Lead R&D Engineer

Jobtailor; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor is seeking a Lead R&D Engineer in the Phoenix area to drive technical execution of advanced projects from planning through delivery. You will coordinate cross-functional teams, align execution plans to scope and budget, and act as the technical focal point across stakeholders in a fast-paced R&D environment.

The role emphasizes ownership, collaborative leadership, and ability to translate complex customer requirements into actionable engineering plans for aerospace and related

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or related technical discipline.
• 8+ years of experience in an R&D or advanced technology environment.
• Strong ownership and accountability for technical execution.
• Collaborative leadership and the ability to influence without direct authority.
• Systems-thinking approach to solving complex engineering challenges.
• Adaptability in a fast-paced, innovative R&D environment.
• Continuous improvement mindset focused on execution excellence.
• Strong Project Engineering and Project Management skills with demonstrated technical leadership.
• Ability to translate complex customer requirements into executable engineering plans.
• Experience coordinating cross-functional engineering teams and managing multiple stakeholders.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Familiarity with additive manufacturing techniques and processes.
• Familiarity with castings.
• Experience with technical planning, cost management, schedule management, and risk management.
• Passion for advancing cutting-edge aerospace and advanced technologies.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical execution of assigned R&D projects and work packages from planning through delivery.
• Develop and maintain technical execution plans aligned with scope, schedule, budget, and customer requirements.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary engineering teams and serve as the primary technical focal point across stakeholders.
• Partner with Program Managers to manage execution, technical risks, resource planning, and project milestones.
• Drive technical problem solving, design reviews, risk mitigation, and issue resolution.
• Support proposal development, technology roadmaps, customer interactions, and strategic planning activities.
• Ensure engineering deliverables meet quality, regulatory, and contractual requirements.

Skills

Project Engineering

Project Management

Technical Leadership

Cross-Functional Coordination

Systems Thinking

Adaptability

Continuous Improvement

Communication & Organization

Problem Solving

Customer Requirements Analysis

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering

Job description

• Lead technical execution of assigned R&D projects and work packages from planning through delivery.
• Develop and maintain technical execution plans aligned with scope, schedule, budget, and customer requirements.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary engineering teams and serve as the primary technical focal point across stakeholders.
• Partner with Program Managers to manage execution, technical risks, resource planning, and project milestones.
• Drive technical problem solving, design reviews, risk mitigation, and issue resolution.
• Support proposal development, technology roadmaps, customer interactions, and strategic planning activities.
• Ensure engineering deliverables meet quality, regulatory, and contractual requirements.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline.
• 8+ years of experience in an R&D or advanced technology environment.
• Strong ownership and accountability for technical execution.
• Collaborative leadership and the ability to influence without direct authority.
• A systems-thinking approach to solving complex engineering challenges.
• Adaptability in a fast-paced, innovative R&D environment.
• Continuous improvement mindset with a focus on execution excellence.
• Strong Project Engineering and Project Management skills with demonstrated technical leadership.
• Ability to understand complex customer requirements and translate them into executable engineering plans.
• Experience coordinating cross-functional engineering teams and managing multiple stakeholders.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Familiarity with additive manufacturing techniques and processes
• Familiarity with castings
• Experience with technical planning, cost management, schedule management, and risk management.
• Passion for advancing cutting-edge aerospace and advanced technologies.

Core Competencies

Demonstrates strong technical execution and project management skills in R&D environments, with a focus on delivering quality engineering solutions that meet regulatory and customer requirements. Capable of leading multidisciplinary teams and driving continuous improvement in complex engineering challenges.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Project Engineering
• Project Management
• Technical Execution
• Cross-Functional Team Coordination
• Additive Manufacturing

ATS Optimization Keywords

Hard Skills

• Technical Planning
• Cost Management
• Schedule Management
• Risk Management
• Engineering Deliverables
• Regulatory Compliance
• Design Reviews
• Problem Solving
• Systems Thinking
• Customer Requirements Analysis

Soft Skills

• Collaborative Leadership
• Excellent Communication
• Organizational Skills
• Adaptability
• Influencing Without Authority

Certifications & Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering

Industry Keywords

• R&D Environment
• Advanced Technology
• Aerospace Technologies
• Continuous Improvement
• Innovative R&D