Advanced Design Engineering Supervisor

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems; Poway (CA); On-site; USD 128,130 - 229,358; Full time

Job summary

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) seeks an experienced engineering leader to oversee and contribute to high‑performance aircraft component and assembly designs, including modifications to existing air vehicles. The role reports to the Senior Manager of Aircraft and Special Projects Engineering.

You will mentor a design team of 3–7 engineers, manage workloads, and ensure designs meet military, company, and industry standards while driving continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Typically requires a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or PhD in engineering or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution and progressive engineering experience as follows: fifteen or more years of experience with a bachelor’s degree, thirteen or more years with a master’s degree, or ten or more years with a PhD. May substitute equivalent engineering experience in lieu of education.
• Must have a complete understanding of engineering concepts, principles, codes, and theory; experience demonstrating a broad application of those concepts; capable of expanding knowledge of principles, concepts, theory, and practices in related technical specialties.
• Must possess the ability to understand new concepts quickly and able to apply them accurately throughout an evolving environment; organize, schedule, and coordinate work phases; determine the appropriate approach at the task level or, with assistance, at the project level to provide solutions to a range of complex problems.
• Strong communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills are required enabling an effective interface with other departments and/or professionals, and capable of representing the organization as a prime technical contact.
• Able to work extended hours as required.
• Experience with NX, Creo or other parametric CAD tools (e.g., Catia, SolidWorks) preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite (Excel, Word, and PowerPoint) required.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance is required.

Responsibilities

• Self‑starter and detail oriented.
• Leading and mentoring a design team of approximately 3–7 engineers to develop and validate aircraft structures in a rapid‑paced environment.
• Organize, plan, schedule, conduct, and coordinate workloads to meet established deadlines or milestones while leveraging project leadership experience.
• Document designs and interface studies using appropriate information sourced from various inputs.
• Deliver high quality, error‑free designs using concise documentation; ensuring compliance with engineering principles, military, and company standards.
• General oversight and/or hands‑on involvement during the manufacture of prototype hardware at product manufacturing and integration sites.
• Maintain and improve company standards and design guides after completion of each assignment.
• Position requires proficiency in Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerance and drawing standards, including Model Based Definition; e.g., ASME Y14.1, ASME Y14.2, ASME Y14.5, ASME Y14.37, and ASME Y14.41.
• Fundamental knowledge of composite and metallic materials and structural joints.
• Fundamental knowledge of designing for survivability (materials, hardware and systems integration provisions, interfaces, steps and gaps, transitions, etc.).
• Assisting with the development and implementation of departmental vision and strategies to drive employee engagement.
• Can accept broad objectives with reasonable deadlines, but establishes and communicates the tasks required and how they should be completed.
• Must demonstrate the ability to document and present information in a concise manner appropriate for leadership review.
• Own department products and/or processes/metrics and associated strategies.
• Staff training, hiring and retention of top talent.
• Drive continuous process improvement and usage of common processes by department members across programs, as appropriate.
• Works with Senior Manager to define consistent performance expectations/assessment factors compensation strategy that contribute to the development of a high‑performance culture.
• Create/review proposals, ensuring a balanced execution/risk posture given affordability/competitiveness/performance/strategic objectives.
• Capable of working within an Integrated Product Team (IPT) environment, interfacing with IPT leadership, suppliers, and other technical disciplines to independently prepare/status and/or lead the preparation of engineering design solutions to challenging problems through the development of Product Definition Packages.

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring

Project planning

GD&T

Model Based Definition

NX

Creo

Catia

SolidWorks

Microsoft Office

IPT collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Master's degree in engineering

PhD in engineering

Tools

NX

Creo

Catia

SolidWorks

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Summary

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI), an affiliate of General Atomics, is a world leader in proven, reliable remotely piloted aircraft and tactical reconnaissance radars, as well as advanced high‑resolution surveillance systems. This position will report to the Senior Manager of Aircraft and Special Projects Engineering and will focus on both strategic and tactical execution by overseeing, approving, and contributing towards the development of high‑performance component and assembly‑level designs for new and/or modifications to existing advanced air vehicles, in addition to supporting classified pursuits.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Self‑starter and detail oriented.
• Leading and mentoring a design team of approximately 3–7 engineers to develop and validate aircraft structures in a rapid‑paced environment.
• Organize, plan, schedule, conduct, and coordinate workloads to meet established deadlines or milestones while leveraging project leadership experience.
• Document designs and interface studies using appropriate information sourced from various inputs.
• Deliver high quality, error‑free designs using concise documentation; ensuring compliance with engineering principles, military, and company standards.
• General oversight and/or hands‑on involvement during the manufacture of prototype hardware at product manufacturing and integration sites.
• Maintain and improve company standards and design guides after completion of each assignment.
• Position requires proficiency in Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerance and drawing standards, including Model Based Definition; e.g., ASME Y14.1, ASME Y14.2, ASME Y14.5, ASME Y14.37, and ASME Y14.41.
• Fundamental knowledge of composite and metallic materials and structural joints.
• Fundamental knowledge of designing for survivability (materials, hardware and systems integration provisions, interfaces, steps and gaps, transitions, etc.).
• Assisting with the development and implementation of departmental vision and strategies to drive employee engagement.
• Can accept broad objectives with reasonable deadlines, but establishes and communicates the tasks required and how they should be completed.
• Must demonstrate the ability to document and present information in a concise manner appropriate for leadership review.
• Own department products and/or processes/metrics and associated strategies.
• Staff training, hiring and retention of top talent.
• Drive continuous process improvement and usage of common processes by department members across programs, as appropriate.
• Works with Senior Manager to define consistent performance expectations/assessment factors compensation strategy that contribute to the development of a high‑performance culture.
• Create/review proposals, ensuring a balanced execution/risk posture given affordability/competitiveness/performance/strategic objectives.
• Capable of working within an Integrated Product Team (IPT) environment, interfacing with IPT leadership, suppliers, and other technical disciplines to independently prepare/status and/or lead the preparation of engineering design solutions to challenging problems through the development of Product Definition Packages.

Job Qualifications

• Typically requires a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or PhD in engineering or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution and progressive engineering experience as follows: fifteen or more years of experience with a bachelor’s degree, thirteen or more years with a master’s degree, or ten or more years with a PhD. May substitute equivalent engineering experience in lieu of education.
• Must have a complete understanding of engineering concepts, principles, codes, and theory; experience demonstrating a broad application of those concepts; capable of expanding knowledge of principles, concepts, theory, and practices in related technical specialties.
• Must possess the ability to understand new concepts quickly and able to apply them accurately throughout an evolving environment; organize, schedule, and coordinate work phases; determine the appropriate approach at the task level or, with assistance, at the project level to provide solutions to a range of complex problems.
• Strong communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills are required enabling an effective interface with other departments and/or professionals, and capable of representing the organization as a prime technical contact.
• Able to work extended hours as required.
• Experience with NX, Creo or other parametric CAD tools (e.g., Catia, SolidWorks) preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite (Excel, Word, and PowerPoint) required.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance is required.

Salary and Benefits

Job Type: Full‑Time Salary

Salary range: $128,130 – $229,358