Engineering Manager

AVCON INDUSTRIES INC; Kansas; On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

AVCON INDUSTRIES INC is seeking an Engineering Manager to lead the engineering team across multiple aircraft modifications and special mission programs. You will set daily priorities, assign work, monitor progress, and ensure on-time, compliant deliverables while collaborating with Program Management and Production teams.

The role emphasizes hands-on design support, technical problem solving, and mentoring staff, with exposure to FAA certification processes and off-site modification work as

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related field.
• Proven leadership experience overseeing engineering teams.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• Ability to interpret complex engineering drawings and specs.
• Experience with FAA requirements and aircraft certification processes.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day leadership, direction, and support to the Engineering team.
• Define, prioritize, assign, and monitor engineering tasks and schedules.
• Review engineering drawings and documentation for accuracy and compliance.
• Support Certification Engineering with technical information, analyses, and testing.
• Coordinate engineering resources across multiple aircraft programs.

Skills

Engineering leadership

Task management

Mentoring

Technical problem solving

FAA certification knowledge

CAD experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

CAD

Job description

For over a half century, Avcon Industries, Inc. has designed complex special-mission and ISR aircraft modifications. Avcon provisions aircraft with custom Pods, camera ports, radomes, equipment racks, mission consoles, underwing stores, and more. Avcon modifications support surveillance, patrol, target towing, search and rescue, and aerial survey missions. Avcon provides Turn-Key Product Design, Manufacture, Installation, Testing and FAA Certification Support.

The Engineering Manager is responsible for leading and coordinating Avcon Industries' Engineering team and coordinating engineering activities across multiple aircraft modifications and special mission programs. This position provides day-to-day leadership to engineering personnel while solving technical problems, supporting design activities, and assisting Production and Installation teams as needed.

The Engineering Manager will establish daily engineering priorities, assign and monitor tasks, manage engineering workloads, and ensure deliverables are completed accurately and on schedule. This position works closely with Program Management to understand project requirements, engineering schedules, resource needs, and potential risks that may impact cost, quality, or delivery.

For over a half century, Avcon Industries, Inc. has designed complex special-mission and ISR aircraft modifications. Avcon provisions aircraft with custom Pods, camera ports, radomes, equipment racks, mission consoles, underwing stores, and more. Avcon modifications support surveillance, patrol, target towing, search and rescue, and aerial survey missions. Avcon provides Turn-Key Product Design, Manufacture, Installation, Testing and FAA Certification Support.

The Engineering Manager is responsible for leading and coordinating Avcon Industries' Engineering team and coordinating engineering activities across multiple aircraft modifications and special mission programs. This position provides day-to-day leadership to engineering personnel while solving technical problems, supporting design activities, and assisting Production and Installation teams as needed.

The Engineering Manager will establish daily engineering priorities, assign and monitor tasks, manage engineering workloads, and ensure deliverables are completed accurately and on schedule. This position works closely with Program Management to understand project requirements, engineering schedules, resource needs, and potential risks that may impact cost, quality, or delivery.

Essential Responsibilities: Engineering Leadership & Task Management

• Provide day-to-day leadership, direction, and support to the Engineering team.
• Define, prioritize, assign, and monitor daily engineering and design tasks based on project requirements, schedules, and available resources.
• Process and assign Engineering Change Requests (ECRs).
• Maintain and manage the Engineering Task List, including task status, priorities, and completion dates.
• Monitor engineering workload and resource capacity across multiple concurrent programs.
• Establish engineering priorities and communicate expectations, deadlines, and deliverables to engineering personnel.
• Provide technical direction and oversight while maintaining accountability for engineering task completion.
• Identify resource constraints, schedule risks, and technical issues and coordinate appropriate solutions.
• Mentor and develop engineering personnel and promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Design & Technical Engineering Support

• Provide hands-on engineering support for aircraft modification programs, STC projects, repairs, and installations.
• Perform and/or oversee design engineering activities, including drawings, layouts, design documentation, and technical solutions.
• Review engineering drawings and technical documentation for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with applicable requirements.
• Assist engineers in resolving complex technical problems and provide practical engineering solutions.
• Support Certification Engineering with technical information, engineering analysis, testing, evaluations, and other substantiation activities as required.
• Ensure engineering designs meet applicable FAA requirements, customer requirements, and Avcon procedures.
• Utilize CAD and other engineering tools to support design and modification activities as needed.
• Provide engineering support during aircraft installations and modifications, including troubleshooting issues that arise in the field.

Program Management & Schedule Coordination

• Work closely with Program Management to understand project scope, engineering requirements, milestones, and schedules.
• Establish engineering task priorities and schedules that align with overall program requirements.
• Provide regular updates to Program Management regarding engineering progress, resource requirements, technical issues, and potential schedule impacts.
• Participate in Master Schedule, Production, Kit Status, and other project meetings as required.
• Identify engineering risks and issues that could affect project cost, schedule, quality, or delivery and develop appropriate action plans.
• Coordinate engineering resources and deliverables across multiple concurrent aircraft programs.

Production, Installation & Field Support

• Provide engineering support to Production and Installation teams to resolve technical and design issues.
• Participate in Production and installation meetings and provide technical direction and follow-up.
• Evaluate field conditions and determine appropriate engineering solutions.
• Coordinate design changes, repairs, and engineering documentation resulting from installation activities.
• Support engineering activities at off-site modification locations as required.
• Provide technical support for post-delivery customer issues and engineering-related concerns.

Process Improvement & Team Development

• Identify opportunities to improve engineering processes, workflows, communication, and efficiency.
• Assist in developing and implementing engineering procedures, standards, and best practices.
• Provide technical and engineering training to Engineering, Production, Installation, and other personnel as appropriate.
• Assist with determining engineering staffing and resource requirements based on current and projected workload.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives that enhance engineering quality, productivity, and program execution.

Qualifications: Required

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
• 5-10 years of progressive engineering experience, preferably in an aviation or aerospace environment.
• Previous experience working with aircraft modifications, aircraft systems, aerospace manufacturing, MRO, STC programs, or a similar aviation environment.
• Experience working with FAA requirements and aircraft certification processes.
• Demonstrated leadership experience with the ability to effectively direct, prioritize, and manage the workload of engineering personnel.
• Strong technical problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and technical documentation.
• Strong understanding of engineering processes, project schedules, and resource planning.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively with Engineering, Production, Installation, Program Management, customers, and other stakeholders.
• Ability and willingness to provide direct technical support when needed.

Preferred

• CAD experience, preferably with experience creating or modifying engineering drawings and layouts.
• Experience in a manufacturing, aircraft completion, MRO, or aircraft modification environment.

Work Environment:

This position operates in a dynamic aircraft modification and special mission environment and requires the ability to balance engineering leadership responsibilities with hands-on technical support. The Engineering Manager may occasionally be required to support aircraft modification activities at off-site locations and work outside normal business hours based on project requiremen