Job Description

Sr Aeronautical Engineer

Dayton, OH (Onsite)

Salary: $145,000 – $180,000 / year + Bonus + Full Benefits + SIGNING BONUS / PAID RELOCATION Clearance: Active TS/SCI clearance required

Join an integrated Government-industry team delivering Phalanx Griffon (PG)—a platform-agnostic, open-architecture aerial node that pushes real-time, multi-level-secure data to the tactical edge. As the Senior Aeronautical Engineer , you will be the program’s primary air-vehicle integration lead, responsible for translating the digital design into safe, air-worthy hardware and ensuring seamless fit, form, and function across multiple aircraft types.

This is an exceptional opportunity for a highly skilled Aeronautical Engineer to take on a leadership role in a critical national defense program, impacting the future of airborne data solutions. You will be instrumental in the successful integration of advanced systems onto various military platforms.

Essential Job Functions:

• Platform Integration Lead:
  • Own the aircraft-level mechanical & structural integration of the Nomad hardware stack, SATCOM apertures, and platform-interface modules (PIMs).
  • Develop and coordinate AF Form 1067 packages, air-worthiness artifacts, and flight-clearance data with System Program Offices (SPOs), Flight Test Centers, and OEMs.
  • Perform trade studies and SWaP-C analyses to down-select form-factor options for priority platforms.
• Digital Engineering & Model-Based Design:
  • Author/maintain 3-D CAD assemblies, interface-control models, and parametric weight/balance data inside the program’s government-owned digital thread.
  • Feed real-time design feedback to Nomad, Smith, and Watch Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) and the Government architecture team.
• System Integration Laboratory (SIL) Support:
  • Define aircraft-representative fixtures, wiring harnesses, and environmental test setups; oversee buildout and day-to-day operation of the Integration SIL.
  • Execute vibration, EMI/EMC, thermal, and functional checkout testing prior to Developmental Test (DT)/Operational Test (OT).
• Flight Test & Fielding:
  • Draft test plans, hazard analyses, and Interim Authorizations to Test (IATT) ; serve as on-board or ground-test engineer during developmental and operational flights.
  • Lead red-line capture, root-cause analysis, and incorporation of lessons learned into subsequent builds and Product Delivery Orders (PDOs).
• Program Execution & Mentorship:
  • Maintain integration milestones within the Integrated Master Schedule; brief risk, cost, and readiness metrics to Government leadership.
  • Provide technical mentorship to mid-level engineers; cultivate a culture of agile, DevSecOps-aligned hardware development.

Required Skills:

• Due to the sensitivity of customer related requirements, U.S. Citizenship is required.
• B.S. in Aeronautical, Aerospace, or Mechanical Engineering and 15+ years of aircraft modification or avionics-hardware integration experience (military platforms highly desired) or a Master's degree plus 12 years of experience.
• Demonstrated expertise in: structural analysis (FEM), weight & balance, wiring/harness integration, and MIL-STD environmental qualification.
• Hands-on experience guiding systems from lab to flight test to fielding within USAF or DoD acquisition frameworks (AFI 63-101/20-101).
• Proficiency with CREO, NX, CATIA, or SolidWorks.
• Active TS/SCI clearance.

Desired Skills:

• Prior involvement in ABMS, OMS/UCI, CJADC2, or open-architecture avionics programs.
• Working knowledge of multiband SATCOM hardware, NSA-accredited crypto devices, and cross-domain solutions.
• Experience authoring or reviewing Air Force flight-clearance and air-worthiness documentation (AF 879, AFCB, E-Series).
• Agile/Scrum or SAFe certification; familiarity with DevSecOps toolchains in classified environments.
• Familiarity with MBSE (SysML/CAMEO).

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