Lead Structures Design Engineer

Lead the Structural Innovation Behind Special Missions Aircraft
Now Hiring:
Lead Structures Design Engineer | Wichita, KS | $110K–$130K (Direct Hire)

PDS Tech Commercial is partnering with a leader in the aerospace industry to hire an experienced Lead Structures Design Engineer for a direct placement opportunity in Wichita, KS. If you bring deep aerospace expertise, Special Missions or Aftermarket modification experience, and a passion for leading engineering teams, this is your opportunity to make a lasting impact on advanced aircraft programs.

As a Lead Structures Design Engineer, you will serve as both a technical authority and team mentor, guiding a group of 5–6 designers while driving structural solutions for complex aircraft modifications and Special Missions programs. Your leadership and technical decisions will directly influence aircraft performance, safety, compliance, and delivery timelines.

This is a high-visibility, high-impact role within a full onsite engineering environment.

Location: Wichita, KS (Full Onsite)

Job Type: Direct Placement

Travel: Approximately once per quarter

• Lead and coach a team of 5–6 structural designers
• Investigate design-build issues and develop structural engineering and instrumentation installation solutions
• Author temporary engineering solutions to resolve build issues efficiently
• Disposition aircraft non-conformances (MRB), including detailed rework instructions
• Conduct aircraft and engineering drawing investigations
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams including Engineering, Quality Assurance, and Manufacturing Operations
• Design Flight Test engineering change requests and coordinate with work package owners
• Author structural special instructions or restrictions as required
• Design and release structural and systems installations for Special Missions Engineering programs
• Serve as a design authority approving engineering solutions

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, or related discipline from an accredited university
• Minimum of 10 years of aerospace industry experience
• Experience in Special Missions or Aftermarket aircraft modifications
• Experience supporting manufacturing and aircraft modification programs
• Experience serving as a design authority for engineering approvals
• Strong problem-solving, technical documentation, and cross-functional coordination skills This position requires use of information or access to facilities subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and/or Export Administration Regulations (EAR). These regulations may limit access of controlled technologies:
  1) to U.S. Persons, including U.S. Citizens, lawful permanent residents, and other narrow categories including refugees and asylees, or
  2) to certain foreign nationals that have received an export license.

• Prior experience leading or mentoring engineering teams
• Experience working closely with MRB processes and non-conformance resolution
• Strong understanding of structural installations and systems integration

At PDS Tech Commercial, you’ll have the opportunity to step into a leadership role supporting cutting-edge aerospace programs in Wichita — a historic hub of aviation innovation.

• Drive technical excellence
• Mentor and elevate their teams
• Solve complex structural challenges
• Deliver safe, compliant, and high-performing aircraft solutions

This role offers:

• Competitive salary range of $110K–$130K
• Direct placement with long-term career stability
• Leadership opportunity with measurable impact
• Exposure to advanced Special Missions programs
• A collaborative, high-performance engineering culture

You’ll be part of an organization committed to diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity employment, where your expertise and leadership truly matter.

If you have the experience, leadership ability, and passion to drive structural innovation in Special Missions aerospace programs, we want to hear from you.

Pay Details: $ to $ per year

• Benefit offerings…