Aerospace Engineering Manager

Socket.dev; Newport News (VA); On-site; USD 117,000 - 143,000; Full time

Job summary

Socket.dev seeking an Aerospace Engineering Manager in Newport News, VA to lead a multi-discipline team across Mechanical, Structural, Electrical, and Aerodynamic programs. You will guide engineering strategy and product development from feasibility through design, qualification testing, and production transition.

The role requires a Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering, 10+ years of engineering management, and strong FAA/STC/FAR experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent.
• 10+ years of progressive engineering management experience.
• Experience with STC (Supplemental Type Certificate) and FAA certification processes.
• 5+ years of FAR compliance and signature authority in FAA/military environments.
• Experience managing multiple programs with varying scope and complexity.

Responsibilities

• Direct engineering activities across multiple concurrent programs.
• Plan resources, staffing, schedules, budgets, and equipment needs.
• Build, coach, and develop a high-performing engineering team.
• Establish department goals, KPIs, and performance expectations.
• Monitor milestones and report progress, risks, and actions to senior leadership.
• Lead design reviews and maintain engineering standards and processes.
• Ensure work meets quality, safety, FAA, and certification requirements.
• Provide technical leadership to Sales and Operations for strategy and delivery.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Communication

Team development

Quality assurance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Microsoft Office

Job description

Aerospace Engineering Manager

Location: Newport News, VA
Job Type: Direct Hire
Starting Salary: $130,000/year (Higher salary available based on experience)

Position Overview

Lead a multi-discipline engineering organization supporting Mechanical, Structural, Electrical, and Aerodynamic programs. This role oversees engineering strategy, technical execution, team development, program delivery, and product development from initial feasibility through design, qualification testing, and production transition.

Key Responsibilities

• Direct engineering activities across multiple concurrent programs.
• Plan engineering resources, staffing, schedules, workloads, budgets, estimates, and equipment needs.
• Build, coach, and develop a high-performing engineering team.
• Establish department goals, KPIs, priorities, and performance expectations.
• Monitor program milestones and communicate progress, risks, and corrective actions to senior leadership.
• Lead design reviews and maintain engineering standards, guidelines, and development processes.
• Ensure technical work meets applicable quality, safety, FAA, and certification requirements.
• Provide technical leadership to Sales and Operations for engineering strategy and delivery planning.
• Support business development, proposals, technical compliance matrices, and engineering feasibility assessments.
• Identify root causes of missed targets and implement corrective actions, process improvements, and training.
• Promote engineering innovation while maintaining focus on safety, manufacturability, quality, and cost effectiveness.
• Maintain current knowledge of aerospace engineering practices, tools, and methods.
• Support AS9100, Lean, and other quality initiatives.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 10+ years of progressive engineering management experience, preferably in aerospace or defense.
• Experience with aerospace product development, including STC (Supplemental Type Certificate) and FAA certification processes.
• 5+ years of experience with FAR compliance and signature authority in an FAA and/or military certification environment.
• Experience managing multiple engineering programs with varying scope and complexity.
• Proficiency with SolidWorks and Microsoft Office.
• Strong project management, planning, organizational, and team leadership skills.
• Ability to motivate teams, manage deadlines, and influence cross-functional stakeholders.
• Strong customer relationship, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Ability to evaluate complex business and technical requirements.
• Broad knowledge of engineering, aircraft modification, FAA certification, and STC processes.
• U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Resident status required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Business or financial background, including Business Administration or Finance.
• Familiarity with commercial and Department of Defense (DOD) contracting processes.

Security & Other Requirements

• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret U.S. Security Clearance.
• Clearance eligibility is subject to applicable federal requirements.
• Must participate in a Drug Free Workplace Drug Testing Program.
• Willingness to complete ongoing engineering, compliance, certification, AS9100, and Lean training as required.
• Travel: Up to 50% domestic and international travel.
• Physical: Occasionally lift or move bulky items weighing more than 50 lbs.

Performance Expectations

Success in this role will be measured by:

• Engineering team productivity and utilization.
• Quality and FAA/MCO compliance results.
• Program milestone and schedule performance.
• Effectiveness of design review, governance, and risk management.
• On-time qualification testing and transition to production.
• Continuous improvement, including root-cause closure, process adoption, and training effectiveness.