Frederick Fox

Vice President / Business Unit Director, Product and Platform
Systems

Position Overview

The Vice President / Business Unit Director, Product and Platform
Systems, is responsible for establishing, leading, and scaling a
business unit focused on developing, integrating, and delivering
innovative products and platform systems for the U.S. defense and
maritime industries. This executive-level role owns the business
unit’s overall strategy, financial performance, product
portfolio, organizational development, and customer
relationships.

Reporting to executive leadership, the Business Unit Director
will establish the strategic direction, operating model, and
leadership structure required to build a high-performing
organization. The role oversees products throughout their
lifecycle, from concept development and engineering through
testing, qualification, production, fielding, and sustainment,
while ensuring alignment with customer requirements, defense
acquisition priorities, and applicable regulatory standards.

A key responsibility is building long-term partnerships with
shipbuilders, government customers, prime contractors, and
supplier networks to expand market opportunities and deliver
scalable, commercially viable solutions. The ideal candidate
combines substantial defense or maritime industry experience with
proven P&L leadership, product development expertise, and the
ability to build and lead an organization within a complex,
highly regulated environment.

Location: Norfolk, Virginia

Key Responsibilities

Executive Leadership and Business Unit Management

* Establish and lead a new business unit, defining its strategic
direction, organizational structure, operating model, and
long-term growth objectives.
* Develop and execute annual operating plans and multi-year
strategic plans aligned with broader corporate objectives.
* Build, lead, and develop a high-performing leadership team
across engineering, quality, safety, program management,
operations, and other critical functions.
* Establish clear roles, responsibilities, performance
expectations, and accountability across the organization.
* Create scalable operating processes, governance structures, and
management routines that support organizational growth and
operational consistency.
* Foster a culture of accountability, engineering discipline,
collaboration, continuous improvement, and customer focus.
* Provide regular performance updates, strategic recommendations,
and financial reporting to executive leadership.
P&L Ownership and Financial Management

* Own the business unit’s full profit and loss, including
revenue, gross margin, operating income, bookings, backlog, and
cash flow.
* Establish financial targets, operating budgets, and performance
metrics to drive sustainable growth and profitability.
* Determine cost structures, resource allocations, capital
investments, and internal research and development priorities.
* Monitor financial performance and implement corrective actions
to address variances, improve margins, and achieve business
objectives.
* Oversee product portfolio profitability, pricing strategies,
and lifecycle investment decisions.
* Establish clear financial and operational distinctions between
customer-funded development, internally funded product
investments, and customer-specific engineering.
* Evaluate investment opportunities and allocate resources based
on market demand, technical feasibility, strategic value, and
expected returns.
* Support financial forecasting, business reviews, and long-range
planning.
Product Strategy and Portfolio Management

* Define and execute the product and platform roadmap based on
customer needs, defense and maritime industry priorities,
competitive positioning, and emerging market opportunities.
* Lead the integration and commercialization of existing products
and technologies for the U.S. defense market.
* Establish common product architectures, modular designs, and
reusable technologies that support multiple customers, platforms,
and programs.
* Oversee product portfolio strategy, lifecycle management,
pricing, profitability, and investment decisions.
* Identify opportunities to extend existing products into
adjacent markets, platforms, and mission applications.
* Develop strategies for protecting intellectual property and
managing technical data rights in collaboration with legal and
contracts teams.
* Establish scalable product development processes that balance
innovation, customization, cost, and long-term commercial
viability.
* Evaluate emerging technologies, digital engineering
capabilities, and market trends to maintain a competitive product
portfolio.
Engineering, Product Development, and Program Execution

* Lead products through the full development lifecycle, including
concept development, design, prototyping, testing, qualification,
production, fielding, and sustainment.
* Ensure products meet applicable military standards,
cybersecurity requirements, technical specifications, and
shipboard integration requirements.
* Oversee program execution to ensure delivery within approved
schedules, budgets, quality standards, and technical
requirements.
* Partner with engineering, program management, operations, and
quality teams to resolve technical challenges and maintain
delivery commitments.
* Establish consistent processes for product development,
engineering reviews, configuration management, quality assurance,
and program execution.
* Identify and manage technical, schedule, financial,
manufacturing, and supply chain risks across the product
portfolio.
* Promote design reuse, standardization, and engineering best
practices to improve efficiency and reduce development costs.
* Support earned value management and performance oversight
across multiple sites, programs, and product lines.
Customer and Strategic Relationship Management

