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Executive Chief Engineer Jobs in Alabama (NOW HIRING)

Chief Technology Officer

Mobile, AL ยท On-site

$180 - $240/hr

... executive role (CTO, VP Technology, or equivalent) * Background in professional services, AEC, engineering, construction, consulting, or government services - or demonstrated experience leading ...

Sr. Executive Partner - Global CIO Advisory A Gartner Executive Partner (EP) is an indispensable ... Experience with Agile / DevOps / Emerging Technologies * Advanced critical thinking and structured ...

Senior Systems Engineer (MBSE)

Huntsville, AL ยท On-site

$103K - $140K/yr

Represent systems engineering leadership during customer briefings, executive reviews, program ... Experience serving as a technical lead, chief engineer, lead architect, or equivalent engineering ...

Senior Systems Engineer (MBSE)

Huntsville, AL ยท On-site

$103K - $140K/yr

Represent systems engineering leadership during customer briefings, executive reviews, program ... Experience serving as a technical lead, chief engineer, lead architect, or equivalent engineering ...

Showing results 21-40

Executive Chief Engineer information

What is an executive chief engineer?

An Executive Chief Engineer is a senior-level professional responsible for overseeing all engineering operations within an organization or large project. They manage engineering teams, ensure compliance with safety and quality standards, and coordinate with other departments to meet strategic goals. This role typically involves budgeting, project management, and leading innovation initiatives. Executive Chief Engineers often play a key part in setting technical direction and implementing new technologies. Their leadership ensures that engineering projects are completed efficiently, on time, and within budget.

What are some of the main challenges executive chief engineers face when leading multidisciplinary engineering teams?

Executive Chief Engineers often encounter challenges in aligning diverse teams toward common project goals, especially when managing large-scale or complex engineering projects. Balancing technical innovation with budgetary and timeline constraints requires strong leadership and strategic planning skills. Additionally, fostering effective communication among engineers, architects, and external stakeholders is key to ensuring that all technical requirements are met while complying with industry standards. Navigating these challenges successfully can lead to significant professional growth and visibility within the organization.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an executive chief engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Executive Chief Engineer, you need extensive engineering expertise, leadership experience, and typically a bachelor's or master's degree in engineering along with a professional engineering license. Familiarity with project management software, building automation systems, and compliance standards such as OSHA is crucial. Strong problem-solving, communication, and team management skills set top performers apart in this role. These skills and qualifications are vital for ensuring operational efficiency, regulatory compliance, and the successful delivery of engineering projects.

What is the difference between Executive Chief Engineer vs Chief Engineer?

AspectExecutive Chief EngineerChief Engineer
CredentialsEngineering degree, professional engineering license, management experienceEngineering degree, professional engineering license, technical expertise
Work EnvironmentOversees multiple projects, strategic planning, high-level managementManages daily engineering operations, project execution, technical supervision
Employer & Industry UsageLarge corporations, shipbuilding, aerospace, manufacturingConstruction, manufacturing, shipbuilding, industrial facilities

The Executive Chief Engineer typically holds a higher-level, strategic role with broader responsibilities, including management and oversight of multiple projects or departments. The Chief Engineer focuses more on technical leadership and daily engineering operations. Both roles require engineering credentials and industry experience, but the Executive Chief Engineer often combines technical expertise with leadership and strategic planning skills.

What are the most commonly searched types of Chief Engineer jobs in Alabama?

The most popular types of Chief Engineer jobs in Alabama are:

Infographic showing various Executive Chief Engineer job openings in Alabama as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 90% Full Time, 4% Part Time, and 6% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 6% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution.

Chief Technology Officer

Thompson Engineering

Mobile, AL โ€ข On-site

$180 - $240/hr

Other

Posted 17 days ago


Job description

Chief Technology Officer

Thompson Holdings Inc. - Mobile, AL

Full-Time โ€ข Reports to CEO

ABOUT THOMPSON HOLDINGS

Thompson Holdings Inc. is a 100% employee-owned (ESOP) holding company headquartered in Mobile, Alabama. Thompson Holdings is the parent company of four subsidiaries:

  • Thompson Engineering - Multi-disciplined civil/structural/environmental engineering firm established in 1953
  • Watermark Design Group - Architectural and interior design firm serving the Gulf Coast and Southeast
  • Thompson Consulting Services - Full-service emergency response, disaster planning/recovery, and grant management
  • Sourcetoad - Tampa-based software development, AI, automation, and technology consulting firm (acquired Jan 2026)
THE OPPORTUNITY

This is a newly created enterprise-wide role. The CTO will serve as an executive-level technology leader for Thompson Holdings, working alongside the executive leadership team to set and advance technology strategy across the holding company and all subsidiaries. This position will include evaluating third-party technology solutions, developing enterprise digital solutions, and creating a data strategy and practical governance model across the organization. While the CTO may leverag e Sourcetoad's software, AI, automation, and technology consulting capabilities, this is one component of a broader enterprise technology strategy in an enterprise wide capacity The CTO will build a cohesive technology strategy and position Thompson as a differentiated, technology-enabled competitor in the AEC, disaster recovery, and professional services markets. The CTO will also be tasked with innovating and streamlining process-based tasks for Corporate services including HR, Safety, Legal, IT, Finance, and Communication as Thompson continues to scale. The CTO will have a keen understanding of digital innovation, enterprise data governance, digital solutions delivery, and corporate governance and will serve in a strategic, cross-functional position that requires equal parts vision, credibility, and hands-on execution of technology-enabled solutions.

