Project Engineer / Integrated Product Team (IPT) Lead

Safran; Rockford (IL); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Safran is seeking a Project Engineer to independently lead and coordinate Aerospace & Defense engineering projects, including Flight Control and Utility Actuation systems. You will drive disciplined project execution through planning, risk management, data analysis, and cross-functional IPT collaboration.

Responsibilities include leading technical reviews, maintaining schedules and budgets, and presenting status and risks to leadership. Travel up to 10% may be required.

Qualifications

• A degree in engineering or a related technical discipline with a minimum 3.0 GPA, or two years of relevant project management experience.
• Ability to effectively communicate in English with customers, coworkers, and supervisors.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate technical teams to ensure requirements and deliverables are achieved.
• Develop and maintain project plans, schedules, resource plans, and performance metrics.
• Own cost performance and budget tracking using Earned Value Management (EVM) for military programs.

Skills

Communication

Education

Engineering degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

SAP

Microsoft Project

Job description

The Project Engineer independently leads and coordinates the execution of Aerospace & Defense engineering projects, including Flight Control and Utility Actuation systems. This role drives disciplined project execution through structured planning, engineering processes, risk management, data analysis, and cross-functional collaboration. The Project Engineer is expected to lead the project execution, coordinate multi-disciplined engineers and Integrated Product Teams (IPT) to resolve technical and project issues, maintain alignment to requirements, and deliver quality solutions within established cost and schedule objectives.

Roles and Responsibilities

Technical & Engineering Support

• Lead and coordinate technical teams to ensure requirements and deliverables are achieved.
• Lead engineers and cross-functional teams in defining problems and developing solutions.
• Coordinate engineering reviews, technical discussions, and cross-functional activities.
• Support root-cause and field investigations with IPTs and customers to drive corrective actions.
• Analyze engineering and project data to support data-driven technical decisions.
• Prepare and present technical content, project status, risks, and recommendations to engineering and business leadership.

Process & Continuous Improvement

• Ensure adherence to established engineering standard work, processes, and development lifecycle activities throughout project execution.
• Ensure development activities, reviews, documentation, and approvals are completed in accordance with defined processes.
• Promote consistent use of standard work and drive accountability for process execution.
• Apply structured problem-solving and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Support compliance with AS9100 and AS9145 requirements.
• Identify opportunities to standardize processes, improve communication, and strengthen execution.

Project Planning, Schedule & Resources

• Develop and maintain project plans, schedules, resource plans, and performance metrics.
• Track progress, staffing, and schedule; identify variances and implement corrective actions.
• Coordinate with engineering leadership to forecast resource requirements.
• Maintain processes for tracking tasks, deliverables, decisions, risks, issues, and action items.
• Maintain and present project plans and progress reports to ensure objectives are achieved.

Budget, Cost & Program Performance

• Develop and maintain project budgets and monitor engineering spending against objectives.
• Own cost performance and variances while maintaining focus on technical execution.
• Cost Account Management and Earned Value Management (EVM) for military programs.
• Analyze project data and recommend efficiency and optimize resource utilization.

Risk & Issue Management

• Identify risks, assess impacts, develop mitigations, and communicate status to leadership.
• Develop alternative approaches and recommendations to address technical and project challenges while maintaining project and technical objectives.

Additional Responsibilities

• Support other duties and functions as required by business needs.
• Travel up to 10%.

Qualifications You Must Have

• A degree in engineering or a related technical discipline with a minimum 3.0 GPA, - or - two (2) years of relevant project management experience.
• Ability to effectively communicate in English with customers, coworkers, and supervisors.

Qualifications We Prefer

• Aerospace & Defense industry experience.
• Experience working with or coordinating technical teams and engineering activities.
• Experience working within engineering, quality, or project management processes.
• Experience supporting projects with requirements, budgets, schedules, and deliverables.
• Experience with Earned Value Management (EVM).
• Experience with Microsoft Office, SAP, Microsoft Project or other project management tools