Lead Space Systems Project Engineer

SpaceNews; Goleta (CA); On-site; USD 175,000 - 225,000; Full time

Job summary

Redwire’s Goleta, CA facility seeks a Principal Project Engineer to lead the technical execution of space hardware from concept through delivery. You will drive system-level design, development, evaluation, and refinement across the product lifecycle while serving as a technical leader in long-range planning and technology development.

This role requires proven systems engineering experience, leadership of technical teams, and strong CAD/PDM proficiency with a focus on space mechanisms,

Qualifications

• B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related technical discipline.
• Minimum of 15+ years of experience in designing, developing, manufacturing, and testing production hardware.
• Proven systems-level engineering experience and prior leadership of technical teams.
• Experience with space mechanism design and aerospace guidelines.
• Proficiency in CAD and PDM systems.
• Strong drafting knowledge and understanding of GD&T (ASME Y14.5) and tolerance analysis.
• Experience preparing and presenting technical updates to internal and external stakeholders.
• Familiarity with root cause analysis processes.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical lead for assigned programs or project teams, ensuring scope, schedule, resources, and budget remain aligned.
• Available as a senior technical resource as needed: customer-facing technical engagement and capture support, informal mentoring of junior and mid-level engineers, and contribution to requirements, verification, and design review practice.
• Maintain technical integrity throughout all phases of a project and act as the primary point of technical escalation and resolution.
• Translate product development strategies into system-level requirements and coordinate with engineering disciplines to develop detailed lower-level specifications.
• Lead design reviews and develop or review verification plans, validation procedures, and customer acceptance test procedures.
• Generate, review, and present all required project documentation.
• Develop system-level requirements, verification procedures, and compliance documentation.
• Ensure requirements traceability and verification through successful test execution.
• Assess system performance using evaluation criteria, analyses, and technical performance measures.
• Participate in or lead non-conformance investigations and disposition activities.
• Serve as a technical liaison with customers and support business development activities as needed.
• Provide guidance to internal teams at the brand, program, and project levels.
• Establish and coordinate standards, practices, and procedures related to product development and engineering excellence.
• Partner with program management to ensure project execution aligns with customer expectations and internal guidelines.
• Control project costs through effective resource planning and close management of system-level decisions.
• Support both internal and customer-facing project updates and technical presentations.
• Travel occasionally as required (approximately 10–15%), primarily local with some overnight trips.

Skills

Systems engineering

Technical leadership

CAD

GD&T

Root cause analysis

Technical updates

Education

B.S. in Aerospace Engineering

M.S. in Aerospace Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

SolidWorks Simulation

PDM Pro

NASTRAN/ANSYS

Thermal Desktop

Microsoft Project

SharePoint/Teams

Job description

Redwire’s Goleta, CA facility seeks a Principal Project Engineer to lead the technical execution of space hardware from concept through delivery. You will drive system-level design, development, evaluation, and refinement across the product lifecycle while serving as a technical leader in long-range planning and technology development.

This role requires proven systems engineering experience, leadership of technical teams, and strong CAD/PDM proficiency with a focus on space mechanisms,