Sr. Manager of Engineering
Loft Federal · Arvada · $180,000–$235,000 (stated in the posting)
About Loft Federal
Loft Federal is committed to delivering the U.S. national security space community a fast, affordable, and streamlined pathway to orbit. As a wholly owned U.S. subsidiary of Loft Orbital Solutions, Inc., we specialize in providing mission-ready space infrastructure with unmatched efficiency.
At Loft, we empower our team with autonomy, ownership, and bold problem-solving opportunities while fostering a tight-knit, supportive environment. We believe that diversity, inclusivity, and community are the foundation of an open and innovative culture. We value kind, collaborative, and mission-driven teammates who excel in problem-solving and communication—because great solutions come from great teams.
As the Senior Manager of Engineering, you will be the cornerstone of our engineering organization’s growth and execution. You won't just oversee projects—you will build the teams that deliver them. Your primary focus will be on functional employee management, driving our hiring strategy, and leading programmatic staffing to ensure our engineering teams are optimally resourced to meet aggressive mission milestones.
If you are passionate about mentoring engineers, scaling high-performing teams, and aligning technical talent with complex programmatic needs in the aerospace sector, this is the role for you.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic Leadership & Functional Management
- Own the functional management and strategic direction for a cross-functional engineering team spanning systems, mechanical, electrical, and RF engineering.
- Provide ongoing mentorship, career development, and performance management.
- Coach engineers and technical leads, helping them gain the skills needed to architect complex systems, mentor junior staff, and lead through the entire program development lifecycle from requirements definition to integration and test.
- Define goals within team meetings to ensure your teams are executing on short-term deliverables week-over-week while providing them the vision for the future.
Hiring & Team Growth
- Partner closely with talent acquisition and executive leadership to define the engineering hiring roadmap for the next 6-12+ months.
- Write and refine job descriptions, design effective technical interview panels, and directly participate in the interviewing and closing of top-tier engineering talent.
- Build a robust pipeline of aerospace and engineering professionals, championing diversity and inclusion within our engineering ranks.
Programmatic Staffing & Resource Allocation
- Collaborate with Program Managers and technical leads to dynamically allocate engineering resources across multiple concurrent projects to attain business goals consistent with cost, high quality, and reliability.
- Identify critical skills gaps within the organization and strategically deploy personnel to mitigate programmatic risks.
- Balance the immediate tactical needs of aerospace programs with the long-term career growth and functional development of individual engineers.
QUALIFICATIONS
- 10 years of professional engineering experience, with at least 3+ years in a direct engineering management or leadership role, preferably within the aerospace, defense, or hardware-tech startup industries.
- Strong understanding of complex systems integration, hardware/software development lifecycles, and performance analysis
- Exceptional cross-functional communication skills, with the ability to bridge the gap between technical engineering teams, program management, and executive leadership.
- A proven track record of scaling engineering teams, including sourcing, interviewing, and closing competitive technical candidates.
- Demonstrated experience in matrixed organizations or programmatic environments where dynamic resource allocation and capacity planning were critical.
- High emotional intelligence (EQ) with a servant-leadership mindset; you care deeply about your team’s well-being and career progression.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience supporting SCI and SAP level programs
- Familiarity with non-traditional acquisition and rapid capability insertion models
- Product or mission integration experience
- Demonstrated discretion and sound judgment in sensitive environments
- Active Top Secret SCI clearance
- 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance option for employees and dependents
- Flexible Spending (FSA) and Health Savings (HSA) Accounts offered with an employer contribution to the HSA
- 100% employer paid Life, AD&D, Short-Term, and Long-Term Disability insurance
- Flexible Time Off policy for vacation and sick leave, and 12 paid holidays
- 401(k) plan and equity options
- Daily catered lunches and snacks in office
- Fully paid parental leave; 14 weeks for birthing parent and 10 weeks for non-birthing parent
- Carrot Fertility provides comprehensive, inclusive fertility healthcare and family-forming benefits with financial support
- Off-sites and many social events and celebrations
- Relocation assistance when applicable
Equal Employment Opportunity & Affirmative Action
Loft Federal is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. We consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, ancestry, veteran status, genetic information, disability, pregnancy, or any other legally protected status.
Accessibility & Accommodations
If you require a reasonable accommodation due to a disability when applying for an open position, please contact us at recruiting@loftfederal.com for assistance.
We Hire for Talent, Not Just Resumes
Research shows that while men apply for jobs when they meet about 60% of the qualifications, women and other underrepresented groups tend to apply only when they meet 100% of the listed criteria. At Loft Federal, we value diverse perspectives, respectful debate, and people who challenge assumptions. If you’re excited about a role but don’t meet every requirement, we strongly encourage you to apply.
Third-Party Recruiters & Agencies
No outside recruiters, please. Loft Federal does not accept unsolicited resumes from headhunters, staffing agencies, or third-party recruiters. We will not pay fees for candidates submitted without a signed agreement in place.