Program Chief Engineer
Butler Recruitment Group
Herndon, VA · Posted October 7, 2026
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Where Herndon, VA ranks
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November 2026
- #2Best cities for pay after cost of living in Virginia$161k · of 15
- #3Best cities for pay after cost of living in the Southeast$161k · of 33
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Rankings about engineering jobs
- Best cities for software and engineering jobs #1 San Francisco (3,412 openings)
- Best cities for engineering pay after cost of living #1 San Mateo ($216k)
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About the job
Job Title: Program Chief Engineer
Location: Herndon, VA (20171)
Salary Range: $200,000 - $250,000 / year
About the Role
We are seeking a Program Chief Engineer to provide technical leadership across a rapidly growing portfolio of laser systems, LIDAR sensors, and laser communication technologies. You will be the ultimate technical authority for major program decisions, guiding the delivery of first-of-their-kind systems for operational airborne and space missions.
Upcoming Program Opportunities Include:
Space LADAR: 2-year development and delivery of compact space situational awareness instruments.
Earth-Sensing LIDAR: 2-year development of laser and beam control subsystems for NASA spaceflight.
Space LADAR AI&T: Lead 2-year Assembly, Integration, and Test for a proven transceiver design.
Fiber Lasers: Multiple amplifier programs for space and airborne systems.
Key Responsibilities
Drive Technical Success: Lead the development and delivery of critical laser-based systems for defense and space exploration.
Ensure Compliance: Oversee verification of all technical performance, environmental, and functional requirements.
Customer Facing: Serve as the primary technical point of contact for customers and mission partners.
Lead & Mentor: Guide a highly talented team of scientists and engineers across disciplines (laser physics, electro-optics, systems engineering, signal processing).
Decision Making: Direct major architectural trades, anomaly resolutions, and system verification methods.
Milestone Reviews: Prepare and guide teams through PDR, CDR, TRR, and DAR reviews.
Process Improvement: Champion engineering tools and best practices for smooth transitions from development to predictable manufacturing.
Requirements
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