Product Engineer, Lead

Company Overview

Lead Product Engineer, Curtiss‑Wright Steam & Air Solutions (SAS) designs, manufactures, tests, and supports Navy steam turbines, nuclear steam turbines, and aftermarket steam parts. The facility in Summerville, SC is a 134,000‑sq‑ft state‑of‑the‑art manufacturing plant dedicated to machining, welding, assembly, and quality inspections.

Summerville, SC (greater Charleston). Salary range: $99,000 – $143,000 (based in SC). Eligibility for additional compensation is evaluated based on qualifications, experience, and market conditions.

• Paid Time Off
• 401(k) with employer match and profit sharing
• Health and Wellness Benefits
• Learning and Development Opportunities
• Referral Program
• Competitive Pay
• Recognition Program
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Inclusive & Supportive Culture

The Lead Product Engineer is a high‑impact technical authority responsible for guiding product lifecycle strategy, directing complex engineering initiatives, and ensuring product performance, manufacturability, reliability, and cost objectives align with long‑term business and customer needs. The role includes enterprise‑level technical leadership, shaping product roadmaps, mentoring senior engineers, driving cross‑functional execution from concept through high‑volume production, and advising leadership on technology decisions, risk posture, and investment priorities.

• Provide advanced technical leadership across major product programs by defining product strategy, establishing engineering direction, and ensuring cohesive design, risk mitigation, and long‑term viability.
• Guide cross‑functional product development teams—design, test, reliability, and manufacturing—to align architectures, requirements, and implementation plans that meet cost, quality, and performance targets.
• Lead enterprise‑level product reviews, change decisions, technology selections, and process frameworks that improve consistency, manufacturability, and engineering execution quality.
• Anticipate and resolve complex, system‑wide product issues by developing innovative engineering solutions, shaping product roadmaps, and ensuring readiness for production scaling and lifecycle sustainment.
• Mentor Lead and Senior Engineers, support talent development and succession planning, and represent the product engineering function in customer, regulatory, and executive‑facing engagements.

• US citizenship required; must be able to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance and approvals.
• 5%–15% annual travel as required by projects.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering or a related technical field.
• 12–15+ years of progressive design engineering experience with significant leadership responsibility across product development, manufacturing, or systems integration.
• Recognized subject‑matter expert with broad influence and proven success resolving highly complex product engineering challenges.
• Demonstrated ability to lead large cross‑functional engineering programs and align diverse technical teams to shared product objectives.
• Strong architectural thinking and systems‑level understanding of product design, manufacturing processes, validation, and lifecycle sustainment.
• Experience defining engineering strategy, technical standards, and long‑range product roadmaps.
• Excellent communication, executive presentation, and stakeholder‑management skills.
• Knowledge of applicable regulatory, quality, reliability, and safety requirements for engineered products.
• Proven mentor and coach to senior technical talent with a track record of building high‑performing engineering teams.
• High degree of professional maturity, accountability, and business acumen.

• This position may require exposure to export‑controlled information and is subject to additional security screening.
• Travel of 5%–15% per year, dependent on assigned projects.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. Curtiss‑Wright is an equal‑opportunity employer. If you require accommodation due to a disability at any time during the recruitment or assessment process, please contact Talent Acquisition and we will make all reasonable efforts to accommodate your request.

This position may require exposure to export‑controlled information and is subject to additional security screening. In the event that information revealed during the security screening indicates ineligibility to access export‑controlled information, any offer of employment may be reconsidered or withdrawn.