Project Engineer, Systems Engineer

Project Engineer

This role provides technical leadership and hands-on execution for complex aerospace new product development programs, guiding projects from initial requirements and proposals through design, certification, entry-into-service, and sustaining engineering. The Project Engineer leads small cross-functional teams, coordinates closely with customers and internal stakeholders, and ensures that all designs and deliverables meet stringent technical, regulatory, and quality standards. This position offers a clear growth path into future leadership opportunities and the chance to become a recognized subject matter expert within the organization.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and execution for new product development programs, ensuring alignment with customer technical requirements and procurement specifications.
• Coordinate and contribute to all phases of new product development, including technical proposals, design of customer-deliverable hardware, support of development part fabrication, qualification testing, certification activities, entry-into-service, and sustaining engineering.
• Lead small, typically co-located, cross-functional teams and serve as the technical focal point for assigned programs.
• Own, delegate, coordinate, assign, and execute engineering tasks in collaboration with the internal product development team.
• Ensure that designs comply with customer technical requirements, procurement specifications, and applicable industry standards and regulations.
• Provide technical input, review, and approval for engineering drawings, documentation, and analytical outputs.
• Prepare and deliver clear project status presentations and communications for internal leadership and external customers.
• Establish and defend technically sound positions that support program and company objectives.
• Identify and implement improvement activities to reduce cost and cycle time while improving product quality.
• Interface with vendors and suppliers to ensure effective technical communication, mutual understanding, and product compliance.
• Lead and/or directly contribute to internal and external audits, including AS9100 and customer quality audits.
• Develop and maintain state-of-the-art knowledge of relevant engineering disciplines, processes, and tools.
• Establish oneself as a recognized technical subject matter expert, contributing to new business opportunities and maintaining long-term relationships with key customers.
• Proactively communicate across the organization to ensure transparency, alignment with project goals, and effective cross-functional collaboration.
• Understand the company's objectives and commercial strategy, and actively recognize, communicate, and support new business opportunities with the leadership team.
• Decompose and interpret customer and project needs and requirements, including situations where requirements are nebulous or incomplete.
• Produce high-quality technical reports, specifications, and program documentation to support project management and customer communication.
• Support and guide design engineers, analysts, drafters, and test technicians, including delegating work and supervising non-direct reports.
• Contribute to and sometimes lead internal and external audits, ensuring compliance with relevant standards and continuous improvement.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering, or an equivalent combination of education and experience; a Master's degree is preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in metallic or composite ducting and motion compensator design per ARP 699 guidelines as a Project or Systems Engineering focal, or equivalent experience in aerospace product areas such as Environmental Control Systems (ECS), bleed air or air management systems (AMS), valves (pneumatic or electromechanical), heat exchangers, turbo machinery, fuel tank inerting systems (FTIS, OBIGGS, OBOGGS, NGS), pneumatic wing anti-ice systems, ram air systems, high-pressure or low-pressure pneumatic systems, or structural design.
• Experience with aircraft certification to EASA, Transport Canada, CAAC, and/or FAA 14 CFR Part 25 requirements.
• Experience managing programs from award or kick-off through key milestones such as Preliminary Design Review (PDR), Critical Design Review (CDR), Production Readiness Review (PRR), Safety of Flight (SOF), and Entry-into-Service (EIS).
• Demonstrated project management skills and strong interpersonal skills, including experience working with internal and external customers and resources.
• Experience delegating work and supervising non-direct reports, including design engineers, analysts, drafters, and test technicians.
• Experience writing certification documentation such as Acceptance Test Procedures (ATP), Qualification Test Plans (QTP), and Qualification Test Reports (QTR).
• Experience with sheet metal and/or composite manufacturing and forming processes.
• Experience with the Material Review Board (MRB) process and engineering disposition authority.
• Test experience…