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Chief Engineer Job Description
A Chief Engineer Job description is provided below
Feel free to copy the Chief Engineer Job Description and use it to help with your recruitment efforts. We don’t post jobs on boards, as our process is a hands-on, active approach to recruitment.
This article is just a tool to help prospective employers and their recruitment staff understand all of the specifics of these positions, we will be adding some commentary afterward to clarify anything that might seem like jargon or that might provide any confusion.
These clarifications are made for non-technical staff. We highly recommend that if you do use our Job Descriptions that you edit them to more closely relate to the work that your organization is specifically concerned with.
Chief Engineer Job Description
Job Title: Aerospace and Defense Chief Engineer
Job Type: Full-time
Job Location: [Location]
Job Summary:
We are looking for a highly skilled Aerospace and Defense Chief Engineer to lead and manage the design, development, testing, and delivery of complex aerospace and defense systems. As a Chief Engineer, you will be responsible for ensuring the technical excellence of our products, meeting customer requirements, and ensuring that our products meet or exceed industry standards.
Responsibilities:
- Lead the technical team in the design, development, and testing of aerospace and defense systems, ensuring that they meet or exceed customer requirements.
- Develop and implement engineering processes, standards, and best practices to ensure technical excellence across all projects.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams including project management, systems engineering, quality assurance, and manufacturing to ensure that projects are completed on time and within budget.
- Ensure compliance with industry standards, government regulations, and company policies throughout the product development process.
- Manage technical risk and ensure that appropriate mitigation strategies are in place.
- Establish and maintain relationships with customers, suppliers, and partners to ensure that the company stays up-to-date with industry trends and technology advancements.
- Support business development efforts by providing technical expertise during proposal development and customer meetings.
- Lead the development and mentoring of technical staff, including identifying training needs, providing guidance and feedback, and conducting performance evaluations.
- Participate in strategic planning activities to help define the company’s technical vision and roadmap.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical or Systems Engineering, or a related field.
- Minimum of 15 years of experience in aerospace and defense product development, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.
- Strong technical background in the design, development, and testing of aerospace and defense systems.
- Experience managing complex projects with cross-functional teams, including project management, systems engineering, quality assurance, and manufacturing.
- Knowledge of industry standards and government regulations related to aerospace and defense product development.
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex technical information to both technical and non-technical audiences.
- Strong leadership skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate technical teams.
- Ability to manage technical risk and develop appropriate mitigation strategies.
- Strong problem-solving skills and ability to think strategically.
- Experience in business development, including proposal development and customer meetings, is a plus.
- Active security clearance or ability to obtain one is a plus.
If you meet the qualifications and are interested in this challenging and rewarding opportunity, please submit your resume and cover letter for consideration.
Clarification of Potentially Confusing or Technical Terminology in the Chief Engineer Job Description:
Aerospace and defense systems:
- Examples include aircraft, missiles, satellites, and drones.
Technical excellence:
- This means ensuring that the products are designed and developed to the highest standards of quality and performance.
Industry standards:
- These are guidelines and regulations that the aerospace and defense industry follows to ensure safety and quality. Examples include the FAA regulations for aircraft and the MIL-STD standards for military products.
Government regulations:
- These are laws and rules set by government agencies that companies must follow when designing and manufacturing products. Examples include ITAR regulations for exporting military products and FAA regulations for aircraft safety.
Cross-functional teams:
- These are teams made up of individuals from different departments or areas of expertise who work together to complete a project. In this case, the technical team would work with project management, systems engineering, quality assurance, and manufacturing teams to develop and deliver the aerospace and defense products.
Mitigation strategies:
- These are plans or actions taken to reduce the risk or impact of potential problems or failures that may arise during product development or use. For example, having backup systems in place in case of a failure or developing redundant safety features to ensure the product operates safely.
Security clearance:
- This is a process that involves a background check by a government agency to determine if an individual is eligible for access to classified information or facilities. In this case, having an active security clearance is a requirement for some aerospace and defense projects.