Management Solutions LLC
Director Engineering Practices
Knoxville, TN - Full Time
Job Title: Director, Engineering Practice
Location: Knoxville, TN
Travel: As needed, for client meetings, site visits, and business development efforts.
Employment Type: Full-Time, Regular
Job Summary:
Management Solutions is seeking a Director, Engineering Practice to lead and grow the firm’s engineering function. This leader will be responsible for managing the engineering practice, serving as a senior client-facing representative, and providing technical leadership across engineering-related pursuits, proposals, and business development efforts.
The engineering practice supports a mix of federal and commercial nuclear criticality services, cost estimating, independent engineering assessments, and project management-adjacent engineering activities. The Director will ensure technical excellence, consistent delivery, strong staff development, and alignment between client needs, business priorities, and execution.
This role is ideal for a seasoned engineering leader who combines deep technical credibility with strong operational judgment, business development support, and relationship management skills.
Key Responsibilities:
Practice Leadership and Management:
Lead the day-to-day management of the engineering practice, including staffing, workload planning, quality oversight, and performance management.
Build, mentor, and develop a high-performing engineering team capable of supporting both federal and commercial engagements.
Establish and maintain engineering methods, review standards, quality controls, and delivery processes that promote technical rigor and repeatability.
Partner with company leadership to define the engineering practice strategy, growth priorities, hiring plan, and capability development roadmap.
Monitor practice performance, including utilization, backlog support, delivery quality, staff development, and contribution to company revenue goals.
Identify capability gaps and lead recruiting, subcontracting, teaming, and professional development efforts to strengthen the practice.
Client Delivery and Technical Leadership:
Serve as a senior technical leader on engineering engagements, providing oversight and guidance on project execution, technical approach, and client deliverables.
Ensure the quality, defensibility, and consistency of engineering products across the practice.
Act as a trusted advisor to clients on engineering-related matters, particularly in nuclear criticality, engineering assessments, cost estimating, and related project support activities.
Support project teams in resolving complex technical, staffing, or execution issues.
Maintain awareness of client priorities, industry trends, regulatory considerations, and competitive dynamics relevant to the practice.
Business Development and Proposal Support:
Serve as the technical lead for engineering-related elements of proposals, capture efforts, white papers, and business development submissions.
Shape technical solutions, staffing approaches, work plans, and win themes for pursuits involving engineering services.
Partner with business development, account leaders, and company executives to identify new opportunities and expand existing client relationships.
Participate in client meetings, capability briefings, and capture planning as a senior engineering representative of the firm.
Support pricing and estimating strategies for engineering scopes in coordination with finance, operations, and proposal teams.
Contribute to thought leadership, market positioning, and differentiation of the engineering practice.
Cross-Functional Collaboration:
Work closely with project/program managers, account leaders, and corporate leadership to align engineering resources with delivery and growth priorities.
Support project management-adjacent engineering activities, ensuring engineering work integrates effectively with broader program and project execution.
Collaborate with other practice leaders to deliver multidisciplinary solutions and maintain a consistent client experience.
Help mature internal systems for knowledge management, lessons learned, staffing visibility, and engineering resource planning.
Required Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related technical field.
12+ years of progressively responsible experience in engineering, technical consulting, or engineering services delivery.
Demonstrated experience leading engineering teams or functions within a consulting, government contracting, technical services, or professional services environment.
Strong experience in one or more of the following areas:
Federal or commercial nuclear criticality services
Engineering or project cost estimating
Independent engineering assessments or technical reviews
Engineering support closely aligned with project/program management
Proven ability to serve in a client-facing leadership role and build credibility with senior client stakeholders.
Experience leading or materially contributing to proposals, capture efforts, and business development submissions, especially as the technical lead for solution development.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Experience balancing technical quality, staff leadership, and business priorities in a growth-oriented environment.
Preferred Qualifications:
Advanced degree in engineering, engineering management, or a related field.
Professional Engineer (PE) license or other relevant professional credential.
Experience supporting federal clients, including DOE, NNSA, DOD, NRC, or related agencies.
Familiarity with nuclear industry quality, safety, and regulatory expectations.
Experience in a company scaling environment where formal practices, staffing models, and delivery processes are being built or strengthened.
Active or prior security clearance, if relevant to the work.
Leadership Profile:
The successful candidate will bring:
Strong technical credibility with the judgment to lead across multiple engineering disciplines and service lines.
A builder’s mindset, with the ability to create structure, improve delivery consistency, and scale a practice.
Executive presence and comfort in front of clients, partners, and internal leadership.
A collaborative style that works effectively across delivery, operations, recruiting, and business development.
A practical, hands-on approach suited to a growing firm where leaders are expected to both set direction and contribute directly.
Success in This Role:
In the first 12–24 months, success will likely include:
Establishing clear operating rhythms, quality standards, and staffing processes for the engineering practice.
Strengthening the firm’s technical position in nuclear criticality, cost estimating, independent assessment, and related engineering services.
Improving proposal quality and win support for engineering-related pursuits.
Expanding key client relationships and helping convert technical credibility into revenue growth.
Building a scalable engineering organization that can support Management Solutions’ continued growth.
Work Authorization: U.S. Citizenship required due to federal contract requirements.
Working Conditions: This position is primarily performed in an office environment or a home office setting. Ability to sit for extended periods, use computer keyboard and mouse, and participate in virtual/in-person meetings.
Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Notice: Management Solutions will not discharge or discriminate against employees or applicants for discussing or disclosing compensation information, except as permitted under federal regulations.
Reasonable Accommodation: If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process, please contact us. We will work with you to ensure your accessibility needs are met.
What We Offer: Management Solutions offers a comprehensive benefits package including: Medical, Rx, Dental and Vision Insurance, company paid short-term disability and life insurance, 401k plan with up to a 5% match with immediate vesting, Flexible Spending Accounts, PTO, paid holidays, and more!
Disclaimer: This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the position and is not a complete list of skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities or working conditions associated with it.
Management Solutions LLC is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. It is the policy of the Company to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
