Design Engineer

Job Title:

Design Engineer Job Description

The Design Engineer investigates and resolves complex aircraft design and build issues, develops structural engineering and instrumentation installation solutions, and authors temporary and permanent engineering instructions to support manufacturing and flight test activities. This role focuses on primary and secondary structural design, special missions and aftermarket modifications, and the disposition of non-conformances, ensuring aircraft integrity and compliance with engineering standards.

• Investigate design and build issues on aircraft and develop robust structural engineering and instrumentation installation solutions.

• Author temporary engineering instructions to resolve build issues in a timely and efficient manner.

• Review and disposition aircraft non-conformances, including developing clear and actionable rework instructions (MRB).

• Perform detailed investigations of aircraft and engineering drawings and coordinate findings with affected engineering disciplines, Quality Assurance, and operations/manufacturing representatives.

• Design Flight Test engineering change requests and coordinate implementation with work package owners and other stakeholders.

• Author engineering documentation to define structural special instructions or restrictions for aircraft structures and systems.

• Design and release structural and systems installations for Special Missions Engineering and aftermarket modifications.

• Support manufacturing and aircraft modification activities by providing engineering guidance and resolving technical issues on the shop floor.

• Ensure all designs and modifications align with aerospace standards, internal processes, and safety and reliability requirements.

• Communicate engineering solutions and decisions clearly through written documentation and verbal discussions with cross-functional teams.

• Minimum of 15 years of primary structural design experience on aircraft, including defense and special missions platforms.

• Strong background in structural design for aerospace applications, with experience in special missions or aftermarket modifications.

• Extensive experience in primary and secondary structural design using CATIA V5.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, or a related discipline from an accredited university.

• Minimum of 15 years of industry experience in aerospace or closely related fields.

• Minimum of 6,000 hours of hands‑on experience with CATIA V5.

• Recent, practical experience with 2D drawings and related drafting standards.

• Demonstrated experience supporting manufacturing and aircraft modification activities.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to convey complex engineering concepts clearly.

• Ability to work as a highly motivated self‑starter, taking initiative and driving tasks to completion.

• Experience in special missions or aftermarket modifications is required and highly valued.

• Experience with munitions integrations is considered an asset.

• Proficiency in CATIA V5 workbenches such as Assembly Design, Part Design (including Boolean operations), Aerospace Sheet metal, Tubing Design, Kinematics, and Electrical Harness Routing is a strong plus.

• Experience with Teamcenter PLM or similar product lifecycle management tools is a plus.

• Experience in defense‑related aircraft programs and special missions configurations is beneficial.

• Strong coordination skills for working with engineering, Quality Assurance, and manufacturing teams.

• Demonstrated ability to author clear engineering instructions, special structural restrictions, and flight test change requests.

This is a long‑term contract role supporting a large aerospace and defense original equipment manufacturer in Wichita, working Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in an office setting. The work environment is professional and engineering‑focused, with regular collaboration among design engineering, manufacturing, quality, and flight test teams. You will primarily use CATIA V5 and PLM tools, work with engineering drawings and documentation, and support aircraft…