Candice M. Smith

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Candice M. Smith

Director, Engineering People Strategy – Engineering Strategy & Operations, The Boeing Company 

Candice is currently responsible for the engineering people strategy aimed at ensuring a world-class experience as the global technical teams advance through their entire career lifecycle. She was previously director of Enterprise Engineering responsible for strategies to advance functional excellence around people, processes, and tools across the engineering value stream. Prior to that, she was the Boeing Global Services deputy chief engineer in Engineering, Maintenance, and Modifications organization. Prior to that, she served as director of Global Engineering & External Technical Affiliations in ET&T. She also served as Chief of Staff and Business Integration leader for the office of the Chief Technology  Officer. Candice began her Boeing career as a co-op student, joining full-time as an integration engineer in Electronic Systems Engineering – Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System in St. Louis.  Since that time, she has held various positions such as systems engineer/architect on the warfighter systems team in Future Combat Systems program; systems engineer in Boeing  Research & Technology (BR&T) Support and Services investigating asset visibility technologies for DoD; systems engineer for Special Projects Team in Dallas advanced sensor technology; and a BR&T project engineer supporting BDS International Strategic Partnerships developing and managing technology offset projects for customers in India. 

Candice served in the Illinois Army National Guard Military Police Battalion and later with a  Signal Company while earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from  Southern Illinois University Carbondale. She’s also earned a Master of Science in Systems  Engineering from the Missouri University of Science and Technology and achieved a  professional project manager certification.  

Candice has to her credit many awards and honors including being honored with a Science  Spectrum award and selected as a 2017 Eisenhower Foundation Fellow to study the intersection between youth and innovation. She’s been honored with Boeing St. Louis Diversity  Award for Influence, the St. Louis American Foundation Young Leaders Award, STEM Women of  Color in Technology Rising Star Award, Black Engineer of the Year Modern Day Technology  Leader award, and Walker’s Legacy award in Chicago. She’s a member of Delta Sigma Theta  Sorority Inc. and proudly serves as board chair of Project SYNCERE, a youth STEM engagement program and is an active member of the Midtown Educational Foundation advisory council. She’s currently the industry advisor for the NSBE Jr. Chapter at Lindblom Math and Science Academy  High School in Chicago.  

One of Candice’s greatest passions is community service and youth empowerment through engagement and education. Among her many pursuits is her volunteerism and mentoring youth and young professionals. She executes her practical obligations while honoring her responsibility to give selflessly to the community. 

Candice enjoys hanging out with her daughter, a good laugh, smart conversations, pondering,  and taking boogie breaks.