Southwest Research Institute (SwRI)

MANAGER-R&D - Aerospace-Mechanical Engineering

Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) • $120K — $145K *
San Antonio, TX 78228In-Person
Aerospace & Defense
8 - 10 years of experience
Today
Be an Early Applicant
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Systems Engineering or related field; advanced degrees preferred.
  • 10+ years leading multidisciplinary teams in mechanical design and hardware development for military systems.
  • 10+ years experience in USAF aviation modernization and sustainment programs.
  • 8+ years leadership in managing engineering personnel, budgets, and technical execution.
  • 5+ years in roles such as Technical Lead or Engineering Manager on large Air Force hardware projects.
  • Valid driver's license required.

Responsibilities

  • Lead the Mechanical Engineering Section for technical excellence and business growth.
  • Partner with Program Managers to understand requirements and ensure effective resource allocation.
  • Provide technical leadership for hardware development and modernization programs.
  • Establish engineering standards and mentor engineers to improve project execution.
  • Lead business development efforts to capture new hardware development opportunities.
  • Manage daily technical and administrative activities, including workload and financial performance.
  • Engage with customers and support proposal development and strategic marketing activities.
Full Job Description
  • Lead the Mechanical Engineering Section to achieve technical excellence, staff utilization, financial performance, and business growth while establishing strategic vision, mentoring engineers, and expanding customer relationships across the U.S. Air Force.
  • Partner with Program Managers to understand customer requirements, technical risks, schedules, and staffing needs while ensuring effective resource allocation, engineering support, and successful execution of modernization and sustainment programs.
  • Provide technical leadership for hardware development, avionics modernization, mechanical design, sustainment engineering, and technology development programs supporting strategic Air Force weapon systems.
  • Establish engineering standards, design processes, and best practices while providing technical guidance, mentoring engineers and designers, supporting cost estimates, and improving overall engineering quality and execution.
  • Lead business development and strategic marketing efforts to identify, shape, capture, and win new hardware development, modernization, and sustainment opportunities that support growth of the Mechanical Engineering Section.

  • Plan, organize, lead, and oversee daily technical and administrative activities while managing engineering staff utilization, workload balancing, financial performance, employee development, and overall section operations.
  • Manage execution of hardware development, modernization, sustainment, research, design, integration, fabrication, and test activities while providing technical direction to multidisciplinary engineering teams supporting U.S. Government programs.
  • Lead customer engagement, business development, strategic marketing, proposal development, ROMs, technical presentations, white papers, RFIs, and capture activities supporting opportunities from concept development through contract award.
  • Provide technical leadership for mechanical engineering, avionics design, hardware integration, manufacturing support, drafting oversight, and engineering reviews while mentoring engineers and resolving complex technical challenges.
  • Travel regularly to Hill AFB, Tinker AFB, Robins AFB, Wright-Patterson AFB, and other customer locations to support technical interchange meetings, program execution, business development, and strategic customer engagement.

  • Requires a Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related engineering discipline. Other degree fields may be considered with highly relevant experience supporting USAF avionics modernization and sustainment programs. Advanced degrees are preferred.
  • 10+ years: Demonstrated success leading multidisciplinary engineering teams supporting mechanical design, hardware development, integration, manufacturing, drafting, qualification testing, and production of ruggedized military systems.
  • 10 years: supporting USAF bomber, tanker, or heavy aircraft modernization and sustainment programs with demonstrated success developing customer relationships, shaping opportunities, winning new business, and managing engineering organizations.
  • 8+ years: Demonstrated leadership managing engineering personnel, utilization, budgets, and technical execution. Proven experience leading proposals, ROMs, RFIs, customer presentations, and strategic business development supporting DoD hardware programs.
  • 5+ years: Experience serving as Technical Lead, Engineering Manager, IPT Lead, or Functional Manager supporting large ($6M+) Air Force hardware development, avionics modernization, mechanical engineering, or sustainment programs.
  • A valid/clear driver's license is required.

About Southwest Research Institute (SwRI)

Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) is a non-profit research and development organization headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. The institute was founded in 1947 and has since grown to employ over 3,000 people across multiple locations in the United States. SwRI provides research and development services to a variety of industries, including automotive, aerospace, and energy. The institute's research areas include automation and data systems, chemistry and chemical engineering, and space science and engineering. SwRI has a long history of working with government agencies, including NASA and the Department of Defense, as well as private companies.
Learn more about Southwest Research Institute (SwRI)
Size
3,000 employees
Industry
Aerospace & Defense
* Ladders Estimates

Similar Jobs

Ad banner background

Get Ready For Your
Next Interview

More Jobs at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI)

More Aerospace & Defense Jobs

Find similar MANAGER-R&D - Aerospace-Mechanical Engineering jobs:

NationwideSan Antonio, TX