Chief Engineer, Aerospace Structures and Hardware
On-siteMcKinney, Texas, United States
Job Summary
Lead technical direction and decision-making for aerospace structures and hardware programs from development through full-rate production. Serve as the senior engineering liaison between customers, suppliers, and manufacturing operations to bridge design intent with successful execution. Conduct technical reviews, production readiness evaluations, and make-versus-buy analyses to mitigate risks and drive continuous improvement. Establish and promote engineering best practices while supporting supplier qualification, transition, and second-source manufacturing initiatives. Provide executive-level updates on technical risks and production challenges to ensure alignment with customer, schedule, cost, and quality objectives. Partner with program management to support proposal development and technical planning activities.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
- 12+ years of progressive engineering experience within aerospace, defense, aviation, or other highly regulated manufacturing environments.
- Demonstrated experience leading complex aerospace hardware, structures, mechanical assemblies, or aircraft-related systems from development through production.
- Strong background in manufacturing engineering, producibility, industrialization, and production readiness activities.
- Experience evaluating and interpreting engineering drawings, technical data packages, specifications, and manufacturing requirements.
- Experience supporting supplier management, supplier qualification, second-source production, or production transfer activities.
- Knowledge of aerospace manufacturing processes including machining, fabrication, assembly, integration, and inspection.
- Experience supporting build-to-print manufacturing, engineering development programs, production ramp-up efforts, or production restart initiatives.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and technical decision-making skills.
- Ability to influence cross-functional teams and communicate effectively with customers, suppliers, and executive leadership.
- Must be a U.S. Citizen.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Department of Defense security clearance.
Desired Qualifications
- Master's degree in Engineering, Systems Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related field.
- Experience supporting military aircraft, airborne mission systems, weapons integration, aircraft modifications, or aerospace structures.
- Working knowledge of AS9100, First Article Inspection (AS9102), Configuration Management, MRB processes, Engineering Change Management, and Production Readiness Reviews.
- Experience with complex machined structures, aerospace assemblies, composites, electromechanical systems, harness integration, or mission equipment packaging.
- Familiarity with environmental qualification requirements including vibration, thermal, shock, EMI/EMC, and environmental testing.
- Experience leading Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) and cross-functional technical organizations.
- Prior experience serving as a Chief Engineer, Engineering Director, Technical Director, Lead Systems Engineer, IPT Lead, Program Engineer, or Technical Program Manager.
- Active Secret or Top Secret security clearance.
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