Director of Engineering, Battery Systems

Responsibilities

• Serve as the product owner and technical authority for battery systems at RDT
• Lead an engineering team to design and integrate emerging battery technologies into production end-user battery products, including battery cells, battery management system hardware and software, lightweight battery packaging, and battery chargers
• Own the battery R&D budget, including forecasting, resource planning, and cost control
• Lead engineering delivery across the full lifecycle: concept development, requirements definition, system architecture, design, integration, verification & validation (V&V), certification, production, and sustainment
• Define and execute a multi-year battery technology and product roadmap aligned with business objectives, production quantity, technical performance requirements, and emerging market opportunities in the UAS domain
• Act as a senior technical interface with customers, partners, and government stakeholders
• Collaborate with product management, sales, and program management to define requirements, value propositions, and product strategies
• Establish and monitor engineering KPIs and metrics, including quality, productivity, reliability, and delivery performance
• Ensure adherence to safety, quality, and environmental standards
• Ensure compliance with all relevant regulatory and industry standards (FAA, DoD, STANAG, UN 38.3, etc.)
• Drive workforce planning, hiring, and succession development aligned with business growth

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related technical field
• 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in technology leadership roles, including experience in battery systems, UAS, defense, and/or robotics industries
• Deep understanding of integrated battery systems for UAS applications including:
• Battery cell technologies (e.g. lithium ion and lithium polymer)
• Battery management systems (BMS), both hardware and software components
• Battery packaging approaches to minimize weight while meeting certification requirements and safely surviving end-user abuse
• Battery certification and safety requirements (e.g. FAA, DoD, UN38.3)
• Battery charger technologies, integration and packaging approaches, technical tradeoffs, and requirements
• A functional understanding of drone systems and their associated battery constraints and operating requirements
• Experience delivering real battery products to end users in a production environment

Benefits

• Matching 401(k)
• Paid PTOP
• Paid holidays
• Medical, vision, and dental insurance
• Group Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
• HSA and FSA Options
• Critical Care Plan
• Accident Care Plan
• Employee Stock Purchasing Program (ESPP)