WHAT YOU'LL DRIVE
  1. Enterprise-Wide Technology Strategy Across the Portfolio
    • Work with all companies to develop and own a unified technology roadmap
    • Evaluate and prioritize technology capabilities across the enterprise, including Sourcetoad's custom software, AI, automation, and systems modernization expertise can create the highest ROI across all companies
    • Establish technology governance: standards, platforms, and decision frameworks that allow subsidiaries to remain operationally autonomous while benefiting from shared infrastructure
    • Partner with enterprise IT leadership to develop technology roadmaps that balance innovation with operational reliability and risk management
    • Create and lead the enterprise data strategy, including development of a scalable data fabric that connects business, operational, financial, project, client, and other data sources across the enterprise while respecting each company's operational needs.
    • Establish enterprise data governance practices, including data ownership, stewardship, quality, access, security, integration standards, and decision rights needed to support reporting, automation, AI, and digital solutions
  2. Enterprise Innovation, Digital Solutions & Sourcetoad Capability Integration
    • Serve as the executive-level technology bridge across Thompson Holdings and all subsidiaries
    • Drive enterprise adoption of technology-enabled tools and solutions, including Sourcetoad-built products where appropriate, from automated debris management systems for disaster recovery to digital project delivery tools for engineering and shared corporate services
    • Lead the design, prioritization, and delivery of enterprise digital solutions that improve project delivery, field operations, disaster recovery workflows, corporate services, client experience, and management visibility
  3. AI & Emerging Technology Leadership
    • Define how AI and machine learning are applied responsibly across the enterprise - prioritizing genuine business impact, operational improvement, and scalable adoption over experimentation
    • Partner with subsidiaries to build, evaluate, and scale AI-enabled solutions
    • Keep Thompson ahead of the technology curve in industries (AEC, disaster recovery) that are mid-transformation
    • Lead and Manage technology driven projects from inception to implementation
    • Align emerging technologies, AI solutions, software development efforts, digital transformation projects, and data fabric initiatives with corporate cybersecurity, compliance, data governance, and infrastructure standards across the enterprise
  4. Market Differentiation & Client Value
    • Help package and position Thompson's combined engineering + software + AI capabilities and technology tools as a competitive differentiator in the market
    • Partner with subsidiary leaders and business development teams to identify and pursue technology-enabled service opportunities
    • Represent Thompso n's technology vision by partnering with subsidiaries to support clients, partners, and industry associations
  5. Change Management & Technology Adoption
    • Lead technology adoption across a workforce that ranges from software engineers to field-based disaster recovery professionals
    • Work within a heterogeneous technology environment: Windows-based enterprise infrastructure across three subsidiaries, Apple/Linux environments at Sourcetoad
    • Build trust with subsidiary leaders and employee-owners so technology is viewed as an enterprise-wide enabler, not an imposition
  6. Technology M&A Support
    • Advise on future acquisitions from a technology perspective: assess tech maturity, identify integration risks, and evaluate strategic fit
    • Lead technology integration for new subsidiaries post-acquisition
WHO YOU AREExperience
  • 15+ years of progressive technology leadership, including 5+ years in a senior technology executive role (CTO, VP Technology, or equivalent)
  • Background in professional services, AEC, engineering, construction, consulting, or government services - or demonstrated experience leading technology transformation in these industries
  • Experience managing or closely partnering with software development organizations; sufficient technical depth to earn the respect of engineers
  • Proven track record managing technological solutions across multiple business units or entities
  • Experience with technology-driven M&A: integration planning, due diligence, or post-acquisition rationalization
  • Familiarity with ESOP, employee-owned, or mission-driven organizational cultures is a meaningful plus
  • Experience with Management of employees and hands on technology driven solution implementation.
Capabilities
  • Strategic thinker who can translate technology vision into tangible business outcomes
  • Credible with two very different audiences: enterprise-minded operational leaders and software-native engineering teams
  • Strong change management skills; comfortable engaging busy professionals in environments of various technological maturity
  • Working knowledge of AI/ML applications, modern software development practices, and cloud infrastructure - not necessarily a practitioner, but informed enough to lead
  • Demonstrated ability to shape enterprise data strategy, data governance, and digital solutions roadmaps that turn fragmented systems and data sources into scalable business capabilities
  • Practical, ROI-focused mindset consistent with an employee-owned, growth-oriented business
What We're Not Looking For
  • A pure enterprise IT / infrastructure leader (that is a CIO function, not this role)
  • A startup or Silicon Valley background without services-industry grounding or exposure
  • A visionary without execution muscle - Thompson Holdings is a builder culture and is looking for a hands on technology leader who can manage and stay on task with project implementation.
  • Someone who wants to standardize everything on day one; subsidiaries retain meaningful operational autonomy
STRUCTURE & REPORTING

Reports to: CEO, Thompson Holdings Inc.

Peer relationships: Subsidiary Leaders (Thompson Engineering, Watermark, Thompson Consulting, Sourcetoad)

Key working relationships: Enterprise wide - including subsidiary leaders, corporate services, enterprise IT, and Sourcetoad leadership as a strategic technology partner.

Location: Flexible / Remote-friendly; Mobile, AL headquarters; Tampa, FL (Sourcetoad HQ) and Southeast travel expected

Employee ownership: Participation in the Thompson Holdings ESOP - every employee earns shares as the company grows

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