Project Engineer II

Sierra Nevada Corporation; Plano (TX); Hybrid; USD 165,000 - 227,000; Full time

Job summary

Sierra Nevada Corporation is seeking a Project Engineer II to manage engineering activities across the product lifecycle, from concept through delivery. The role requires strong technical background, project management skills, and ability to interface with internal teams and external customers to ensure successful execution.

Responsibilities include leading structural design, FEA, material selection, and coordinating with Propulsion, GNC/Actuation, and Mass Properties IPTs to meet schedule and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related field.
• 10+ years' experience in engineering roles with at least 2+ years in a leadership role.
• Higher level relevant degree may substitute for experience.
• Thorough knowledge of engineering principles and practice.
• Experience working in multi-disciplinary design and development team.
• Detailed understanding of requirements management, system design, and integration.
• Experience in structural, mechanical, or airframe design and analysis on flight vehicle development programs.
• Ability to obtain and maintain United States Secret security Clearance

Responsibilities

• Direct structural design and FEA for missile body and airframe.
• Lead material selection for high-temperature environments.
• Coordinate with propulsion and GNC IPTs for OML fidelity and aeroelastic stability.
• Plan structural test campaigns: static, dynamic, thermal, deployment.
• Lead airframe content for government milestone reviews.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Systems engineering

Customer interfacing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Job description

• Higher level relevant degree may substitute for experience.

Are you looking to use your engineering capabilities, project management and collective skills in your next position? We could use your expertise on our team! As a Project Engineer II you will be responsible for managing project activities throughout the product lifecycle, from initial design concepts to final delivery. This role requires a strong technical background, project management skills, and the ability to interface with both internal teams and external customers to ensure successful project execution.

The ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance), Aviation, and Security (IAS) business area is a leader in ISR and aviation, it is a leading prime manned and unmanned aircraft systems integrator for innovative, high-performance ISR and aviation systems. Its end-to-end Command, Control, Computers, Communications and Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (C4ISR) capabilities encompass design, integration, test, certification, ground/flight training and complete logistics support. IAS tailors solutions to customer cost, performance, and schedule requirements and designs to consistently exceed expectations – with an unrivaled record of on time and on (or under) budget deliveries.

Responsibilities

• Direct structural architecture, detail design, finite element analysis (FEA), and aerothermal analysis for the missile body, control surfaces, and internal mounting structures.
• Lead material selection and trade studies for severe flight environments involving high dynamic pressure, aerodynamic heating, and high-temperature operations (advanced metallics and high-temp composites).
• Partner with Propulsion, GNC/Actuation, and Mass Properties IPTs to ensure outer mold line (OML) fidelity, structural margins, aeroelastic stability, and volume allocations are met.
• Plan and direct structural test campaigns, including static load, dynamic vibration/shock, thermal-structural, and control surface/mechanism deployment testing.
• Lead airframe technical content for formal government milestone reviews.

Qualifications You Must Have

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related field.
• 10+ years' experience in engineering roles with at least 2+ years in a leadership role.
• Higher level relevant degree may substitute for experience.
• Thorough knowledge of engineering principles and practice.
• Experience working in multi-disciplinary design and development team.
• Detailed understanding of requirements management, system design, and integration.
• Experience in structural, mechanical, or airframe design and analysis on flight vehicle development programs.
• Ability to obtain and maintain United States Secret security Clearance

Qualifications We Prefer

• 4-6 years relevant leadership and/or project management experience.
• Experience with advanced project management tools and methodologies.
• In-depth knowledge of industry standards and regulations.
• Experience leading a multi-disciplinary design and development team and communicating with program management and customers.
• Familiarity with preparation and development of project estimates, technical proposals, and program cost and schedule management.
• Past history of leading baseline definition and maturation in a complex development setting, including the use of highly integrated trade studies and analysis of alternative.
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings and schematics, parts lists, specifications, instructions and test procedure.
• Experience or certification in International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) standard.
• Direct experience with supersonic missile airframe structures, aero-thermo-elastic analysis (flutter/divergence), and flight load generation.
• Experience with high-temperature materials, and composite manufacturing processes.
• Experience with missile mechanism integration (e.g., control actuation systems, fold-out flying surfaces, or stage/fairing separation mechanisms).
• Background in the Aerospace and Defense Industry.

Essential Functions

• Occasional travel to customer or field locations may be required.
• Ability to work primarily in an office or hybrid environment.
• Ability to lift up to 10 pounds occasionally.
• Prolonged periods of working on a computer.
• Hand and finger dexterity for computer use.
• Capability to work in potentially hazardous environments when visiting project sites.

This posting will be open for application for a minimum of 5 days and may be extended based on business needs.

Estimated Starting Salary Range: $165,010.21 - $226,889.04. Compensation varies depending on a wide array of factors, such as candidates' key skills, relevant work experience, and education/training/certifications. The disclosed range estimate may be adjusted for any applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled.

SNC offers annual incentive pay based upon performance that is commensurate with the level of the position.

SNC offers a generous benefit package, including medical, dental, and vision plans, 401(k) with 150% match up to 6%, life insurance, 3 weeks paid time off, tuition reimbursement, and more.

Important Notice

This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a Secret U.S. Security Clearance. U.S. Citizenship status is required as this position needs an active U.S. Security Clearance for employment. Non-U.S. citizens may not be eligible to obtain a security clearance. The Department of Defense Consolidated Adjudications Facility (DoD CAF), a federal government agency, handles the adjudicative aspects of the security clearance eligibility process for industry applicants. Adjudicative factors which affect the outcome of the eligibility determination include, but are not limited to, allegiance to the U.S., foreign influence, foreign preference, criminal conduct, security violations and illegal drug use.

Learn more about the background check process for Security Clearances.

SNC is a global leader in aerospace and national security committed to moving the American Dream forward. We’re known and respected for our mission and execution focus, agility, and disruptive and rapid innovation. We provide leading edge technologies and transformative solutions that support our nation’s most critical security needs. If you are mission-focused, thrive in collaborative environments, and want to make our country stronger with state-of-the-art technologies that safeguard freedom, join our team!

SNC is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to an environment free of discrimination. Employment decisions are made based on merit without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran or other characteristics protected by law.