Project Engineer

CACI; Orlando (FL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

CACI is seeking a Project Engineer to drive introduction and lifecycle management of advanced optical communications terminals for space applications in Orlando, FL. You will lead multi‑discipline engineering efforts and coordinate with R&D, design, manufacturing, and quality teams to ensure robust design for manufacturability and successful production ramp.

The role requires deep technical leadership, strong problem solving, and hands‑on involvement in debugging hardware, reading drawings, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering.
• 5+ years in product lifecycle engineering, manufacturing, or process development for precision manufacturing.
• Systems engineering mindset across mechanical, optical, electrical, thermal.
• Experience with CNC machining, optical assembly, electronics integration, cleanroom.
• Experience in DoD or Space environments is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (R&D, Design, Manufacturing, Test, Quality, Operations) to ensure DFM and DFA for multi-disciplinary system assemblies including opto‑mechanical structures, electronics integration, and thermal management solutions.
• Drive manufacturing readiness for new products by leading pilot builds, process validations (IQ/OQ/PQ), customer facing operational readiness reviews (PRR, MRR, TRR), and production transfer activities in compliance with ISO 9001 and internal quality systems.
• Own end‑to‑end manufacturing process development, optimization, documentation, and lifecycle management. This will require collaboration with design and manufacturing engineering teams to introduce product changes, improve existing processes, and manage product transitions.
• Lead product lifecycle phases from NPI planning through production ramp, sustaining operations, continuous improvement, and end‑of‑life management, ensuring timely execution and adherence to schedules, budgets, and resource allocation.
• Develop and manage comprehensive project plans with schedules, milestones, risk assessments, and mitigation strategies while coordinating multiple simultaneous projects across various lifecycle stages.
• Translate high‑level product and engineering requirements into actionable technical direction for manufacturing, operations, and production personnel while maintaining awareness of ongoing work to proactively identify gaps, conflicts, and integration risks.
• Perform technical troubleshooting and root cause analysis during new product ramp‑up and rate production, resolving manufacturing challenges across mechanical, optical, thermal, and electrical subsystems while driving continuous improvement initiatives.
• Develop and lead operator training strategies to ensure production readiness, including technical procedures for precision assembly, contamination control, and system‑level verification throughout the product lifecycle.

Skills

Systems engineering mindset

Technical leadership

Root cause analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

CREO

PLM systems

Excel

MATLAB

Python

Job description

Job Title: Project Engineer

Job Category: Engineering

Time Type: Full time

Minimum Clearance Required to Start: None

Employee Type: Regular

Percentage of Travel Required: Up to 10%

Type of Travel: Continental US

* * *

The Opportunity:

The Project Engineer will drive successful product introduction and lifecycle management of advanced optical communications terminals for space applications. This role combines systems-level technical problem-solving with cross‑functional project leadership across optical, mechanical, electrical, and thermal subsystems. You'll work on complex electro‑opto‑mechanical systems requiring deep technical understanding of precision manufacturing, system integration, and aerospace hardware development throughout the entire product lifecycle-from new product introduction through production ramp and rate/sustaining production and end‑of‑life.

This role isn't just project management-it requires a strong technical leader who understands the physics and engineering principles behind our systems. You'll need to read drawings, debug hardware failures, challenge engineering assumptions, and make technically informed decisions about manufacturing feasibility. This role will require strong technical communication skills to properly exchange information with design engineering, manufacturing support organizations, suppliers, executive leadership and customers.

Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams (R&D, Design, Manufacturing, Test, Quality, Operations) to ensure Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) for multi‑disciplinary system assemblies including opto‑mechanical structures, electronics integration, and thermal management solutions.
• Drive manufacturing readiness for new products by leading pilot builds, process validations (IQ/OQ/PQ), customer facing operational readiness reviews (PRR, MRR, TRR), and production transfer activities in compliance with ISO 9001 and internal quality systems.
• Own end‑to‑end manufacturing process development, optimization, documentation, and lifecycle management. This will require collaboration with design and manufacturing engineering teams to seamlessly introduce product changes, improve existing processes, and manage product transitions. This effort will include outlining updates to process flows, work instructions, manufacturing routings, BOMs, tooling specifications, and equipment requirements.
• Lead product lifecycle phases from new product introduction (NPI) planning through production ramp, sustaining operations, continuous improvement, and end‑of‑life management, ensuring timely execution and adherence to schedules, budgets, and resource allocation.
• Develop and manage comprehensive project plans with schedules, milestones, risk assessments, and mitigation strategies while coordinating multiple simultaneous projects across various lifecycle stages.
• Translate high‑level product and engineering requirements into actionable technical direction for manufacturing, operations, and production personnel while maintaining awareness of ongoing work to proactively identify gaps, conflicts, and integration risks.
• Perform technical troubleshooting and root cause analysis during new product ramp‑up and rate production, resolving manufacturing challenges across mechanical, optical, thermal, and electrical subsystems while driving continuous improvement initiatives.
• Develop and lead operator training strategies to ensure production readiness, including technical procedures for precision assembly, contamination control, and system‑level verification throughout the product lifecycle.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Manufacturing, Electrical, Optical, Aerospace, Systems Engineering, or related technical discipline)
• 5+ years of experience in product lifecycle engineering, manufacturing engineering, or process development managing complex projects in precision manufacturing operations (aerospace, space systems, optics, medical device, or advanced instrumentation).
• Systems engineering mindset with ability to understand technical interactions and trade‑offs across multiple disciplines (mechanical, optical, electrical, thermal).
• Proficiency with engineering tools (CAD software: SolidWorks, CREO; PLM systems), data analysis tools (Excel, MATLAB, Python, or equivalent), tolerance analysis, GD&T, and ability to perform technical root cause analysis.
• Experience with precision manufacturing processes such as: CNC machining, optical assembly, electronics integration, cleanroom operations, adhesive bonding, or environmental testing (thermal cycling, vibration, TVAC).
• Proven experience supporting full product lifecycle including new product introduction (NPI), production ramp, sustaining engineering, process optimization, and continuous improvement initiatives with hands‑on technical involvement.
• Well‑rounded project management background with experience in DoD or Space environment, including