Principal Aerospace Engineer

Work Arrangement
Onsite with occasional travel. Periods of development may require long irregular hours around deadlines, which can include weekends some holidays.

Job Overview
The Principal Aeromechanical Engineer is responsible for leading and overseeing the design, development, and testing of aeromechanical systems and components. They collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure the successful integration of aerodynamic, mechanical, and structural elements in aircraft and spacecraft designs. They provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior engineers, contribute to project management activities, and stay updated on industry trends and advancements in aeromechanical engineering.

Essential Functions
• Lead the design and development of UAS products and subsystems.
• Build and tests prototype systems to validate designs
• Make decisions for design challenges and coordination with multidisciplinary engineering groups
• Evaluate performance of all vehicle designs from initial concept to complete production-ready design
• Conduct presentations (Formal and Informal) on designs.
• Uses scientific and engineering principles to assess deficiencies in any given design and the impact of potential changes
• Makes complex decisions to meet stated and derived requirements
• Complete assigned tasks within the project schedule and budget
• Provide guidance and mentorship to others in both their discipline and company values
• Conduct FEA and CFD simulation analysis on aircraft and powerplants Design airframes and other aeromechanical parts
• Act as an interface to customers as ideas are communicated

Standard Essential Functions
Regular and reliable attendance on a full time basis [or in accordance with posted schedule].
Responsible for exhibiting professional behavior with both internal and external business associates that reflects positively on the company and is consistent with the company's policies and practices.
Embodies AEVEX’s cultural values and aligns daily actions with department goals and company culture.

Qualifications and Competencies
• Demonstrated competence in Mechanical Engineering processes and design/analysis tools, solving Mechanics & Kinematics problems, solving Thermodynamics problems
• Experienced in successfully designing mil-y electronics products
• Understanding of metallic, plastic, and composite material properties
• Ability to solve basic structural dynamics problems
• Proficiency in SolidWorks, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint is required
• Understanding of industry design and documentation standards (GD&T, ASME, Change Control, etc.)
• Experienced with designing machined parts, composite parts, injection molded parts, sheet metal parts, wire assemblies, and mechanical assemblies for low, medium, and high-volume manufacturing processes
• Experienced with mechanical, lab, field, flight, and environmental testing
• Understanding of engineering configuration management processes
• Ability to work with high-level program requirements, organize, schedule, and delegate tasks to an engineering team
• Ability to provide leadership to the team

Education / Certifications
• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering.
• Master's Degree preferred.

Experience
• Minimum of 10+ years of experience in a progressive technical capacity within an engineering organization

Frequently required to sit, and to reach to use computers and other office equipment

Security Clearance
• Ability to obtain/maintain a Top Secret/SCI DoD clearance, U.S. Citizenship required.

About AEVEX

AEVEX, headquartered in Solana Beach, California, supports the U.S. national security mission and partner nation needs around the world by providing full-spectrum aviation, remote sensing, and analysis solutions. The company's capabilities include custom design and engineering; rapid prototyping; sensor integration and sustainment; aircraft modification and certification; flight test instrumentation and support; mission operations service; advanced intelligence data processing, exploitation, and dissemination solutions; and tailored hardware and software mission-system tools. AEVEX uses agile and customized approaches to rapidly define, develop, and deliver specialized solutions for airborne special mission needs for the U.S. Government, partner nations, and commercial businesses. AEVEX has major offices in California, Florida, North Carolina, Ohio, and Virginia.

AEVEX provides a full suite of comprehensive benefits, including a 401(k)-retirement plan, comprehensive Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability and Life insurance group coverage with a portion of the premiums paid by the company, professional development funds, and an Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) with counseling, legal help, child and elder care support, among other benefits for qualified employees.

Recruitment Communication Notice: All official correspondence regarding your application, application status, interviews, or the AEVEX hiring process will come directly from an AEVEX representative using an @aevex.com email address or through Greenhouse, our applicant tracking system. Please use caution with communications claiming to represent AEVEX from other email domains, and always verify the sender before responding or providing personal information.