Chief Engineer - Aviation bei S3, Inc.

S³, Inc. is a rapidly growing woman-owned small business founded in 1991, headquartered in Huntsville, AL, that provides technical, programmatic, and logistic services to U.S. Department of Defense, other U.S. Government agencies, and Partner Nation militaries, co-located with Government requirements. The S³, Inc. staff is 84% veterans. The company operates under an ISO 9001/AS9100 certified Quality Management System.

The Principal Business Unit within S³, Inc., Agile Engineering Division, is chartered to DoD  PEOs, PMOs, MDA, MSIC, SMDC, Space Force program support. 

S³, Inc. has wholly owned subsidiaries that expand the customer base and increase our annual growth rate: KBFS – provides aviation pilot training, heavy lift, aircraft maintenance, and related aircraft services to Government and commercial requirements IAW multiple FAA certifications; S3I – provides OCONUS FMS technical services, maintenance, and aviation platform training; and GLSS – provides SCA/CBA contract aviation maintenance.

S³, Inc. and its subsidiaries are recruiting to expand and develop Corporate Operations to staff for contract growth. At S3, Inc. we're proud to offer above industry standard benefits and encourage our team members to build a fulfilling career with our mission-focused leadership. Come work with us and let's build something great together!

System Studies and Simulation (S³) seeks a seasoned Chief Engineer - Aviation to serve as our strategic aviation technical leader and drive the expansion of our engineering capabilities in support of critical Department of Defense programs. This senior position will spearhead the development and implementation of advanced Digital Engineering/Model-Based Systems Engineering (DE/MBSE) methodologies, software development, and cybersecurity solutions while leading aggressive business development initiatives to expand our Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA) services portfolio with key DoD aviation customers including Program Executive Offices (PEOs) and Program Management Offices (PMOs), 

The Chief Engineer - Aviation will serve as the technical face of S³ to our aviation customers and will be instrumental in positioning the company as the premier SETA provider for aviation weapon systems in the Tennessee Valley and across DoD enterprise programs.

Responsibilities

Strategic Technical Leadership:

• Develop and execute comprehensive technical strategies for DE/MBSE implementation across aviation defense programs
• Lead the establishment of advanced modeling, simulation, and digital twin capabilities
• Drive innovation in systems engineering methodologies and tools integration
• Establish technical standards and best practices for all S3 engineering deliverables

Business Development & Customer Engagement:

• Lead capture efforts for major SETA contracts with Aviation PEOs and PMOs
• Serve as principal technical interface with government customers and industry partners
• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with key stakeholders in Huntsville's defense ecosystem
• Support proposal development with technical volume leadership and customer presentations

Organizational Development:

• Build and lead high-performing engineering teams across multiple disciplines
• Establish centers of excellence in DE/MBSE, software engineering, and cybersecurity
• Develop technical talent through mentoring, training, and professional development programs
• Foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement

Program Execution:

• Provide technical oversight for all major S³ aviation related engineering programs
• Ensure delivery of high-quality SETA services that exceed customer expectations
• Lead technical risk management and mitigation strategies
• Drive process improvements and operational excellence initiatives

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Education: Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical discipline from an accredited institution
• Experience: Minimum 25 years of progressive engineering leadership experience with DoD programs, including at least 10 years in senior technical aviation leadership roles
• DoD Background: Extensive experience with DoD acquisition processes, including direct support to PEOs, PMOs, or major defense contractors
• Aviation Systems: Demonstrated expertise in aviation weapon systems development, integration, and testing
• Security Clearance: Active Secret security clearance required; Top Secret preferred

Professional Qualifications

• Proven track record in DE/MBSE implementation and digital transformation initiatives
• Strong background in software development methodologies and cybersecurity frameworks
• Experience leading SETA services delivery for government customers
• Demonstrated success in business development and capture management
• Professional Engineer (PE) license preferred

Preferred Qualifications

Advanced Clearance & Specialized Access:

• Top Secret/SCI security clearance
• Current or recent PEO AV, Aviation PMO involvement

Technical Expertise:

• Experience with MBSE tools (SysML, Cameo, CORE, etc.)
• Knowledge of DevSecOps and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) practices
• Familiarity with cloud computing platforms and cybersecurity frameworks (NIST, RMF)
• Experience with digital twin development and advanced simulation environments

• Experience with OTAs and other contracting mechanisms

   

Industry Relationships:

• Established relationships within Huntsville defense community
• Previous experience with Redstone Arsenal organizations
• Network within Army, Navy, Air Force, and Space Force aviation/missile communities
• Experience working with federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs)

This is not a teleworking position.