Engineering Manager - Recorders

Acron Aviation; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Acron Aviation is seeking an Engineering Manager for the Recorders product line in Grand Rapids, MI. You will lead Systems, Software, and Engineering Project Lead teams delivering certified flight data and cockpit voice recorders.

This leadership role shapes organizational strategy, workforce planning, and execution priorities to align engineering capabilities with business goals. Collaboration with product management and hardware engineers is essential to drive certified avionics solutions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Systems, Software, Computer, Electrical, Aerospace, or related engineering discipline.
• Experience leading engineering teams in aerospace, avionics, defense, or related industry.
• Excellent communication and ability to lead through influence in a matrix organization.

Responsibilities

• Build, develop, and retain high-performing engineering teams with a culture of innovation and accountability.
• Coach and mentor engineering leaders and contributors to grow capability.
• Lead governance across systems engineering (ARP‑4754A) and software (DO‑178C).
• Own workforce planning, succession planning, and budgets across three functions.
• Drive program execution with credible estimates, schedules, risk management, and metrics.
• Collaborate with product management, hardware engineering, and stakeholders to define requirements and roadmaps.
• Sponsor engineering transformation: MBSE, digital thread, and modern development practices for certification.
• Drive AI adoption and lean practices within the organization.
• Share talent and best practices across product lines with peer managers.
• Partner with senior leaders, customers, and regulatory bodies to drive outcomes.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Master’s degree (preferred)

Job description

Engineering Manager - Recorders

St Petersburg, FL /Grand Rapids, MI

Avionics - Recorders – Engineering /

Full Time Reg | F /

On-site

About Acron Aviation (Avionics – Recorders):

Acron Aviation designs, engineers, and manufactures certified avionics systems that support safety-critical flight operations across commercial and military aviation. Within Avionics, the Recorders product line develops and sustains cockpit voice recorders, flight data recorders, and integrated data acquisition systems that enable regulatory compliance, safety insight, and operational performance across global fleets. These systems are deployed across commercial, military, and rotorcraft platforms and require deep expertise across systems, hardware, software, and lifecycle sustainment in highly regulated environments.

As the aerospace industry enters into the new era of Urban Air Mobility, Acron Aviation will be at the forefront of this new market. This role offers a unique opportunity to influence engineering strategy, develop future leaders, and drive organizational excellence across multiple engineering disciplines in a highly collaborative environment. As Engineering Manager for our Recorders product line, you will lead and inspire a diverse organization of Systems Engineering, Software Engineering, and Engineering Project Lead professionals responsible for delivering mission-critical flight data and cockpit voice recorder solutions.

This is a leader-of-leaders role for a people leader who manages multiple engineering functions. You will shape organizational strategy, workforce planning, and execution priorities to ensure engineering capabilities align with business objectives and future growth — while providing leadership across disciplines and empowering subject‑matter experts to drive technical excellence and innovation.

Responsibilities:

• Build, develop, and retain high‑performing engineering teams by fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, collaboration, and continuous learning.
• Coach and mentor engineering leaders and individual contributors, helping them achieve their professional goals while growing organizational capability.
• Lead functional governance across systems engineering (ARP‑4754A), software engineering (DO‑178C), and engineering project leadership.
• Own workforce planning, succession planning, resource allocation, and engineering budgets across three functions.
• Drive program execution: credible estimates, resource‑loaded schedules, risk management, and metrics‑driven management.
• Collaborate with product management, hardware engineering, and other stakeholders to define product requirements and roadmaps.
• Sponsor engineering transformation: model‑based systems engineering, digital thread, and modern development practices compatible with certification.
• Drive continuous improvement and AI adoption within your organization — championing lean practices and AI‑assisted engineering tools as part of how the team works every day.
• Work across product lines, partnering with peer engineering managers to share talent, harmonize practices, and carry lessons learned between organizations.
• Partner closely with senior leaders, program managers, customers, and functional stakeholders to drive successful program outcomes and organizational effectiveness.
• Act as the engineering technical liaison with customers, suppliers, and regulatory agencies when required.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Systems, Software, Computer, Electrical, Aerospace, or related engineering discipline.
• 10+ years of engineering experience in aerospace, avionics, defense, or related industries.
• 3+ years of engineering leadership or management experience with direct reports.
• Working knowledge of avionics development lifecycles (ARP‑4754A systems and/or DO‑178C software practice).
• A people‑first leadership record: talent development, coaching and mentoring, succession planning, performance management, and team building.
• Experience with engineering project planning, estimation, and risk management.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to lead through influence in a matrixed organization.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Engineering Management, or MBA.
• Experience with flight recorders or other high‑integrity / crash‑protected avionics.
• Familiarity with DO‑160, DO‑254, ED‑112A, TSO standards, and airworthiness security (DO‑326A).
• Exposure to MBSE, digital thread, and agile development in certified environments.
• INCOSE, PMP, or equivalent certifications; lean / continuous improvement training.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Acron Aviation is proud to be an Aff... We are committed to treating all employees and applicants with respect and dignity and to maintaining a workplace free from unlawful discrimination. All applicants will be considered for employment regardless of race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or other related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or any other legally protected characteristic.

Additional Information:

Acron Aviation maintains a drug‑free workplace and conducts pre‑employment substance abuse testing and background checks, where allowed by law. Acron Aviation is an E‑Verify employer

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.