Title:  Lead Project Engineer

LEAD ENGINEER, PROJECT (SPACE, NAVY, INDUSTRIAL) 

Job Description: 

The ‘Project Engineer-Lead’ is responsible for product development of space, navy (defense) and Industrial products including components, subsystems, and systems.  The engineer is also responsible for adding value to the product to achieve equivalent or better performance at a lower cost while maintaining all functional & quality requirement. The engineer will typically work in a multidisciplinary team setting that includes mechanical, materials, electrical, and embedded system/software engineers. The engineer shall be self-motivated, able to handle multiple projects and provide supervision for technical staff. 

Responsibilities: 

Primary duties include: 

• Responsible for all aspects of product development phases that span from TRL1 (Concept) to TRL9 (Actual System Proven in Operational Environment). 

• Validate component/technology in laboratory environment (TRL4). 

• Validate component/technology in relevant environment (TRL5). 

• Demonstrate system/subsystem prototype in a relevant environment, ground, or space (TRL6) 

• Handoff the design to liaison engineering and provide support for TRL7 (system prototype demonstration in operational environment), TRL8 (system qualification), and TRL9 (actual system proven in operational environment) phases. 

• Assign tasks to project engineers and oversee the work performed for multiple projects.   

• Mentor and coach engineers to enhance technical understanding for products and technologies.  

• Review, analyze, and verify compliance and acceptance of technical specification requirements. 

• Conceptualize new and preliminary designs and layouts and prepare initial design using 3D CAD tools to convert the specification into product design using industry standards. 

• Write technical specifications for components such as pressure/temperature transducers etc.  

• Add value to the product during development stage to improve performance and to reduce cost without impacting the compliance to fit, form, function, and configuration. 

• Incorporate features that facilitate better manufacturing, and assembly leading to better reliability. The objective is to achieve equivalent or better performance at a lower cost while maintaining all functional & quality requirement. 

• Analyze alternate designs, provide rationale, and suggest design improvements. 

• Work closely with Materials and Process (M&P) and V&V engineering to propose alternate materials, approaches to accomplish better product functionality. 

• Develop and maintain technical data package including detailed drawings, assembly drawings, SDRLs, and parts lists. 

• Create design review data packages and hold internal design reviews (CEBs) to obtain concept approval from review board.  

• Be the technical interface with customer’s technical representatives and lead customer reviews during development. 

• Review Development, Prototype, Qualification Test Procedures (DTP, PTP, QTP), test data, and Test Reports (Development, Qualification). 

• Work with suppliers to drive design decisions resulting in lower cost and more producible products. Support procurement in selecting/recommending vendors. 

• Plan and schedule activities to complete the task/project objectives within schedule and budget.  

Technical Skills Requirements: 

The candidate must meet the following criteria: 

• Experience in the design of mechanical components and assemblies for propulsion system applications, fluid control valve technology, and electromechanical systems. 

• Proficiency with CAD software in the creation of 3D parts and assemblies is required. Experience in using Autodesk Inventor and Siemens NX desirable. 

• Proficient with product design and process FMEA, Design for Manufacturing (DFM), Design for Assembly (DFA), Design for Cost (DFC), Design for Reliability (DFR) methods and techniques. 

• Understanding of electronic concepts and experience in interfacing with electronic controllers is desirable. 

• Experience with, and understanding of, military, aerospace, and industry specifications such as RTCA DO-160/178/274, and MIL-STD-810. 

• Experience with MathCAD, Matlab Simulink, AMESIM, and FEA is preferred. 

• Ability to interpret and analyze mechanical specifications and data, to communicate effectively with customers, suppliers and at all levels within the company and good technical writing skills. 

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, Root Cause and Corrective Action (RCCA), and technical leadership skills. 

• Experience to add value to products, promote substitution of materials and methods with less expensive alternatives without sacrificing product qualification, and functionality.  

• Must have an analytical understanding to demonstrate cost and benefits analysis. 

• Knowledge of various materials (Metals, alloys, shape memory materials, polymers, plastics etc.) and their characteristics. 

• Must have creative thinking with varied industry experience in R&D and new product development. 

• Must be proficient in MS Word, Excel, Project, PowerPoint, and Outlook. 

Education and Experience: 

The candidate must meet the following criteria: 

• BS in mechanical or aerospace engineering (Master’s degree preferred). 

• Minimum of eight (8) years of product development, project, design, or related engineering experience. 

• Experience in designing and analyzing of mechanical/electromechanical multi-part mechanisms, fluid control valves/components/systems and assemblies.