Director, Systems Engineering

SES Satellites

Director of Systems Engineering leading the architecture and analysis of aviation connectivity systems. Managing a global team to deliver end-to-end systems for commercial airlines.

Posted 6/9/2026full-timeChicago • Illinois • 🇺🇸 United StatesLeadWebsite

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

Firewalls

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead the architecture, modeling, and analysis of our end-to-end aviation connectivity system.
Drive system design excellence and ensure seamless integration across teams.
Lead a global team responsible for architecting and validating complex end-to-end systems.
Bring system-level thinking, operational awareness, and cross-functional collaboration together to deliver world-class connectivity to commercial airlines.

Requirements

What you’ll need

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.
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.

Benefits

Comp & perks

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.
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.
Serve as the central coordination point across Aircraft Engineering, RAN Engineering, Software Engineering, and Operations to ensure system compatibility, performance, and readiness.
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.
Lead your team in providing Level 4 support for escalated system issues.
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.

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

systems engineeringsatellite communicationsRF systemsaircraft connectivitymodeling toolsproof-of-concept toolssystem architecturenetwork infrastructuredeep packet inspectionload balancers

Soft Skills

leadershipinterpersonal skillscross-functional collaborationexecutive communication