Principal/Lead Systems Engineer - VA BEACH

RFD Beaufort, Inc.; Virginia Beach (VA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Beaufort is seeking a Principal Engineer to lead the design engineering process for Aircrew Flight Equipment for military applications. You will guide a Design Engineering team, advance product innovation, and ensure safety and commercial objectives are met.

This role requires deep aerospace mechanical knowledge, system integration experience, and active involvement in developing junior engineers while leading a Design Engineering team.

Qualifications

• Extensive aerospace engineering experience.
• Experience with system-level integration and finite element analysis.
• Product certification experience for aviation or military applications.
• Background in materials science.
• 5–10 years of engineering experience in industry.
• Chartered Engineer status preferred.
• Experience with inflatable/pressure vessel products.
• Knowledge of coated textiles/films manufacturing joining processes (e.g. HF welding).

Responsibilities

• Provide top-tier design engineering expertise within contract terms or SLAs, including planning, coordinating, and supervising major contracts.
• Identify and implement improvements to existing product designs and deliver product roadmap changes within Beaufort's NPD process.
• Manage the knowledge management system and ensure effective knowledge sharing.
• Address design, quality, safety, and operational issues, identifying causes and stakeholders.
• Develop procedures and interpret regulatory requirements to ensure compliance and best practice.
• Analyze feasibility of complex products and services and advise on development, replacement, or retirement.
• Oversee a portfolio of change projects and report progress to seniors.
• Recommend improvements to policies, processes, standards, and practices.
• Evaluate solutions that meet business and customer needs.
• Engage in continuous professional development and maintain knowledge of technology and industry best practices.

Skills

Aerospace engineering

System-level integration

Finite element analysis

Mechanical design

Product certification experience

People management

Regulatory compliance

Education

BEng/MEng/BSc/MSc in Engineering (mechanical or aerospace)

Job description

This family is responsible for creating everything from the initial concept to the final design of our products. They develop ideas for new products and prototypes, as well as evolving the design details of established ranges. They deeply understand the safety needs of our customers and deliver innovation that captures our design strategy and brand values. They integrate innovative functional solutions with world-class creativity to support Beaufort’s vision to become the most trusted provider of survival technology.

Job Summary

As a Principal Engineer, you will manage the design engineering process for a highly specialized Beaufort product set, namely Aircrew Flight Equipment for military applications. Your expertise will be crucial in advancing product innovation, ensuring our products meet stringent safety standards and commercial objectives. This role requires a deep understanding of aerospace mechanical engineering and an active involvement in developing our junior engineers whilst standing up and leading a Design Engineering team.

Key responsibilities and accountabilities

• Provide top-tier design engineering expertise within contract terms or service level agreements, including planning, coordinating, and supervising major contracts.
• Identify and implement improvements to existing product designs, develop and deliver product roadmap changes, and new product developments within Beaufort's NPD and change management process.
• Manage the knowledge management system, contributing to its development and ensuring effective knowledge sharing.
• Address emerging design, quality, safety, and operational issues, identifying causes, barriers, stakeholders, and related issues.
• Develop procedures and interpret regulatory requirements to ensure product compliance and best practice, monitoring the commercial success of product developments.
• Analyze the feasibility of proposed complex products and services, making recommendations for development, replacement, or retirement.
• Oversee a portfolio of change projects, reporting progress to senior colleagues.
• Recommend improvements to policies, processes, standards, and practices.
• Evaluate and identify solutions that best meet business and customer needs.
• Engage in continuous professional development, maintaining a deep understanding of technology, regulations, and industry best practices.

Experience, Qualifications and Skills

• Extensive engineering experience within the aerospace industry.
• Experience with system-level integration, finite element analysis, and strong mechanical skills.
• Experience with product certification for aviation applications (Military or Federal regulations).
• Background and knowledge in materials science.
• People management / supervisory experience – at least 2-5 years in an Engineering Lead / Middle Management role
• BEng/MEng/BSc/MSc in Engineering, preferably mechanical or aerospace engineering.
• At least 5-10 years Engineering experience in industry.
• Professional / Chartered Engineer status.
• Experience in product safety.
• Knowledge and experience of inflatable / pressure vessel type products.
• Knowledge and experience of coated textiles / films manufacturing joining processes (e.g. high frequency and ultrasonic welding).

Values

Drive

We are driven bypowerful passion. We take bold actionand live our purpose with unwavering commitment.

Webreak down silos,andbring our talents together, to realize our ambitions withcollective strengthandaccountability.

We have apioneering spirittopush the boundariesand create value bychallenging convention andalways improving.

We areagile,proactive problem solverswho anticipate change andtransform challenges into opportunities.