Project Engineer

esaero; San Luis Obispo (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & Wellness plans

Paid time off 120 hours + holidays

Life insurance

Job summary

ESAero in San Luis Obispo, CA, is seeking a Project Engineer to lead programs from requirements through production. You will coordinate with program management to develop integrated project plans and schedules.

You will monitor progress, drive cross‑disciplinary engineering activities (Systems, Software, Electrical, Mechanical, Manufacturing), and mentor junior engineers while ensuring regulatory and quality standards. This on-site role demands strong communication and problem solving.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field.
• 7+ years in aircraft engineering disciplines.
• 3+ years in leadership roles.
• Strong understanding of UAS architectures.
• Experience with project management tools.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.

Responsibilities

• Lead programs from requirements to production.
• Develop and execute integrated project plans and schedules.
• Monitor progress against schedule, budget, and milestones.
• Drive issue resolution across disciplines and implement corrective actions.
• Coordinate cross-disciplinary engineering activities and reviews.
• Create and maintain design, test, and modification documentation.
• Mentor junior team members.

Skills

Technical leadership

UAS architectures

Cross-functional coordination

Program management exposure

Communication

Complex systems

US Person

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Master’s degree (desired)

Tools

Microsoft Project

MATLAB

Jama

SolidWorks

Job description

Project Engineer

Job Summary

Responsibilitiesand Duties

• Serve as the primary technical lead for assigned programs, taking ownership of the project lifecycle from requirements gathering to production.
• Collaborate with Program Management to develop & execute integrated project plans and project schedules
• Monitor and report on project progress (schedule, budget, and technical milestones) to leadership, customers, and key stakeholders.
• Drive issue resolution across all disciplines,identifyingroot causes and implementing corrective actions to address technical and project challenges and blockers.
• Support developingand reviewingtechnical requirements and specifications for components, systems, and subsystems, ensuring they meet programmatic and customer needs.
• Coordinate day-to-day engineering activities and ensure seamless integration and alignment across multi-disciplinary teams (Systems, Software, Electrical, Mechanical, and Manufacturing).
• Coordinateandleaddesign and technical reviews to ensure engineering solutions meet performance, quality, and safety standards.
• Create andmaintaindetailed documentation for designs, testing, and modifications. Collaborate with design engineers to manage Engineering Change Requests (ECRs) and maintain BOM accuracy.
• Interface with quality, supply chain, and operations to ensure build readiness. Support hardware development, test execution, and data collection for prototype systems.
• Identifiesand tracks engineering performance metrics
• Ensure compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements and activelyidentify, assess, and mitigate project risks.
• Mentor and guide junior team members, fostering a collaborative and high-performing environment.

Required Qualificationsand Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Engineeringrelated discipline.
• 3+ years of prior leadership roles (technical lead, management, etc.)
• 7+ years of experiencein one or moreaircraftengineering disciplines (propulsion, avionics, software, structures, mechanical systems, or systems engineering)
• Strong technical understanding of UAS architectures
• Experiencewith project management and tracking tools (e.g., Microsoft Project) and exposure to engineering software (e.g., MATLAB, Jama, SolidWorks).
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail to keep complex engineering deliverables aligned with program milestones.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills, capable of presenting complex technical information clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders (customers, leadership, and engineers).
• Ability to quickly grasp complex systems and communicate effectively across multidisciplinary teams.
• US Person (Citizen or Green Card).

DesiredQualificationsand Skills

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Systems Engineering, or Technical Management.
• Experience working with complex UAS
• Strongproficiencywith Microsoft Project
• Experience with EVMS (Earned Value Management System) for tracking project performance against cost and schedule baselines.
• Knowledge of Lean Six Sigma principles or Root Cause Analysis (RCA) methodologies like 8D or Fishbone.
• Prior experience in a high-growth startup environment or "Skunkworks" style rapid prototyping lab.

Comprehensive Benefits & Perks

• Health & Wellness:Choose from three health, dental, and vision plans - including a 100% employer-paid option covering both employees and their families.
• Paid Time Off:Enjoy 120 hours of PTO, 80 hoursaccruedplus anadditional40 hours of holiday break pay in addition to Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day off.
• Life Insurance:$25,000 employer-paid life insurance policy, with theoptiontopurchaseadditionalcoverage for employees and their families.
• Supplemental Coverage:Access optional benefits such as Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, Accident Insurance, and Critical Illness with Skin Cancer coverage.
• Health Savings Account (HSA):Take advantage of a tax-advantaged HSA to manage medical expenses.
• Retirement Savings:401(k) with a company match to support your financial future.
• Paid Holidays:Enjoy 9 paid holidays throughout the year.
• Work Environment:A casual dress code, complimentary snacks, and a welcoming company culture.
• Ideal Location:Work in an area that offers an outstanding quality of life - a perfect place to live, work, and play!

Company Overview

Empirical Systems Aerospace, Inc (ESAero) is a leader in aerospace engineering, product development, and manufacturing, dedicated to delivering high-quality, innovative, and cost-effective solutions to the industry. We specialize incutting-edgesystem design, rapid product development, precision manufacturing, comprehensive testing, and technology demonstrations to support the evolving needs of the aerospace community. Committed to excellence, on-time delivery, and continuous growth, we invest in infrastructure to expand our manufacturing and aftermarket capabilities whilemaintainingthe highest standards of engineering services.

At ESAero, wedon’tjust build products, we engineer solutions that propel

the aerospace industry forward.

**This position is fully on-site at ESAero in San Luis Obispo, CA

ESAero is an equal opportunity employer.
E-Verify participationrequiredfor employment.
Must present proof of authorization to work in the United States.
Must be able to pass background check.
Pay Range: $140,000 – 180,000Salary Exempt