Engineering Manager – Ruggedized Camera and Video Systems (Defense, Aerospace & Commercial Applications)

SEKAI Electronics, Inc., founded in 1982, is a pioneer in airborne video cameras and ruggedized video systems for aerospace and defense applications with locations in Silicon Valley, Southern California and Germany. The company provides advanced video products and systems for both new and retrofit programs across military and commercial aircraft, ground vehicles and sea-based vehicles. Our company is seeking additional talent given our strong growth.

About the Role

We are seeking a highly motivated and hands-on Engineering Manager reporting to the VP of Engineering to lead the development of advanced ruggedized camera and video systems serving military, defense, aerospace, and commercial markets. This role requires a strong technical leader who is equally comfortable managing teams and diving into technical details to solve challenging problems and manage the technical team across US sites.

This is not a pure management position. The ideal candidate is someone who enjoys rolling up their sleeves, wearing many hats, and contributing directly to engineering execution. You will oversee and actively support all aspects of product development, including electronics, mechanical design, embedded firmware, manufacturing, reliability, system integration and project management.

Responsibilities

Lead the design, development, and production of ruggedized camera and imaging products from concept through volume manufacturing.
Manage and mentor multidisciplinary engineering teams across:
Electrical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Embedded Firmware Engineering
Manufacturing Engineering
Test & Validation Engineering
Provide both technical leadership and people leadership while remaining actively involved in product development.
Drive architecture decisions, design reviews, risk assessments, and technical problem-solving efforts.
Oversee product qualification and compliance activities for defense, aerospace, and industrial applications.
Collaborate closely with Product Management, Operations, Supply Chain, Quality, and Manufacturing teams to ensure successful product launches.
Lead New Product Introduction (NPI) and production ramp efforts with internal and external manufacturing partners.
Support design verification, reliability testing, environmental testing, and field issue resolution.
Work directly with customers, suppliers, contract manufacturers, and technology partners.
Establish project schedules, engineering priorities, and resource plans while ensuring on-time delivery.
Drive continuous improvement in product quality, manufacturability, reliability, and cost.
Be willing to step into any area that requires leadership or technical support, whether addressing a manufacturing issue, reviewing schematics, troubleshooting firmware, supporting customer requirements, or assisting with system integration.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field. Masters Degree preferred.
8+ years of engineering experience with 3+ years in a technical leadership or engineering management role.
Must be a US Citizen
Proven experience leading cross-functional development of complex hardware products integrating electronics, mechanics, embedded firmware, and manufacturing processes.
Strong understanding of embedded systems, imaging technologies, sensors, optics, and electromechanical product development.
Experience managing products through concept, design, validation, production launch, and sustaining engineering.
Excellent communication, project management, and leadership skills.
Self-starter who thrives in fast-paced environments and is comfortable wearing multiple hats.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience developing products for Military, Defense, Aerospace, Public Safety, Transportation, or Industrial markets.
Knowledge of military and aerospace qualification requirements and standards.
Experience with ruggedized products designed for harsh environments involving vibration, shock, temperature extremes, and environmental exposure.
Familiarity with image sensors, optics, video processing, AI-enabled edge devices, networking, and embedded Linux platforms.
Experience working with government customers, defense contractors, and aerospace organizations.
Experience managing domestic and international suppliers and contract manufacturers.

What We're Looking For

The ideal candidate is:

A hands-on engineering leader rather than a traditional manager.
Comfortable moving between technical details and strategic priorities.
Willing to wear many hats and contribute wherever needed.
Passionate about developing mission-critical products used in demanding environments.
Results-oriented with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.
Skilled at building and motivating high-performing engineering teams.

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to lead the development of innovative imaging and camera technologies used in mission-critical military, defense, aerospace, transportation, and industrial applications. You will have direct influence over engineering execution, manufacturing success, and the growth of a talented multidisciplinary engineering organization to support the company's strong growth and international presence.

SEKAI Electronics, Inc.

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