Job OverviewThe Chief Engineer combines technical expertise, strategic vision, and leadership to oversee all engineering activities within the assigned product portfolio, ensuring that the portfolio engineering efforts achieve the organizational objectives. They own technical performance and are key stakeholders in cost and schedule outcomes for all technical program content. Serving as the primary technical point of contact for customers, functional teams, and leadership, the Chief Engineer ensures the program’s technical baseline is stable, applies common engineering standards, and implements effective change control.
They drive design decisions to ensure contract integrity and quality, establish team workflows, align priorities, and resolve technical conflicts. Collaborating with the R&D team, the Chief Engineer integrates new capabilities into portfolio products and drives innovation of new products while supervising engineering teams to ensure strategic alignment and high-quality execution of development and sustainment activities.
This role also involves managing staffing, resource allocation, and partnerships with Engineering Services to secure tools and support. Additionally, the Chief Engineer fosters the professional growth of the engineering team through mentoring, skill evaluations, and tailored development plans.
Essential Functions1. Technical Leadership
- Oversee Engineering Activities: Oversee all technical designs, ensuring products meet quality, performance, and safety standards.
- Co-Chair Governance Boards: Serve as co-chair for Configuration Control Boards (CCBs) and Test Readiness Reviews (TRRs) to ensure proper evaluation and approval of designs, changes, and testing readiness.
- Integrate New Capabilities and Products: Collaborate with the Research and Development team to identify and integrate emerging technologies into existing products as well as drive development of new products to support portfolio growth.
2. Team Leadership and Development
- Supervise Engineering Teams: Manage, mentor, and develop engineering staff, fostering professional growth and technical expertise.
- Develop Talent: Assess skills and create tailored growth plans, incorporating training, rotational assignments, and continuing education.
3. Resource and Project Management
- Optimize Resources: Assess engineering staffing needs and allocate resources across projects to balance workloads and meet objectives.
- Ensure Project Readiness: Coordinate with cross-functional teams to maintain timelines, budgets, and risk management strategies for engineering activities.
4. Governance and Compliance
- Maintain Regulatory Compliance: Ensure all engineering activities meet applicable industry and regulatory standards.
- Document Key Decisions: Oversee the documentation of technical decisions, changes, and processes for traceability and future reference.
5. Strategic Planning
- Support Portfolio Goals: Align engineering efforts with portfolio objectives and contribute to strategic planning for future product development and sustainment.
6. Perform other duties as assigned
Standard Essential FunctionsRegular and reliable attendance on a full-time basis Responsible for exhibiting professional behavior with both internal and external business associates that reflects positively on the company and is consistent with the companys policies and practices.Embodies AEVEX’s cultural values and aligns daily actions with department goals and company culture.
Qualifications and Competencies• Strong understanding of defense trends, technologies, and best practices• Excellent critical thinking skills• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills to effectively collaborate with diverse stakeholders and build consensus• Proven experience in leading technical teams and fostering a culture of innovation• Expertise in aerospace engineering and technology development. Unmanned Systems (UxS) experience is desired.• Strong communication and collaboration skills to articulate complex technical concepts to diverse stakeholders.• Familiarity with regulatory requirements in the UxS industry and DoD.• Understanding of diverse UxS platforms and their applications.• Ability to identify and leverage emerging technologies for UxS systems.
Education / Certifications• Bachelor of Science in Computer Science or Engineering.• Masters degree preferred
Experience• Minimum of 10 years of relevant experience with progressive technical experience in engineering roles, with a proven track record of technical design and development
Physical RequirementsReasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties the employee is:Frequently required to sit, and to reach to use computers and other office equipment
Security Clearance• Ability to obtain/maintain a Top-Secret DoD clearance, U.S. Citizenship required.
Work ArrangementThis is an on-site position that may require occasional travel, both domestic and international.
About AEVEX Aerospace
AEVEX Aerospace, 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 companys 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.
Equal Employment Opportunity:
AEVEX Aerospace is an Equal Opportunity employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, religious creed, color, sex (including pregnancy, breast feeding and related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, military and veteran status, marital status, age, protected medical condition, genetic information, physical disability, mental disability, or any other protected status in accordance with all applicable federal, state and local laws.
