Director of Engineering

Aerospace Manufacturing | Northridge, CA | Onsite

Eleven Recruiting is conducting this search on behalf of a well-established aerospace manufacturer in Northridge, CA. This organization manages a broad portfolio of mature electromechanical and hydraulic aerospace assemblies — supporting rotorcraft, commercial, military, and business aviation platforms. The company has deep expertise in sustaining complex, high-mix product lines within a low-volume production environment and maintains rigorous airworthiness standards across its operations.

The Director of Engineering reports directly to the General Manager and serves as the site's senior engineering authority. This is a leadership position for a technically deep engineer who is equally comfortable setting direction and working hands‑on. The right candidate brings experience in a production environment centered on sustaining and evolving established product lines — someone who knows how to own design authority, navigate complex product histories, and ensure continued airworthiness across a diverse portfolio.

FAA PMA experience and OEM partner interface capability are meaningful differentiators.

• Lead the technical team in new product capability evaluation, risk identification, and mitigation; interface with OEM partners to define and maintain design authority
• Support product transition processes; coordinate engineering participation to ensure process control and validation
• Supervise creation of build instructions, tool definitions, and test fixtures; oversee configuration management
• Set guidelines and supervise document control
• Provide technical support and RCCA for field returns, in‑service issues, production issues, and MRB technical analysis and disposition
• Lead the Change Control Board (CCB) as the engineering representative
• Serve as technical liaison with customers, suppliers, and subcontractors; support customer service and sales on technical matters
• Select, recruit, and develop engineering personnel; mentor and cross‑train across functions
• Support FAA PMA approval processes; partner with other departments during audit activities
• Ensure the continued airworthiness of all products and systems within the site's scope
• Ensure adherence to company procedures and standards across design, production, and in‑service support
• Liaise with technical data holders on engineering data changes; lead development activities under any delegated design authority
• Ensure subcontracted engineering work complies with all regulatory and company requirements

• B.S. in Electrical, Mechanical, or Aerospace Engineering
• 10+ years in aerospace design and/or manufacturing engineering; 5+ years in a supervisory role
• Hands‑on experience with electromechanical and hydraulic aerospace assemblies — including motors, actuators, pumps, valves, and related systems
• Knowledge of materials, outside critical processes, NDT, and precision aerospace component specifications
• Project and configuration management experience
  
  Strong communicator — clear technical reporting, direct customer and OEM partner interface

• M.S. in Engineering and/or MBA
• FAA PMA experience
• Background sustaining or evolving established aerospace product lines in a production environment
• Comfort owning design authority on complex, long‑cycle product portfolios
• Familiarity with AS9100, FAA Part 145, and relevant civil/military airworthiness standards
• Experience interfacing with Type Certificate holders and design authorities
• Rotorcraft and/or fixed‑wing platform experience