Job Description
The Chief Engineer (NPD Jetway) leads and manages a multidisciplinary engineering team focused on the development, integration, and support of Passenger Boarding Bridges (PBB), Commercial and Military Pre-Conditioned Air (PCA) and Group Power (GPU) product lines. This role is responsible for driving new product development with a strong emphasis on mechanical/electrical/controls engineering excellence, system integration, and technical leadership.
This position operates at the intersection of leadership and deep technical expertise. The Chief Engineer plays a critical role in shaping the future of new products.
The role requires strong electrical and mechanical engineering fundamentals, particularly in mobile HVAC and power systems, along with the ability to guide complex system-level design, ensure compliance with commercial and military standards, and drive innovation across products
YOUR IMPACT
These duties are not meant to be all-inclusive and other duties may be assigned
- Lead and develop an engineering team consisting of engineers, designers, and technicians.
- Provide both technical leadership and people leadership, balancing system-level engineering guidance with team development, accountability, and performance management
- Collaborate on the development and execution of engineering strategies across product lines with Product Management
- Lead the continued development and expansion of key products while supporting the transition away from low-volume legacy programs
- Establish and reinforce strong electrical and mechanical engineering practices, including form, fit, function, system packaging, and overall design integrity
- Guide system-level design across integrated mechanical, thermal, and power systems, including:
- Mobile HVAC systems (compressors, condensers, evaporators, thermal calculations)
- Airflow and pressurization requirements, including aircraft cooling applications and air start
- Power generation and delivery systems require stable, controlled voltage outputs
- Passenger boarding bridges (structures, controls, power)
- Collaborate closely with electrical, controls, and software engineers to ensure full system integration across multidisciplinary domains
- Support and influence the evolution of organizational structure, including the separation of new product development and sustaining engineering workstreams
- Ensure engineering work aligns with commercial and military and program requirements, including MIL-SPEC compliance, SAE, UL, CE, NEC, first article inspections, and documentation standards
- Partner with program management and cross-functional teams to ensure alignment on project execution and technical requirements
- Serve as a key technical decision-maker influencing product direction, architecture, and adoption of new technologies
- Act as a technical advisor and mentor across the engineering organization
- Interface with customers, suppliers, and internal stakeholders to resolve complex technical challenges
- Contribute to budgeting, forecasting, and product line strategy, including understanding business performance and P&L considerations
- Drive continuous improvement in engineering processes, development methodologies, and system integration approaches to local and Oshkosh policies
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Accredited Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field with ten (10) or more years of related experience
- Exposure to both new product development and sustaining engineering environments
- Experience working in cross-functional teams including mechanical, controls, electrical, and software engineering
STANDOUT QUALIFICATIONS
- Accredited Master’s degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering
- Strong mechanical engineering background with emphasis on system-level design rather than pure CAD execution
- Experience with mobile HVAC systems, thermal management, or air handling systems in industrial or heavy equipment environments
- Understanding of integrated power and air systems, including voltage regulation and system stability requirements
- Experience working on defense or military programs, including familiarity with MIL-SPEC standards and compliance documentation
- Familiarity with Siemens NX and Teamcenter or similar PLM/CAD systems
- Strong business acumen, including exposure to product strategy, cost management, or P&L considerations
- PE License
CORE COMPETENCIES
- Internal Contacts
- Frequent interaction with engineering leadership, cross-functional teams, and program stakeholders
- External Contacts
- Regular interaction with customers, suppliers, and external partners
- Communication Skills
- Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences
- Decision-Making
- Significant responsibility for high-impact technical and organizational decisions
- Complexity, Judgment and Problem Solving
- Ability to operate in a dynamic environment with evolving organizational structure and competing priorities
- Supervisory/Managerial
- May include direct leadership responsibilities depending on final role structure
WORKING CONDITIONS
- Physical Demands
- Frequent: Standing, Walking, Sitting, Reaching, Hearing, Talking, Visual, Typing
- Occasional: Driving, Fine Dexterity, Manual Dexterity
- Seldom: Lifting/Carrying 25 lbs., Pushing/Pulling 25 lbs.
- Non-Physical Demands
- Frequent: Analysis/Reasoning, Communication, Reading, Writing, Sustained Mental Activity
- Environmental Demands
- Frequent: Independent work, task switching, detailed technical work
- Occasional: High volume interactions
- Work Schedule
- Routine shift hours with occasional additional time required
- Demands/Deadlines
- High volume, variable work demands requiring strong prioritization and adaptability
Pay Range:
$103,300.00 - $177,700.00
The above pay range reflects the minimum and maximum target pay for the position across all U.S. locations. Within this range, individual pay is determined by various factors, including the scope and responsibilities of the role, the candidate's experience, education and skills, as well as the equity of pay among team members in similar positions. Beyond offering a competitive total rewards package, we prioritize a people-first culture and offer various opportunities to support team member growth and success.
