𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗿 (𝗖𝗧𝗢) – 𝗔𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 & 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲 (𝗨𝗔𝗩 / 𝗩𝗧𝗢𝗟 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀)

𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Sterling, VA (onsite; hybrid flexibility for local candidates)

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆

This isn’t a “keep the lights on” CTO role.

This is a build, scale, and lead-from-the-front opportunity inside a fast-moving aerospace and defense company redefining what UAV systems can do.

You’ll take ownership of a next-generation VTOL drone platform powered by alternative energy, and lead the technical vision from advanced R&D through real-world deployment. The company is at an inflection point—strong foundation, proven technology direction, and now needs the right technical leader to scale it into a serious player in defense and dual-use markets.

If you’ve ever wanted to step into a role where your decisions directly shape the product, the team, and the trajectory of the company—this is that role.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗹𝗹 𝗢𝘄𝗻

• 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 & 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆

Define and drive a scalable, multi-product technology roadmap—not just a single platform.

• 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 & 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴

Recruit, develop, and lead a high-performance engineering organization across autonomy, avionics, energy systems, and hardware.

• 𝗘𝗻𝗱-𝘁𝗼-𝗘𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆

Own the full lifecycle—from concept and prototyping through testing, manufacturing, and field deployment.

• 𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁-𝗚𝗲𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁

Advance core technologies including hydrogen/alternative energy systems, thermal management, autonomy, and modular architectures.

• 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀

Ensure platforms are built for real-world DoD use—reliability, scalability, and mission performance.

• 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲

Drive speed without breaking things that matter—balancing startup agility with disciplined engineering.

• 𝗖𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀-𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽

Partner closely with executive leadership to align technology with mission, growth, and customer demand.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗥𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁

• 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗢𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 – You’re not inheriting a bloated org—you’re building it.
• 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 – Direct application across defense, national security, and critical infrastructure.
• 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘁𝗵 – Energy systems + autonomy + aerospace… not many roles check all three boxes.
• 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 – Work with an established international team while leading U.S. growth.

𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝗿

This role is for a 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿, not a caretaker.

• 𝘠𝘰𝘶’𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘯 *complex aerospace or drone systems from concept to deployment**
• 𝘠𝘰𝘶’𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 *VP Engineering / CTO level** in a defense or dual-use environment
• 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 *scale engineering teams and real products—not just prototypes**
• 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘯𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘦 *DoD programs, stakeholders, and procurement realities** without slowing down execution
• 𝘠𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥𝘴: *deep technical detail and executive-level decision making**

𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀

• Proven leadership in UAV, aerospace, or advanced defense systems

𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 *integrated hardware + software systems**

𝘌𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 *DoD customers, programs, and acquisition pathways**

𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘱 𝘰𝘧 *system architecture, avionics, autonomy, and energy systems**

• Ability to build teams, culture, and execution discipline from the ground up

𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: BS required; advanced degrees (MS/PhD) preferred

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Executive-level package with flexibility based on experience and impact:

• Competitive base salary
• Performance-based bonus
• Equity participation
• Long-term upside tied to company growth

•