Back to jobs
New

IPT Lead

Seattle, Washington

Karman Space & Defense is a leader in the rapid design, development, and production of critical, next-generation system solutions that align with the U.S. Department of War and its allies’ core mission priorities, and meet the accelerating demand for access to space. Building on nearly 50 years of success, we deliver Payload & Protection Systems, Aero/Hydrodynamic Interstage Systems, and Propulsion & Launch Systems to more than 80 prime contractors supporting over 130 space and defense programs.

This role supports our Defense Systems business, bringing together Hypersonics, Strategic Missile Defense, Tactical Missiles, and Integrated Defense Systems. Modern defense missions demand more than piecemeal parts or patchwork products; they require hardware that seamlessly integrates disparate technologies into a unified system. Backed by decades of flight-proven performance, our teams deliver tailored mission-ready solutions across air, land, and sea, including: launch and deployment systems, propulsion, payload protection, integration and deployment.

In this role, you will lead an engineering team responsible for delivering projects on cost, schedule, and technical performance. You will allocate resources, guide personnel development, foster customer relationships, and oversee proposal activities to sustain team workload. Your leadership ensures a healthy team environment and supports the delivery of mission‑critical engineering solutions.

Schedule

  • This role follows a 9/80 schedule, with 9-hour shifts Monday through Thursday, an 8-hour shift every other Friday, and the alternating Friday off.

Responsibilities

  • Leads engineering teams to achieve cost, schedule, and technical performance objectives across assigned projects.
  • Provides business, technical, and strategic leadership to support project execution.
  • Assigns personnel to projects based on required skills and experience.
  • Monitors project cost, schedule, and technical status and drives corrective actions when needed.
  • Oversees personnel development through mentoring, training, and career growth activities.
  • Balances team workloads and manages staffing decisions, including hiring and termination.
  • Maintains and strengthens customer relationships to support current and future business.
  • Ensures proposals are complete, accurate, and financially rigorous.
  • Oversees team business development activities and contributes to company strategic initiatives.
  • Collaborates effectively across teams and maintains accountability for team budgets.
  • Performs other related duties as needed.

Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in engineering, related science, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and directly relevant experience.
  • Typically 7 or more years of experience in the space or defense industry.
  • Ability to develop, plan, and execute projects.
  • Demonstrated experience leading teams.
  • Experience in customer relations with space and defense industry prime contractors and government agencies.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Master’s degree in engineering, related science, or a related field.
  • Experience leading engineering teams to develop mechanical and pyrotechnic components and systems.

This position requires U.S. person status under U.S. export control laws, including U.S. citizens and nationals, lawful permanent residents, refugees, and asylees.

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • 401(k) with company match
  • Paid time off
  • Health Savings Account (HSA) with company contribution
  • Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
  • Company‑paid life and AD&D insurance
  • Short‑ and long‑term disability coverage
  • Tuition reimbursement

Salary Range

$170,000 - $200,000 USD

Karman Space and Defense is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

View our Privacy Policy

Apply for this job

*

indicates a required field

Resume/CV*

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Cover Letter

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Which option best describes the highest level and current status of any DoD security clearance eligibility you hold or previously held? *
Select...
Select...

Please provide your desired hourly rate or annual base salary. A range is welcome, such as $20 to $30 per hour or $70,000 to $80,000 per year.

Select...

A U.S. person includes a U.S. citizen or national, a lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or a person granted refugee status or asylum in the United States.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Karman Space & Defense’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

Select...
Select...
Race & Ethnicity Definitions

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Select...