary teams and stakeholder expectations. These competencies ensure the delivery of complex defense projects on time, within budget, and in compliance with strict regulatory and security requirements.

What are some common challenges faced by engineering managers in the defense industry, and how can they be addressed?

Engineering Managers in the defense sector often face the challenge of balancing strict regulatory compliance with innovation and project deadlines. Navigating complex government requirements while ensuring teams remain agile and motivated can be demanding. Building strong communication channels between cross-functional teams, staying updated with evolving defense standards, and fostering a culture of accountability are key strategies to address these challenges. Additionally, effective stakeholder management and continuous professional development help Engineering Managers lead their teams to success in this highly regulated environment.

What is the difference between Engineering Manager Defense vs Engineering Manager Civil?

AspectEngineering Manager DefenseEngineering Manager Civil
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Engineering, security clearances often requiredBachelor's or higher in Civil Engineering, licensure may be preferred
Work EnvironmentDefense contractors, government facilities, secure sitesConstruction sites, urban planning, infrastructure projects
Employer & IndustryDefense agencies, military contractorsConstruction firms, government agencies, urban development
Common Search & ComparisonDefense projects, military engineering managementConstruction management, infrastructure projects

Engineering Manager Defense and Engineering Manager Civil roles share leadership in engineering projects but differ mainly in industry focus, credentials, and work environment. Defense managers often require security clearances and work on military or government defense projects, while civil managers focus on infrastructure and construction within urban or public sectors.

What cities are hiring for Engineering Manager Defense jobs?

Cities with the most Engineering Manager Defense job openings:

What states have the most Engineering Manager Defense jobs?

States with the most job openings for Engineering Manager Defense jobs include:

What are popular job titles related to Engineering Manager Defense jobs?

For Engineering Manager Defense jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Engineering Manager Defense job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 11% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 83% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 15% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $146,868 per year, or $70.6 per hour.

Engineering Manager - Defense Physical AI

Washington, DC • On-site

Applied Intuition
Software Development • 201 - 500 employees

$250/hr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 5 days ago


Job description

Applied Intuition, Inc. is powering the future of physical AI. Founded in 2017 and now valued at $15 billion, the Silicon Valley company is creating the digital infrastructure needed to bring intelligence to every moving machine on the planet. Applied Intuition services the automotive, defense, trucking, construction, mining and agriculture industries in three core areas: tools and infrastructure, operating systems, and autonomy. Eighteen of the top 20 global automakers, as well as the United States military and its allies, trust the company’s solutions to deliver physical intelligence. Applied Intuition is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, with offices in Washington, D.C.; San Diego; Ft. Walton Beach, Florida; Ann Arbor, Michigan; London; Stuttgart; Munich; Stockholm; Bangalore; Seoul; and Tokyo. Learn more at applied.co.

We are an in-office company, and our expectation is that full-time employees primarily work from their Applied Intuition office 5 days a week. However, we also recognize the importance of flexibility and trust our employees to manage their schedules responsibly. This may include occasional remote work, starting the day with morning meetings from home before heading to the office, or leaving earlier when needed to accommodate family commitments. This in-office expectation does not apply to contractor positions

About the role

As the Engineering Manager, you'll lead a team of 8-12 Forward Deployed Engineers who each operate like startup CTOs: owning end-to-end execution of high-stakes projects in small teams. Your job is to make this team scale, hiring and developing exceptional engineers, setting technical direction across engagements, and building the repeatable delivery practices that let us bring physical AI to more platforms and more customers without sacrificing quality or speed.

This is a high visibility player-coach role in a significant customer-facing, mission-critical environment. You'll represent Applied Intuition with authority in front of defense and government customers, own delivery outcomes across a portfolio of concurrent programs, and serve as the escalation point when projects hit ambiguity, changing requirements, or hard technical tradeoffs. You'll be expected to stay close to the technology, reviewing architectures, pressure-testing integration approaches, and diving in when a program needs it. Fielding intelligent machines is a systems problem spanning software, hardware, and operations, and your team sits at the center of it.

At Applied Intuition, you will:
  • Work directly with defense and government customers to deploy, integrate, and operationalize Applied Intuition's vehicle intelligence products in military and government environments, from defense contractors to forward operating bases
  • Tackle a broad range of technical challenges, including software engineering, operating system configuration, system deployment, and hardware integration
  • Bridge customer-built systems and Applied’s solutions to deliver tangible value
  • Design and implement scalable, consistent approaches for customer engagement and project execution
  • Develop architectural solutions that improve consistency and scalability across projects
  • Collaborate with internal engineering, product, and customer teams to ensure successful outcomes
  • Take ownership of technical outcomes and drive projects to completion, adapting to changing requirements and priorities
We're looking for someone who has:
  • 8+ years of industry experience with at least 2 years, recent technical leadership exposure.
    Production grade SW experience. Has deployed SW or HW systems to active customers (not R&D, one-off projects)
  • Exceptional customer-facing skills and focus on solving customer problems
  • A proven mentor and leader of engineering talent
  • Strong engineering background, preferred in fields such as Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering
  • Broad technical experience across software engineering, operating systems, and some hardware
  • Experience supporting integration and deployment of complex systems
  • Exceptional problem-solving skills and a proven ability to thrive and innovate independently within highly ambiguous and rapidly evolving operational environments
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Robotics, Computer Science, or a related field

Security Requirements:

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen
  • Must hold or be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance

For more information about U.S. security clearances: click here.

Compensation at Applied Intuition for eligible roles includes base salary, equity, and benefits. Base salary is a single component of the total compensation package, which may also include equity in the form of options and/or restricted stock units, comprehensive health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance coverage, 401k retirement benefits with employer match, learning and wellness stipends, and paid time off. Note that benefits are subject to change and may vary based on jurisdiction of employment.

Applied Intuition pay ranges reflect the minimum and maximum intended target base salary for new hire salaries for the position. The actual base salary offered to a successful candidate will additionally be influenced by a variety of factors including experience, credentials & certifications, educational attainment, skill level requirements, interview performance, and the level and scope of the position.

Please reference the job posting’s subtitle for where this position will be located. For pay transparency purposes, the base salary range for this full-time position in the location listed is: $250,000 - $300,000 USD annually.

Don’t meet every single requirement? If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Applied Intuition is an equal opportunity employer and federal contractor or subcontractor. Consequently, the parties agree that, as applicable, they will abide by the requirements of 41 CFR 60-1.4(a), 41 CFR 60-300.5(a) and 41 CFR 60-741.5(a) and that these laws are incorporated herein by reference. These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities, and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin. These regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status or disability. The parties also agree that, as applicable, they will abide by the requirements of Executive Order 13496 (29 CFR Part 471, Appendix A to Subpart A), relating to the notice of employee rights under federal labor laws.

FOR US-BASED ROLES: Applied Intuition is committed to providing an accessible and inclusive application and interview experience to applicants who are disabled veterans and other applicants with disabilities or medical conditions. Reasonable accommodations are available, requesting an accommodation will not affect your candidacy in any way, and you are not required to disclose the nature of your disability or medical condition in order to make a request. If you require an accommodation please contact careers@applied.co. We will work with you!

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