M5M5 — Senior Director
Systems Development Engineering Director (M5)
Leads strategic direction and execution of integrated product development, ensuring products align with organizational objectives and market demands.
What this level means
Leads multiple functions or a large department; drives multi-year strategy.
- Scope
- Multiple functions or a large department
- Autonomy
- Owns multi-year strategy for the area
- Complexity
- Org-level trade-offs and investment
- Impact
- Multi-function results
- Decision rights
- Owns investment and org design across functions
- Leadership
- Leads directors and managers
- Typical experience
- 12–18 yrs
What you'd do
- Develop strategic vision and roadmaps for systems integration.
- Provide executive oversight for large-scale product development initiatives.
- Establish high-level policies, standards, and guidelines.
- Engage with senior executives, customers, and industry partners.
- Ensure organizational capability through talent development.
- Drive innovation in systems integration processes.
- Align product development with market trends and demands.
- Foster a culture of continuous improvement.
- Lead organizational change initiatives.
- Represent the organization at industry events.
- Develop and implement strategic plans.
- Oversee large-scale product initiatives.
- Engage with key stakeholders and partners.
- Drive innovation and improvement.
- Represent the organization externally.
Skills, knowledge & tools
- Strategic planning
- Executive leadership
- Innovation management
- Market analysis
- Change leadership
- Communication
- Stakeholder engagement
- Policy development
- Talent management
- Industry networking
- Strategic management principles
- Executive communication strategies
- Innovation frameworks
- Market analysis techniques
- Organizational change management
- Continuous improvement methodologies
- Industry trends and standards
- Talent development strategies
- Policy and guideline formulation
- Networking and relationship building
- Strategic visioning
- Leadership Presence
- Executive-Level Communication
- Innovation advocacy
- Complex Decision Making
- Organizational Development
- Market Alignment
- Change management
- Continuous Improvement
- Industry Representation
What good looks like
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Systems, Mechanical, Electrical).
- Minimum 12–15 years of industry experience in integrated product development.
- Master’s degree strongly preferred; MBA desirable.
- Certification in Executive Management or Systems Engineering (ESEP or equivalent).
Common titles
Senior Director, Systems Development EngineeringSystems Development Engineering Senior DirectorSenior Director, Systems Development EngineerSystems Development Engineer Senior DirectorSystems Development Engineering Director (M5)Senior Management
Where it sits & what it pays
O*NET / SOC: 17-0000 — Architecture & Engineering Occupations(inferred · under review)
Market-pay benchmarks for this family × level are coming — JobFrame anchors pay to the family/level structure rather than the raw title.