Project Engineer

CFD Research Corporation; Huntsville (TN); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) matching

Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)

Health, vision & dental insurance

Job summary

CFD Research Corporation seeks a Project Engineer to drive project controls, cost/schedule management, and operational execution for assigned Integrated Product Teams (IPTs). This role interfaces between IPTs, program management, and business operations.

You will own work package management, oversee CDRLs/SDRLs, monitor budgets and timelines, and lead risk and opportunity processes while collaborating with Finance, Contracts, Procurement, Supply Chain, and Quality to remove roadblocks.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business or a related field is required.
• 2+ years of experience in a related field.
• Proficiency with integrated master schedules, budget variance analysis, and deliverable tracking.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel (PivotTables, formulas, data validation).
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Security Clearance; candidate must be a U.S. Citizen.

Responsibilities

• Drive project controls, cost and schedule management for IPTs.
• Own management of work packages and ensure deliverables stay on track.
• Manage CDRL/SDRL deliverables end-to-end with cross-functional alignment.
• Lead risk and opportunity management, maintain risk registers and mitigation plans.
• Bridge IPT with Finance, Contracts, Procurement, Supply Chain and Quality for issue resolution.
• Prepare program health and executive dashboards for PMRs and customer meetings.

Skills

Excel

Project scheduling

Budget variance analysis

CDRL/SDRL management

Risk & Opportunity tracking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Business or related field

STEM-focused Engineering degree

Tools

Power BI

Power Query

MS Project

Job description

About CFD Research:

Since its inception in 1987, CFD Research has delivered innovative technology solutions within the Aerospace & Defense, Biomedical & Life Sciences, Intelligence & Sensing, and Energy & Materials industries. CFD Research has earned multiple national awards for successful application and commercialization of innovative component/system technology prototypes, multi-physics simulation software, multi-disciplinary analyses, and expert support services. Based in Huntsville, Alabama where laboratory facilities and headquarters are located, CFD Research also has office and laboratory facilities in Dayton, Ohio, prototyping test and evaluation facilities in Hollywood, Alabama, and office facilities in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. CFD Research is an ISO9001:AS9100D registered company and is appraised at CMMI Level II for Services. CFD Research is a 100% ESOP (employee-owned company) recognized in Inc. Magazine’s Inc5000 as a top growing company for four of the last five years. Learn more at www.cfd-research.com

Position Overview

The Project Engineer drives project controls, cost/schedule management, and operational execution for assigned Integrated Product Teams (IPTs). Working alongside IPT technical leadership, this role owns the management of work packages, ensuring schedules, budgets, contractual deliverables, and risk matrices remain on track. The Project Engineer serves as the functional interface between the IPT, program management, and business operations.

Key Responsibilities

• IPT Work Package Execution: Drive non-technical execution and operational rigor across assigned IPTs. Maintain accountability for schedules, scope boundaries, action items, and cross-functional commitments.
• Contractual Deliverable Management (CDRL/SDRL): Manage the end-to-end lifecycle of IPT contractual deliverables (CDRLs/SDRLs), ensuring timely review cycles, cross-functional alignment, and customer submission.
• Cost, Schedule & Variance Analysis: Monitor financial performance, budget execution, and baseline schedule milestones for IPT work packages. Identify root causes for cost/schedule variances and drive recovery planning.
• Risk & Opportunity (R&O) Facilitation: Lead the IPT Risk & Opportunity management process. Maintain risk registers, quantify financial and schedule impacts, and track mitigation and realization strategies.
• Cross-Functional Integration: Serve as the primary integration bridge connecting the IPT with Finance, Contracts, Procurement, Supply Chain, and Quality to resolve operational roadblocks and streamline communication.
• Program Health & Executive Reporting: Synthesize technical progress, financial status, and risk profiles into actionable metrics and dashboards for Program Management Reviews (PMRs) and customer meetings.
• Data Governance & Configuration Control: Maintain standardized tracking tools, action item logs, and version control for all IPT management artifacts and execution metrics.

Qualifications:

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business or a related field
• 2+ years of experience in a related field.
• Working knowledge of integrated master schedules, budget variance analysis, and deliverable tracking.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (e.g., PivotTables, formulas, data validation).
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Security Clearance
• Candidate must be a U.S. Citizen

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in an Engineering or STEM discipline with strong technical literacy.
• Experience in DoD, aerospace, defense, or highly regulated government contracting environments.
• Experience in a AS9100 manufacturing environment
• Hands-on experience managing CDRL/SDRL deliverables and Risk & Opportunity (R&O) tracking systems.
• Experience utilizing Power BI, Power Query, MS Project, or other data visualization and scheduling software.
• Active U.S. Government Security Clearance.

Location:

This role is based in the Huntsville, AL area ** , **and is 100% onsite.

Benefits:

CFD Research offers competitive salaries and excellent employee benefits, including an employer matching 401(k) and Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). CFD Research offers our Full-Time, permanent employee-owners a highly competitive insurance package, including medical, vision, and dental insurance. Additionally, we offer company paid leave, compensation time, parental leave, long-term and short-term disability, accidental death and dismemberment, and life insurance. Part-Time and Temporary employee-owners may receive partial or reduced benefits and leave time based on their employment status level. Performance appraisals occur twice a year and annual pay increases are based upon corporate goals, personal development, performance, and outstanding achievements. In addition, group and individual bonuses are awarded for exceptional performance.

CFD Research is an EO employer - Veterans/Disabled and other protected categories