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Executive Engineering Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

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Executive Engineering information

See Washington salary details

$30K

$106K

$208.4K

How much do executive engineering jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for executive engineering in Washington is $105,957.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $65,700.00 and $136,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is executive engineering?

Executive engineering refers to high-level leadership roles within engineering organizations, typically involving positions such as Chief Engineer, VP of Engineering, or Engineering Director. Professionals in executive engineering are responsible for setting technical vision, developing engineering strategies, overseeing large teams, and ensuring successful project delivery. They bridge the gap between business objectives and technical execution, often collaborating with other executives to drive company growth and innovation.

What are some common challenges faced by executive engineering professionals when managing cross-functional teams?

Executive Engineering professionals often encounter challenges in aligning diverse teams with varying technical backgrounds and priorities. Effective communication is crucial, as they must translate complex engineering concepts for non-technical stakeholders while ensuring that project goals remain clear to all team members. Balancing innovation with budget, timeline, and resource constraints is another key challenge, requiring strong leadership and strategic decision-making skills. Building trust and fostering collaboration across departments is essential for driving successful outcomes.

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

To thrive as an Executive Engineer, you need a solid background in engineering principles, project management experience, and typically a relevant engineering degree with professional certification (such as PE or equivalent). Familiarity with CAD software, project management tools (like MS Project), and industry-specific standards is essential. Leadership, strategic thinking, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for managing teams and projects. These skills and qualifications ensure successful project delivery, innovation, and the ability to lead teams in complex technical environments.

What is the difference between Executive Engineering vs Mechanical Engineering?

AspectExecutive EngineeringMechanical Engineering
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Engineering, often with leadership certificationsBachelor's or Master's in Mechanical Engineering, professional engineering license often preferred
Work EnvironmentLeadership roles in project management, strategic planning, and client interactionDesign, analysis, testing, and manufacturing in labs or on-site
Employer & Industry UsageEngineering firms, corporations, government agencies in leadership positionsManufacturing, automotive, aerospace, energy sectors

Executive Engineering focuses on leadership, strategic decision-making, and project oversight, often requiring advanced degrees and certifications. Mechanical Engineering involves technical design, analysis, and development of mechanical systems. While both roles require engineering credentials, Executive Engineering emphasizes management skills, whereas Mechanical Engineering emphasizes technical expertise.

What does an executive engineer do?

An executive engineer oversees engineering projects, manages teams, and ensures technical standards and project deadlines are met. They often coordinate between management and technical staff, utilize engineering software, and may hold professional engineering licenses. Their role combines technical expertise with leadership and strategic planning.

What are the most commonly searched types of Engineering jobs in Washington?

The most popular types of Engineering jobs in Washington are:

What cities in Washington are hiring for Executive Engineering jobs?

Cities in Washington with the most Executive Engineering job openings:

Executive Engineering jobs near you
Infographic showing various Executive Engineering job openings in Washington as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 87% Full Time, 3% Part Time, 2% Temporary, 7% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 81% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $105,957 per year, or $50.9 per hour.

Vice President Defense and Intelligence Engineering

Arlington, VA • On-site

NextGenEnergyJobs
See more jobs at NextGenEnergyJobsexternal

$207K - $267K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, PTO

Posted 15 days ago

Job description

Vice President Defense and Intelligence Engineering

Planet designs, builds, and operates the largest constellation of imaging satellites in history.

Key Responsibilities
  • As the Vice President of Defense and Intelligence (D&I) Solutions Engineering , you will lead, scale, and direct the software engineering organization responsible for building Planet’s end-to-end dual-use products and applications. You will own the technical architecture, systems development, and operational delivery of flagship dual-use products—such as Global Monitoring Service (GMS), Marine Domain Awareness (MDA), automated change detection feeds, and agentic workflows.
  • In this executive engineering role, you will lead multi-disciplinary teams across software, architecture, AI/ML, analytics, and forward deployed engineering. You will partner directly with Product Management, Core Platform Engineering, and Executive Leadership to transform raw satellite imagery and API services into scalable, mission-critical dual-use software solutions. You will oversee system availability, performance SLAs, and ITAR-compliant deployment pipelines, serving as the senior engineering authority for Planet’s defense and intelligence software portfolio. Ideal candidates are visionary engineering leaders passionate about delivering impactful geospatial solutions.
  • This is a full-time, hybrid role which will require you to work from our San Francisco or Washington DC office 3 days per week.
Requirements
  • 15+ years of experience in software engineering and systems architecture, with a focus on high-scale data, computer vision, or geospatial applications.
  • 8+ years of direct experience leading and scaling multi-disciplinary engineering organizations (software, data/ML, platform, and cloud infrastructure).
  • Direct experience managing engineering teams, software build pipelines, and data handling governed by International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR).
  • Demonstrated track record of architecting, building, and operating end-to-end dual-use or defense software applications (such as domain awareness, automated change detection, or spatial monitoring platforms) at scale.
  • Active high-level government security clearance, or demonstrated eligibility to obtain top-secret clearance upon hire.
  • Deep technical expertise in distributed cloud architectures, high-throughput data processing pipelines, API infrastructure, and machine learning model integration.
  • Proven ability to drive software delivery metrics, maintain high operational availability/SLAs, and establish rigorous engineering practices.
  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Data Science, or a related technical field (or equivalent practical experience).
  • Master’s degree or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Machine Learning, or a relevant technical discipline.
  • Direct engineering experience building foundation models for remote sensing use cases, agentic platforms, or automated tip-and-cue execution loops.
  • Background in developing software for secure government environments, air-gapped systems, or sovereign cloud deployments (e.g., AWS GovCloud/C2S).
  • Experience in multi-sensor data fusion workflows, including optical satellite imagery and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR).
  • This position requires access to export-controlled information, and as such, employment (or hiring of a contractor) is contingent upon the candidate’s ability to access all applicable export-controlled information without additional export licensing being required by the Bureau of Industry and Security and/or the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls.
  • These offerings are dependent on employment type and geographical location, based upon applicable law or company policy.
  • Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision plans
  • Health Savings Account (HSA) with a company contribution
  • Generous Paid Time Off in addition to holidays and company-wide days off
  • 16 Weeks of Paid Parental Leave
  • Wellness Program and Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  • Home Office Reimbursement
  • Monthly Phone and Internet Reimbursement
  • Tuition Reimbursement and access to LinkedIn Learning
  • Equity
  • Commuter Benefits (if local to an office)
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