Mechanical Engineer Manager

Manager, Packaging and Optics

Duluth, GA (Onsite) | Aerospace & Avionics 9/80 Schedule Available – Every Other Friday Off

Lead the Engineering Behind What Protects, Connects, and Displays Avionics Technology

Great avionics performance depends on more than what happens inside the electronics. The mechanical packaging, thermal performance, structural integrity, PCB design, and optical systems all have to work together—and perform reliably in demanding flight environments.

At Universal Avionics, we're looking for a Manager, Packaging and Optics who can lead both the people and the engineering behind these critical disciplines.

This is an opportunity for an experienced mechanical engineering leader who wants to remain technically connected to the work while developing talented engineers, influencing product design, and helping bring sophisticated electronic and opto-mechanical systems from concept through qualification.

Universal Avionics develops advanced avionics, enhanced vision systems, and intelligent cockpit technologies designed to improve aviation safety and situational awareness.

As Manager, Packaging and Optics, you'll lead the Packaging and Optics team within Hardware Development, with responsibility spanning mechanical engineering, PCB design, and optical systems.

You'll build and develop engineering talent, set team priorities and goals, manage resources and budgets, and partner with Program Management and other engineering disciplines to support successful program execution.

At the same time, this isn't a role where you step away from the engineering. You'll provide technical direction across electromechanical and opto-mechanical design, thermal and structural analysis, PCB design processes, display technologies, prototypes, and environmental qualification.

The result: a leadership role where you can develop people, shape engineering practices, and directly influence the hardware behind advanced avionics products.

Lead, develop, and support a team of mechanical engineers and PCB designers, creating clear goals, expectations, and opportunities for growth

Align departmental priorities, staffing, budgets, and engineering resources with company and program objectives

Partner with Program Management to plan work, assign resources, track progress, and support successful program execution

Provide technical leadership from early requirements and trade studies through detailed design, prototype development, testing, and qualification

Guide mechanical and opto-mechanical designs for commercial and military aerospace applications

Oversee thermal and structural analysis to ensure designs can perform reliably in their intended operating environments

Drive effective collaboration between Mechanical, Electrical, Systems, and other engineering functions

Lead PCB design practices, including IPC-aligned processes, data-library standards, and design/manufacturing reviews

Guide the evaluation and selection of LCD technologies and the development of optical elements needed to meet product performance requirements

Manage external optical design activities and maintain effective technical relationships with display and optical technology suppliers

Support the development of optical test capabilities and verification strategies

Maintain effective engineering design infrastructure, including PTC Creo and PTC Windchill

Support environmental qualification, sustaining engineering, component obsolescence, and product-improvement activities

We're looking for an experienced engineering leader who combines strong mechanical design expertise with the ability to develop people, coordinate complex technical work, and make sound engineering decisions.

Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

7+ years of electromechanical design experience

7+ years working within integrated, multidisciplinary project teams

Strong experience with thermal and structural finite element analysis

Proficiency with PTC Creo 3D CAD

Practical understanding of PCB assemblies and how mechanical, electrical, and manufacturing requirements come together

Knowledge of machining/mill operations and sheet-metal design and fabrication

Ability to guide complex mechanical designs for aerospace environments and requirements

Experience collaborating effectively across Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Program Management, and other technical functions

Strong critical-thinking skills with the ability to make decisions when information is limited or technical tradeoffs are required

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Familiarity with ISO 9001 or AS9100 quality environments

Experience leading and developing engineers, managing technical priorities, and coordinating engineering resources will be particularly valuable given the scope of this position.

Lead the mechanical engineering behind sophisticated avionics and display technologies

Stay technically connected while developing and mentoring engineering talent

Work across mechanical packaging, PCB design, optics, displays, thermal…