* Build and maintain executive-level relationships with U.S.
shipbuilders, shipyards, defense contractors, government
agencies, and supplier networks.
* Engage customers to understand operational needs, technical
requirements, procurement priorities, and long-term program
objectives.
* Collaborate with shipbuilders and industry partners to
integrate products into new-construction, modernization, and
sustainment programs.
* Develop relationships with relevant U.S. Navy organizations,
Program Executive Offices, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA),
and other Department of Defense stakeholders.
* Align product development and investment decisions with
customer requirements, acquisition timelines, and program
opportunities.
* Represent the business unit at industry events, customer
reviews, technical forums, and professional associations.
* Maintain a strong understanding of customer priorities,
competitive activity, and evolving defense and maritime market
requirements.
* Resolve customer concerns and maintain a reputation for
reliability, technical excellence, and ethical business
practices.
Business Development and Market Expansion

* Partner with business development, finance, and executive
leadership to establish a qualified sales pipeline and identify
strategic growth opportunities.
* Lead capture planning and contribute to proposal strategies for
major pursuits, including bid decisions, pricing, and proposal
development.
* Evaluate market opportunities, customer requirements,
competitive positioning, and potential returns on investment.
* Develop strategies to expand the business unit’s presence
across defense platforms, maritime programs, and adjacent
markets.
* Identify opportunities for strategic partnerships, teaming
agreements, acquisitions, and technology integration.
* Support the development of long-term customer relationships
that position the organization for future contracts and recurring
revenue.
* Balance near-term contract opportunities with investments in
scalable products and long-term market differentiation.
Compliance, Risk Management, and Operational Excellence

* Ensure business unit operations comply with applicable Federal
Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and Defense Federal Acquisition
Regulation Supplement (DFARS) requirements.
* Maintain compliance with applicable export control regulations,
including ITAR and EAR, as well as cybersecurity requirements
such as CMMC.
* Ensure adherence to internal policies, contractual obligations,
quality standards, and applicable defense industry requirements.
* Establish effective risk management practices covering
technical performance, financial exposure, supply chain
reliability, schedule commitments, and regulatory compliance.
* Partner with legal, contracts, quality, safety, and security
teams to maintain appropriate controls and documentation.
* Promote a culture of ethical conduct, transparency,
accountability, and continuous improvement.
Qualifications and Requirements

* Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Naval Architecture, or a
related technical field.
* At least 15 years of experience in the defense, maritime,
shipbuilding, or related industrial sector, including 7 or more
years in senior leadership positions.
* Demonstrated P&L ownership for a business unit, product line,
or division with revenue or financial responsibility of at least
$45 million.
* Direct experience working with U.S. shipbuilders, including
shipboard systems integration, supplier management, or program
delivery.
* Proven track record of taking products from concept through
development, qualification, delivery, and fielding within the
defense or maritime ecosystem.
* Experience establishing, building, or scaling an organization,
including recruiting and developing senior leaders.
* Working knowledge of U.S. Department of Defense acquisition
processes, contracting practices, and Navy program structures.
* Strong understanding of product development, engineering
execution, manufacturing or production readiness, and lifecycle
management.
* Demonstrated ability to develop and execute business strategies
that translate customer and market insights into profitable
growth.
* Strong financial and commercial acumen, including budgeting,
forecasting, margin management, pricing, and investment
decisions.
* Experience building trusted relationships with shipbuilders,
prime contractors, government customers, and strategic partners.
* Ability to lead cross-functional teams, establish clear
performance expectations, and hold leaders accountable for
results.
* Strong communication, negotiation, decision-making, and
stakeholder management skills.
* High ethical standards and a demonstrated commitment to
regulatory compliance and responsible business leadership.
Preferred Qualifications

* Master’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration (MBA),
or a related field.
* Experience launching a startup, establishing a new business
unit, or leading a turnaround within a larger defense or
industrial organization.
* Previous experience with NAVSEA, a U.S. Navy Program Executive
Office, or a prime contractor’s shipbuilding program office.
* Experience with mergers and acquisitions integration, strategic
partnerships, teaming agreements, or technology
commercialization.
* Familiarity with digital engineering, model-based systems
engineering (MBSE), open architecture platforms, and modular
product design.
* Experience integrating existing technologies or products into
new customer markets and defense acquisition programs.
* Familiarity with intellectual property strategy, technical data
rights, and government contracting considerations related to
product development.
* Experience managing product portfolios across multiple
programs, customers, facilities, or geographic locations.

VP and Business Unit Manager

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