Director Systems Engineering

SESChicago, IL

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Overview

Schedule

Full-time

Career level

Executive

Remote

On-site

Benefits

Career Development

Job Description

Director, Systems Engineering, Commercial Aviation Engineering

ROLE DESCRIPTION SUMMARY

SES is seeking a dynamic Director of Systems Engineering to lead the architecture, modeling, and analysis of our end-to-end aviation connectivity system-from aircraft antenna and modem through satellite payload to terrestrial infrastructure. This role will drive system design excellence and ensure seamless integration across Aircraft, RAN, Software, and Operations teams to deliver exceptional connectivity experiences for our aviation customers.

Reporting to the Vice President of Systems and Performance Engineering, Aviation Connectivity Solutions, you will lead a global team responsible for architecting and validating complex end-to-end systems.

Your mission is to bring system-level thinking, operational awareness, and cross-functional collaboration together to deliver world-class, resilient, and intelligent connectivity to commercial airlines worldwide.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES / KEY RESULT AREAS

Leadership & Strategy: Lead a high-performing systems engineering organization across systems architecture and design. Develop the team's technical roadmap and align it with broader engineering and product strategies.
System Design & Analysis: Manage the architecture, modeling, and analysis of the entire aviation connectivity system-from antenna and modem to satellite payload and terrestrial infrastructure. Drive end-to-end design excellence, scalability, and interoperability.
Technical Integration: Serve as the central coordination point across Aircraft Engineering, RAN Engineering, Software Engineering, and Operations to ensure system compatibility, performance, and readiness.
Customer Experience: Act as a technical advocate for service reliability and performance across the customer lifecycle. Support sales, airline partners, and support teams with deep system insights and issue resolution.
Support & Readiness: Lead your team in providing Level 4 support for escalated system issues.
Cross-Functional Alignment: Collaborate with Product, Program Management, Commercial, and Global Network Operations to drive shared goals and maintain a holistic understanding of customer needs and network performance.

COMPETENCIES

Proven ability to understand complex systems comprised of communication, computing, and internet technologies.
Proven ability to lead teams responsible for service analytics and high-availability network platforms
Excellent interpersonal, cross-functional collaboration, and executive communication skills
Strong track record of innovation and continuous improvement in a dynamic technical environment

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Systems Engineering, Aerospace, Electrical Engineering, or related technical field
10+ years of experience in end-to-end systems engineering, with 5+ years leading high-impact technical teams
Strong expertise in satellite communications, RF systems, and aircraft connectivity
Experience managing modeling and proof-of-concept tools and activities
Proven ability to lead teams responsible for system architecture
Excellent interpersonal, cross-functional collaboration, and executive communication skills

OTHER KEY REQUIREMENTS / COMMENTS

Experience in commercial aviation connectivity or satellite broadband delivery
Familiarity with network infrastructures including routers, gateways, SD-WANs, deep packet inspection systems, load balancers, and firewalls
Experience with front end process flow; understanding of process inputs from Product Management and needed outputs to Development and Test

SES and its Affiliated Companies are committed to providing fair and equal employment opportunities to all. We are an Equal Opportunity employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, protected veteran status, disability, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal law.

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FAQs About Director Systems Engineering Jobs at SES

What is the work location for this position at SES?

This job at SES is located in Chicago, IL, according to the details provided by the employer. Some roles may also include multiple work locations depending on the requirement.

What pay range can candidates expect for this role at SES?

Employer has not shared pay details for this role.

What employment applies to this position at SES?

SES lists this role as a Full-time position.

What experience level is required for this role at SES?

SES is looking for a candidate with "Executive" experience level.

What benefits are offered by SES for this role?

SES offers Career Development for this position. Actual benefits may vary depending on the employer's policies and employment terms.

What is the process to apply for this position at SES?

You can apply for this role at SES either through Sonara's automated application system, which helps you submit applications 10X faster with minimal effort, or by applying manually using the direct link on the job page.