Engineering professionals in Defense technology
Chief engineer titles recur in this defense technology group: four of the ten carry one, at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Northrop Grumman (two) and Raytheon, while vice presidents of engineering at L3Harris Technologies, Raytheon, Oshkosh Defense and Anduril Industries add the enterprise view. A call fits decisions on aircraft mission systems, missile defense, guided projectiles and ammunition, or space and mission systems engineering.
Professionals to explore
Catherine Linsmeier
LinkedInExperience: Vice President Defense Engineering · Oshkosh Defense
Vice President Defense Engineering at Oshkosh Defense since 2024, Catherine Linsmeier was also Director of Specialty Engineering there (2024). At Oshkosh Corporation, Linsmeier held Chief Engineer Corporate Electronics (2000–2023) and Director of Software Engineering (2020–2024), and describes supervising an electrical controls group spanning software, electrical and electronic design, a fit for electronics and software questions at Oshkosh Defense.
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Douglas Austin
LinkedInExperience: Sr. Director of Engineering · Spectra Defense Technologies
Douglas Austin has been Sr. Director of Engineering at Spectra Defense Technologies since 2024. At EaglePicher Technologies, Austin was Technical Director (2018–2024) and Director (2020–2023), with Systems Engineering Manager at EnerSys (2017–2018) and Engineering Manager at GE (2014–2017) roles, and names systems design as core expertise, a fit for questions on systems engineering for defense hardware.
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George Kastrinakis
LinkedInExperience: Director Senior Engineering Manager-Flight & Security NC3 Systems Engineering · General Dynamics Mission Systems
Three overlapping titles at General Dynamics Mission Systems belong to George Kastrinakis: Director Senior Engineering Manager-Flight & Security NC3 Systems Engineering since 2023, Director-Strategic Communication and Deterrent Systems since 2021 and Senior Manager, Surface Ship Systems Engineering since 2016. Kastrinakis was VP Product Management and Product Development at Wave Systems Corp. (1999–2015) and describes turning underperforming departments into high-impact teams.
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Joseph Preiss
LinkedInExperience: Vice President Engineering, Raytheon Chief Engineer · Raytheon
Joseph Preiss has been Vice President Engineering, Raytheon Chief Engineer since 2026 and was Vice President Engineering, Air and Space Defense Systems (2025–2026) and Executive Director, Red Program Chief Engineer (2023–2025). Preiss also served as Senior Director, Strategic Missile Defense Technical Director at Raytheon Missiles & Defense (2020–2023), which suits questions on missile defense engineering at the enterprise level.
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Kyle McFarland
LinkedInExperience: Executive Director Engineering · General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems
In the US Army, Kyle McFarland was Product Manager Large Caliber Ammunition (2015–2018) and Operations Officer, 418th Contract Support Brigade (2018–2019); at General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, McFarland was Director Of Business Development (2020–2021) and has been Executive Director Engineering since 2021. The current role covers product development across 5 product lines with 60 employees and a $65M development portfolio, a fit for ammunition product development questions.
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Philip Warner
LinkedInExperience: Senior Technical Director and Chief Engineer, MQ-9B India · General Atomics Aeronautical Systems
MQ-9B India is the program for Philip Warner as Senior Technical Director and Chief Engineer, MQ-9B India at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems since 2024, with Director of Project Engineering - Agile Mission Systems (AMS) (2020–2024) and Senior Manager - Quick Reaction Capability Project Engineering (2015–2020) roles there. Warner was also Project and Chief Engineer - Electronic Warfare (EW) Mission Payload Program (2014–2015), a fit for mission payload and international program questions.
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Scott Rowland
LinkedInExperience: Director of Engineering, Air Force & Space Force Programs Chief Engineer · Northrop Grumman
Scott Rowland has been Director of Engineering, Air Force & Space Force Programs Chief Engineer at Northrop Grumman since 2021. Rowland's other Northrop Grumman roles were Engineering Program Manager (2020–2021), Senior Mechanical Engineering Manager (2020), Mechanical Engineering Manager (2017–2020) and Lead Mechanical Engineer (2013–2017), and Rowland names space systems and digital transformation as focus areas.
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Shane Arnott
LinkedInExperience: Senior Vice President Programs & Engineering · Anduril Industries
Across Boeing and Anduril Industries, Shane Arnott has held these titles: at Boeing, Program Director - Airpower Teaming System - Autonomous Systems (2019–2021), Director - Phantom Works - International (2013–2019) and Senior Technical Fellow (2012–2021); at Anduril Industries, Chief Engineer (2021–2022) and Senior Vice President Programs & Engineering since 2022. That mix suits questions on taking autonomous systems from concept to program.
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Steve Hsieh
LinkedInExperience: Vice President of SMS Engineering · L3Harris Technologies
Working with 12,000 engineers as VP of Engineering for the Space & Mission Systems (SMS) segment is how Steve Hsieh describes the job of Vice President of SMS Engineering at L3Harris Technologies, held since 2026. Hsieh also held Vice President - Engineering Technology & AI (2026) and Vice President - IMS Functional Engineering (2025–2026) at L3Harris, and Director, C4ISR Chief Enginner (2021–2025) at Lockheed Martin.
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Will Schwartz
LinkedInExperience: Senior Staff Chief Engineer Defense Systems Technical Fellow · Northrop Grumman
From early concept through production and international deployment is how Will Schwartz describes developing complex defense technologies. At Northrop Grumman, Schwartz has been Senior Staff Chief Engineer Defense Systems Technical Fellow since 2026 and Staff Chief Engineer Guided Projectiles Defense Systems Technical Fellow since 2024, with Senior Principal Chief Engineer (2020–2024) and mechanical engineering roles (2017–2020) there.
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Choose the right perspective
For enterprise engineering leadership across large portfolios, talk to Steve Hsieh, Joseph Preiss or Shane Arnott; for program chief engineer questions, Philip Warner, Scott Rowland and Will Schwartz. Ammunition and guided projectile questions fit Kyle McFarland and Will Schwartz, communications and deterrent systems George Kastrinakis, and Catherine Linsmeier and Douglas Austin cover software, electronics and systems design.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01Which requirements changes late in a defense program do the most damage to schedule and cost, and how do chief engineers push back?
- 02How do you move a prototype or quick reaction capability into a production program without losing what made it fast?
- 03From an engineering standpoint, what does it take to adapt a defense system for an international customer?
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot; roles marked former had ended by then. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.