Development Engineer

Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company (EBAD); Moorpark (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading aerospace and defense firm in Moorpark, CA, is seeking an experienced Development Engineer to lead cross-functional teams in designing and developing mechanical and energetic systems. You'll oversee project planning, execution, and customer deliverables, ensuring technical integrity and schedule performance. Candidates should have a Bachelor's degree in Engineering, preferably with 7 years of project engineering experience. The salary range is between $120,000 to $150,000 per year, depending on qualifications.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 7 years of experience in project engineering, product development or technical program leadership.
• Experience leading multi-function technical teams through product development.
• Demonstrated ability to manage detailed project schedules and drive execution to milestones.
• Must have or be able to obtain a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead the product team through the EBAD product lifecycle process.
• Manage team action items through structured communication.
• Guide teams through upset conditions and drive recovery plans.
• Collaborate with Program Management for customer deliverables.
• Generate, allocate, and verify requirements.

Skills

Project engineering

Product development

Technical program leadership

SolidWorks

Mechanical design fundamentals

GD&T interpretation

Root cause analysis

Problem solving

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Tools

MS Project

Excel

Word

PowerPoint

Job description

Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company (EBAD) seeks an experienced Development Engineer to lead cross‑functional teams in the design, development, qualification, and transition to production of mechanical and energetic systems. The position is located in Moorpark, CA.

The Development Engineer is a technically oriented project engineer focused on detailed project planning, technical execution, and disciplined delivery of aerospace and defense products in development. This role leads a cross‑functional team through the design, development, qualification, and transition to production of mechanical and energetic systems.

The Development Engineer owns both technical integrity and schedule performance, ensuring programs meet customer requirements while maintaining margin, mitigating risk, and driving execution.

Responsibilities

• Create a cohesive team environment and lead the product team through the EBAD product lifecycle process in support of overall program milestones, deliverables, and objectives.
• Translate the integrated project schedule into actionable daily and weekly engineering tasks, managing team action items through structured communication, accountability, and proactive removal of roadblocks.
• Develop and maintain detailed project schedules in MS Project, understanding task interdependencies and managing shifting priorities.
• Guide teams through upset conditions; drive recovery plans and reestablish forward progress toward key milestones.
• Collaborate with Program Management to proactively plan customer deliverables, design reviews, test events, hardware builds, and qualification activities aligned with overall program objectives.
• Provide strategic technical guidance to the Program Manager on schedule, cost, and technical risks to enable informed decision‑making.
• Utilize visual management system to lead project team meetings, ensuring alignment on priorities, performance tracking, and transparent status communication.
• Generate, allocate, and verify requirements; ensure compliance to customer and government/military specifications.
• Lead internal reviews: Spec Req Review, Risk Review, Design Concept Review, Prelim Design Reviews, Prelim Technical Data Package Drawing Review, Long‑Lead Procurement Design Reviews, DFMEA Creation, DVT Test Readiness Reviews, Critical Design Reviews, Production Technical Data Package Review.
• Manage risk mitigation planning, including margin assessment and verification strategy in DVT.
• Develop and maintain the technical data package by performing design trade studies, tolerance analyses, and hand calculations to support sound technical decisions.
• Interact with suppliers to rapid prototype parts for risk reduction testing.
• Plan and oversee Development Verification Testing (DVT), including test requirement development, procedure review, and validation of performance to requirements with appropriate margin.
• Interface directly with customers and suppliers on technical, schedule, and execution matters.
• Coordinate closely with manufacturing, quality, and supply chain teams to ensure producibility and smooth transition from development through qualification into production.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering required (Mechanical or Aerospace preferred).
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in project engineering, product development, or technical program leadership (or equivalent combination of education and experience).
• Experience leading multi‑function technical teams through product development.
• Demonstrated ability to manage detailed project schedules and drive execution to milestones.
• Experience applying customer requirements and government/military specifications.
• Strong problem‑solving and root cause analysis capability.
• Technical competence in mechanical design fundamentals, including GD&T interpretation and tolerance analysis.
• Demonstrated experience generating 3D models & 2D drawings, SolidWorks preferred.
• Experience supporting or leading product development and qualification testing.
• Experience with cost estimating and technical proposal support.
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office tools including MS Project, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Must have or be able to obtain a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) security clearance and be capable of working on U.S. DoD and ITAR restricted products.

Compensation

Salary Range: $120,000 - $150,000 per year. Salary is determined by the applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, internal equity, and alignment with market data.

Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, national origin, or veteran status.