Chief Engineer – Aerospace

Lead Aerospace Engineering Professional

Dayton, OH | Assistance with Relocation

An inventive aerospace company is in search of a skilled Chief Engineer to oversee the development of advanced aerospace platforms from initial idea to final production. This confidential role offers the opportunity to provide high-level technical leadership while guiding the creation, integration, testing, and delivery of highly engineered aerospace products for both commercial and government clients.

In this senior engineering position, you will set the technical vision, lead diverse engineering teams, and supervise every stage of the product lifecycle—from system architecture and detailed design to integration, verification, testing, and production. This role provides significant influence over technology strategy, engineering excellence, and company growth.

• Offer technical guidance for intricate aerospace development programs from concept to production.
• Establish system architecture, engineering strategy, and long-term product development paths.
• Lead diverse engineering teams encompassing aerospace, mechanical, electrical, avionics, systems, manufacturing, and test engineering.
• Direct the design, integration, and validation of advanced aerospace platforms and vital systems.
• Supervise aircraft structures, systems integration, flight controls, propulsion integration, aerodynamics, and supporting components.
• Direct prototype development, lab testing, ground testing, flight testing, verification, and validation efforts.
• Establish and uphold engineering best practices, including design reviews, configuration management, technical risk management, and quality standards.
• Act as the primary technical contact for customers, suppliers, government agencies, and strategic partners.
• Guide engineering managers and technical staff while promoting a culture of innovation, collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with executive leadership to align engineering initiatives with business goals and future growth.

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field. Master’s degree is a plus.
• 15+ years of progressive aerospace engineering experience with increasing technical and organizational leadership roles.
• Demonstrated success in leading the development of complex aerospace products from concept to production.
• Strong expertise in aircraft design, structural development, systems integration, aerodynamics, propulsion integration, flight controls, and product validation.
• Experience integrating avionics, electrical systems, communications, navigation, sensors, propulsion, and other critical aircraft systems.
• Proven success in leading interdisciplinary engineering teams and large-scale product development endeavors.
• Strong grasp of systems engineering, verification and validation, configuration management, and engineering development processes.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and organizational abilities with effective collaboration across various departments.

• Experience with unmanned aircraft, autonomous systems, or other advanced aerospace technologies.
• Experience in defense, aerospace, or other highly regulated engineering programs.
• Familiarity with FAA, military, or other aerospace certification and airworthiness requirements.
• Experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE).
• Knowledge of AS9100 quality systems and engineering best practices.

This is a distinctive opportunity to influence the technical direction of a growing aerospace company working on cutting-edge flight technologies. The successful candidate will have considerable impact on engineering strategy, product innovation, and company success while guiding an experienced interdisciplinary engineering team through the development of complex aerospace systems.

Role Details

• Full-time, leadership position on-site
• Located in Dayton, OH
• Relocation assistance offered for qualified candidates
• Competitive salary, bonuses for performance, and comprehensive benefits package