Director of Engineering

About the role

Who We Are: Aurelius Systems is a VC backed defense tech startup building autonomous, edge deployed directed energy systems for counter-UAS. We build laser weapons to shoot down drones. We're a small team of engineers, former US military operators, and subject matter experts scaling America's directed energy dominance. The first cost effective, reliable and robust laser weapon system. Our namesake isn't an accident. Marcus Aurelius wrote about doing the work in front of you, every day, without excuses. Henry Ford didn't wait for permission to reinvent manufacturing. That's how we operate, small team, unreasonable output, no hiding behind the unachievable. In addition to our San Francisco lab, we've opened a Detroit manufacturing hub and we field test weekly on our own 400-acre private range. The Role and Your Impact: We need an Engineering Director to own the path from R&D to production across the whole system. You'll lead multiple engineering disciplines from software, firmware, controls, hardware integration, test, and drive the hard handoff from a thing that works in the lab to a thing that survives downrange and gets built at volume. This is the person who turns a demonstrator into a weapon system. You'll set technical direction, and run the org that executes it. What You'll Own: - Technical direction across software, firmware, controls, hardware integration, and test for the full system - The R&D to production transition and authority architecture taking subsystems from prototype through field-ready and manufacturable - Multi-team execution under ambiguous requirements, charting clear guidance and seeing projects through delivery - Field testing leadership, from test article design through scoring system performance in non-lab conditions - Building and scaling the engineering org from hiring, structure, and growing high-performing teams from the ground up - Customer and program interface, translating mission requirements into engineering execution - The technical bar across the team. An engineer first, and leader second. You raise it by how you work, not by what you say What We're Looking For: - 12+ years in engineering with significant leadership of multi-disciplinary technical teams - Track record taking complex hardware/software systems from R&D through production or field deployment - Experience leading across disciplines — you don't have to be the deepest in every domain, but you have to earn the respect of engineers who are - Demonstrated ability to scale teams and turn dysfunction or ambiguity into high-performing execution - Comfort operating hands-on in a lab and on a test range, not just in planning tools Nice to Haves: - Active or recent DoD security clearance - Directed energy or high energy laser weapon system experience - Experience standing up engineering processes and tooling for a scaling org - US military background or deep experience working with military end users - Track record of hiring and growing senior technical talent Education: Advanced degree in a relevant engineering or physical science field is a plus, but track record beats credentials. No specific degree required. How You Operate: - Extreme bias for action. You'd rather solve it now than schedule a meeting about it - You handle problems before they hit anyone's inbox - Comfortable with ambiguity and fast iteration in a startup environment - Clear communicator across engineering, leadership, customers, and the range - Self directed. You identify what needs to happen next and do it without being told Why Join Aurelius Systems? - Build more in 1 month than most people build in 1 year. We field test weekly. Your work makes the whole team faster. - Career velocity is real. At ~10 engineers, there are no layers between you and impact. - Work on a problem that actually matters. Small cheap drones are changing warfare. Our laser systems are the asymmetric answer — infinite magazine, near zero cost per shot, scalable to every base, border, facility, and truck. - Join the densest defense startup ecosystem in the country. California is where the next generation of defense companies are being built. How We Work: Core hours are Monday through Friday, 9 to 6. When we're sprinting toward a demo or field test, the team ramps up — nights, weekends, whatever it takes to ship. When the sprint lands, we ramp down. We don't manufacture intensity for show. Benefits: - Competitive salary + equity - United Health Care medical, dental, and vision coverage - Flexible 18 days PTO + 5 sick days - Travel to field test events and range days - Covered daily lunches and office snacks + drinks - E-bike / scooter stipend (Up to $500) - Direct access to leadership and real ownership over your work Export Control Notice: This role requires access to export-controlled information or items that require "U.S. Person" status. As defined by U.S. law, individuals who are any one of the following are considered to be a "U.S. Person": (1) U.S. citizens, (2) legal permanent residents (a.k.a. green card holders), and (3) certain protected classes of asylees and refugees, as defined in 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).