Job Summary

We have an exciting opportunity for a Staff Engineer to work with a dynamic team of engineers and designers focused on the engineering development and sustainment of ground support equipment (GSE) product solutions for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The GSE Engineering team is responsible for providing equipment and tool solutions for the following UAS lifecycle functions: installation/removal of aircraft components, assembly/disassembly of the aircraft, transportation of the aircraft and its components, facilitation of ground operations of the aircraft, and maintenance tasks.
Reporting to a GSE Engineering Group Manager or Supervisor, the Staff Engineer will be responsible for executing a variety of engineering tasks. Members of the GSE Engineering team typically have very diverse project workloads that ensure involvement in a broad spectrum of engineering efforts, ranging from component/system level troubleshooting and quick-reaction hardware developments in support of manufacturing/aircraft integration activities to full product development efforts of customer deliverable GSE solutions.
With periodic supervision, this position exercises considerable latitude for initiating and developing designs, procedures, techniques and solutions to advanced technical engineering problems related to GSE. The Staff Engineer serves as a consulting resource of engineering knowledge, applies the latest technological advancements to any problem, and may function in an advisory or project leadership role providing direction to experienced technical staff. The Staff Engineer communicates with engineering professionals, solution users, and management throughout the solution development cycle, and represents the organization as a prime technical contact on contracts and/or projects. The Staff Engineer interacts frequently with inter-organization or customer contacts. The Staff Engineer generates, reviews, and approves engineering content of technical deliverables. New hardware development projects are normally owned by the Staff Engineer throughout the AS9100-compliant Mechanical Engineering Design Controls process, from project kickoff thru production sustainment, as required. The Staff Engineer is responsible for executing, tracking and regularly reporting on relevant programmatics (e.g. cost, schedule and deliverable status).

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Conceptualize and develop GSE product designs to meet a stipulated set of requirements, utilizing 3D CAD systems such as Siemens NX and/or Creo Parametric as required.
• Structurally analyze GSE products, utilizing finite element analysis methods in the preferred CAD system Ansys, to ensure fitness for the required design loads.
• Perform detail design and analysis functions such as: load derivation, tolerance analysis, tipping analysis, buckling analysis, connection design (fasteners, pins, welds), galvanic compatibility analysis, etc.
• Generate and review formal engineering documentation (drawings, memos, specifications, test procedures, trade studies, reports, engineering change packages, internal technical review [iTR] artifacts, etc.) in accordance with the AS9100-compliant Mechanical Engineering Design Controls process, relevant Engineering Work Instructions, and/or program direction as required.
• Understand core Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing (GD&T) principles and utilize on drawings when it most effectively captures design intent for practical manufacture and inspection.
• Develop and maintain mechanical engineering project planning artifacts (task lists, rolling action item lists, engineering labor estimates, Gantt charts, etc.) and periodically report progress and issues.
• Direct the activities of designers/drafters; may direct the activities of moderately experienced professional staff.
• Make technical presentations to: Internal GSE Engineering team; internal Engineering/Technical Review Boards; internal Change Control Boards (CCBs); internal Program Management Office (PMO) personnel; and other internal and external customers and stakeholders.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Quality, Safety, and Flight Operations Facilities representatives on design/documentation of parts/assemblies/equipment.
• Support Manufacturing, Test & Quality groups regarding questions/issues related to the Staff Engineer's part/assy/product throughout the manufacturing, test and acceptance processes.
• Support customer milestone events related to delivered GSE products/systems, including but not limited to: fit checks, logistical demonstrations, and trans-mobility testing.
• Support operation of GSE engineering products or systems by evaluating and interpreting needs and problems, and develop effective approaches to resolve those issues.
• Support the development and approval of operational procedures, maintenance manuals, and associated reports generated by the Product Support Engineering (PSE) group for use by the customer. Generate and document intended operational characteristics and procedures for GSE usage and disseminate to other functional engineering groups through the use of engineering memos, interface control drawings, detailed design specifications, etc.
• Troubleshoot, analyze, and recommend methods of rework/repair of GSE products/systems by utilizing best industry practice.
• Support design reviews and source inspections for GSE products custom-designed to GA-ASI specifications by a subcontractor at their location (occasional short-duration travel may be required).
• Generate requirements and recommendations on the acquisition and use of equipment, systems, or other capital expenditures.
• Represent the organization as a prime technical contact for providing solutions to technical issues associated with specific projects.
• Occasionally travel to GA-ASI's flight operations facilities in Gray Butte, Adelanto & El Mirage (high desert in CA) or Yuma, AZ or other locations as required to support product development/testing.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Maintain the strict confidentiality of sensitive information.
• Observe and follow all laws, regulations, and other applicable obligations wherever and whenever business is conducted on behalf of the Company.
• Work in a safe manner in accordance with established operating procedures and practices.
• Define individual accountability and milestones to meet project objectives.
• Conduct oneself in a courteous, respectful, and professional manner at all times.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Job Qualifications

• Typically requires a bachelors degree, masters degree or PhD in engineering or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution and progressive engineering experience as follows; nine or more years of experience with a bachelors degree, seven or more years of experience with a masters degree, or four or more years with a PhD. May substitute equivalent engineering experience in lieu of education.
• Demonstrates an extensive technical expertise and application of engineering principles, concepts, theory, and practice with the ability to organize, plan, schedule, conduct, and coordinate workloads to meet established deadlines or milestones with some experience in project leadership.
• Must possess: the ability to understand new concepts quickly and apply them accurately throughout an evolving environment; strong communication, presentation, documentation, and interpersonal skills to effectively interface with other departments, customers, government representatives, and/or professionals; the capability of representing the organization as a prime technical contact; and, the ability to provide leadership and guidance to less experienced professionals.
• Must have the ability to work on self-initiated basis or in a team environment and the ability to work extended hours and travel as required.
• Working knowledge of weldment design per ANSI AWS D17.1, human engineering design per MIL-STD-1472, and environmental engineering considerations per MIL-STD-810 are desirable.
• Ability to obtain and maintain DoD security clearance is required.