Director, Shipbuilding

Overview

At ITA International, we’re a tech-enabled professional services company. Headquartered in Newport News, Virginia, we leverage subject matter expertise, data analytics and technology to challenge boundaries and transform possibilities. 

 

With a global presence and a passionate team of over 200 ITAers, we’re driven by mission success for our customers, “In The Arena.” Our expertise spans Operations, Training, Engineering, Nanotechnology, Statistics, Machine Learning and Software Engineering – enabling data and tech-enabled solutions that deliver real value. 

 

Join our impactful journey at ITA International. As Theodore Roosevelt said, “The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena.” We’re here, standing beside our customers, ready to serve and succeed. 

 

ITA is seeking a Director, Shipbuilding to join our headquarters team in Newport News, VA.

Responsibilities

We are seeking an accomplished and strategic Director, Shipbuilding to lead the technical and programmatic execution of mission-critical initiatives for the U.S. Navy. This role combines deep technical expertise in data analytics, modeling and simulation, artificial intelligence, and software development with high-level program management and stakeholder engagement responsibilities.

As a Director, you will oversee a portfolio of software engineering projects, ensure alignment with Navy operational goals, and drive technical excellence across development teams. You will also assume program leadership responsibilities, managing resources, budgets, and customer relationships to ensure project success and alignment with long-term strategic objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Technical Leadership

• Provide vision, leadership, and oversight for the design, development, and delivery of advanced decision support tools for U.S. Navy shipbuilding programs.
• Define and enforce technical standards, architecture best practices, and secure software development methodologies.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams in delivering scalable, high-performance, and mission-ready software solutions.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and technical excellence.
• Evaluate and adopt emerging technologies that enhance capability and efficiency.

Program & Portfolio Management

• Serve as a senior leader in program execution, providing oversight of project timelines, scope, and financial performance.
• Align program activities with strategic objectives and customer mission outcomes.
• Develop and manage integrated project schedules, resource allocation plans, and performance metrics.
• Identify and manage risks, ensuring mitigation plans are in place and regularly updated.
• Deliver clear and effective communication to internal stakeholders, Navy leadership, and external partners.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Build and maintain strong relationships with government clients, understanding their operational needs and delivering tailored solutions.
• Lead the preparation of executive-level briefings, progress reports, and data-driven dashboards to demonstrate impact and performance.
• Represent the organization in high-level discussions, reviews, and technical panels.

Task Lead - Analysis

• Lead and contribute to software architecture design, critical module development, and performance diagnostics.
• Conduct in-depth technical analyses, feasibility assessments, and impact studies in support of system enhancements or refactoring.
• Work side-by-side with engineering teams to troubleshoot complex software and integration issues.
• Drive the technical execution of key project components and validate engineering outputs against requirements and system constraints.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field (Master’s preferred).
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership experience in software engineering, including at least 5 years in a director, senior technical lead, or program management role overseeing large-scale, high-complexity, multi-task software development efforts.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in the shipbuilding industry.
• Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, manage enterprise-scale software programs, and align engineering output with strategic goals.
• Proven experience interfacing directly with senior government stakeholders, interpreting operational needs into technical and programmatic requirements.
• Superior written and verbal communication skills, with a track record of producing executive-level briefings, reports, and decision-support materials.
• Strong analytical and decision-making skills, with the