Chief Engineer, Defense NPD

About Oshkosh Aero Tech

Oshkosh Aero Tech is a leading provider of aviation ground support products, gate equipment and airport services to commercial airlines, airports, air‑freight carriers, ground handling and military customers. We own many of the most trusted brands in the air transportation industry, including LEKTRO®, Jet Aire®, Jet Power®, Amp Tek, Jetway® and more.

The Chief Engineer leads and manages a multidisciplinary engineering team focused on the development, integration, and support of defense and military product lines. The role drives new product development with a strong emphasis on mechanical engineering excellence, system integration, and technical leadership. It sits at the intersection of leadership and deep technical expertise, functioning as a combined people leader and technical lead or evolving into a highly technical chief/principal engineer role.

• Lead and develop an engineering team consisting of engineers, designers, and technicians, scaling or restructuring based on future organizational design.
• Provide both technical leadership and people leadership, balancing system‑level engineering guidance with team development, accountability, and performance management.
• Collaborate on the development and execution of engineering strategy across defense‑focused product lines, including new product development and legacy product support with Product Management.
• Lead the continued development and expansion of key defense products while supporting the transition away from low‑volume legacy programs.
• Establish and reinforce strong mechanical engineering practices, including form, fit, function, system packaging, and overall design integrity.
• Guide system‑level design across integrated mechanical, thermal, and power systems, including mobile HVAC systems (compressors, condensers, evaporators, thermal calculations), airflow and pressurization requirements (aircraft cooling applications and air start), and power generation/delivery systems requiring stable, controlled voltage outputs.
• Collaborate closely with electrical, controls, and software engineers to ensure full system integration across multidisciplinary domains.
• Support and influence the evolution of organizational structure, including the separation of new product development and sustaining engineering work streams.
• Ensure engineering work aligns with military and defense program requirements, including MIL‑SPEC compliance, first‑article inspections, and documentation standards.
• Partner with program management and cross‑functional teams to ensure alignment on project execution and technical requirements.
• Serve as a key technical decision‑maker influencing product direction, architecture, and adoption of new technologies.
• Act as a technical advisor and mentor across the engineering organization.
• Interface with customers, suppliers, and internal stakeholders to resolve complex technical challenges.
• Contribute to budgeting, forecasting, and product line strategy, including understanding business performance and P&L considerations.
• Drive continuous improvement in engineering processes, development methodologies, and system integration approaches to local and Oshkosh policies.

• Accredited Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field with ten (10) or more years of related experience.
• Exposure to both new product development and sustaining engineering environments.
• Experience working in cross‑functional teams including controls, electrical, and software engineering.

• Accredited Master’s degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering.
• Strong mechanical engineering background with emphasis on system‑level design rather than pure CAD execution.
• Experience with mobile HVAC systems, thermal management, or air handling systems in industrial or heavy equipment environments.
• Understanding of integrated power and air systems, including voltage regulation and system stability requirements.
• Experience working on defense or military programs, including familiarity with MIL‑SPEC standards and compliance documentation.
• Familiarity with Siemens NX and Teamcenter or similar…