Director of Software Engineering - Defense & Aerospace

SAAB, a global defense and security leader, is seeking a Director of Software Engineering within our IT & Digital Solutions organization. In this role, you will lead multiple engineering teams delivering mission-critical software for advanced Defense & Aerospace systems. You will define technical strategy, drive architecture and quality standards, and ensure on-time, secure, and compliant delivery. You will mentor managers and engineers, foster innovation and collaboration, and partner with Systems Engineering on cutting-edge defense solutions that advance global security.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and technical leadership for multiple software engineering teams delivering mission-critical Defense & Aerospace solutions.
• Define and maintain the software architecture and technology roadmap aligned with Saab's business and product strategies.
• Oversee the full software development lifecycle, ensuring quality, security, and compliance with applicable defense and aerospace standards.
• Collaborate closely with systems engineering, hardware engineering, cybersecurity, product management, and program management to deliver integrated solutions.
• Champion and implement modern engineering practices such as Agile, Dev
• Sec
• Ops, CI/CD, automated testing, and model-based approaches.
• Manage, mentor, and develop engineering managers, architects, and senior engineers, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Support bids and proposals, including scope definition, cost and schedule estimation, and presentation of technical approaches to internal and external stakeholders.
• Review and approve key technical artifacts, including requirements, design documents, interface definitions, and verification plans.
• Ensure that software solutions meet stringent reliability, safety, and security requirements appropriate for defense applications.
• Engage with customers and partners as needed to understand mission needs and translate them into robust software solutions.

Required Skills

• Technical leadership of large software engineering organizations
• Software architecture and system design for complex, mission-critical systems
• Experience with Defense & Aerospace or similarly regulated industries
• Strong background in languages such as C, C++, Java, or similar
• Model-based systems and software engineering practices
• Agile and hybrid Agile project management in regulated environments
• Dev
• Sec
• Ops, CI/CD, and automated testing
• Secure software development and cybersecurity principles
• Requirements analysis and traceability across full lifecycle
• Collaboration with systems, hardware, and cybersecurity engineering
• Cost, schedule, and resource estimation for software programs
• Mentoring, coaching, and building high-performing teams