Lead Aerospace Development Engineer

Karman Space & Defense; Mukilteo (WA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

HSA

FSA

Life and AD&D insurance

Disability coverage

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Karman Space & Defense is seeking a mechanical or aerospace engineer to lead development activities that move new aerospace technologies from concept to demonstration and full‑scale system deployment. You will plan tests, develop prototypes, analyze data, and collaborate with customers to verify designs, reduce risk, and ensure performance, while mentoring junior engineers within a multidisciplinary team.

A Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering and 4–7 years of

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering, or equivalent in relevant experience and registration.
• 4–7 years of aerospace and/or defense experience.
• Proven experience in leading product development tests, including development testing and assisting in qualification testing.
• Proficiency with data acquisition systems and instrumentation.
• Solid understanding of multiple engineering technologies.
• Solid understanding of SolidWorks and Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T).
• Knowledge of military and commercial specifications.
• A current U.S. DoD Secret security clearance or ability to obtain one.
• Master’s degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering.

Responsibilities

• Leads planning and execution of testing required for mechanical system development.
• Supports engineering teams to meet client goals on schedule, within budget, and to high standards of technical accuracy and completeness.
• Designs and analyzes tests, writes procedures and plans, oversees data collection, and prepares test reports.
• Supports business development and project performance activities to align solutions with customer needs.
• Leads proposal efforts by collaborating with clients and internal technical teams to develop requirements, presentations, and project definitions.
• Serves as a mentor and technical resource for junior engineers.

Skills

Test planning

Prototype development

Data analysis

Customer engagement

Mentorship

Team leadership

Data acquisition

GD&T

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering

Master's degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

GD&T

Data acquisition systems

Job description

Karman Space & Defense is seeking a mechanical or aerospace engineer to lead development activities that move new aerospace technologies from concept to demonstration and full‑scale system deployment. You will plan tests, develop prototypes, analyze data, and collaborate with customers to verify designs, reduce risk, and ensure performance, while mentoring junior engineers within a multidisciplinary team.

A Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering and 4–7 years of