Senior Aeronautical Engineer

DCS Corp; Dayton (OH); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defense contractor is seeking a Senior Aeronautical Engineer in Dayton, Ohio. The engineer will lead air-vehicle integration, ensuring safe hardware compatibility across multiple aircraft types. Applicants should have extensive experience in aircraft modification, structural analysis, and possess an active TS/SCI clearance.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of aircraft modification or avionics integration experience.
• Active TS/SCI clearance required.
• Hands-on experience in lab, flight test, fielding.

Responsibilities

• Lead air-vehicle integration as primary integration lead.
• Develop and coordinate air-worthiness artifacts.
• Author 3-D CAD assemblies and maintain digital thread.

Skills

Structural analysis

Weight & balance

Wiring integration

MIL-STD environmental qualification

Education

B.S. in Aeronautical, Aerospace, or Mechanical Engineering

Masters degree

Tools

CREO

NX

CATIA

SolidWorks

Job description

Join the integrated Government‑industry team delivering PhalanxGriffon (PG)—a platform‑agnostic, open‑architecture aerial node that pushes real‑time, multi‑level‑secure data to the tactical edge. As the SeniorAeronautical Engineer, you will be the program’s primary air‑vehicle integration lead, translating the digital design into safe, air‑worthy hardware and ensuring seamless fit, form, and function across multiple aircraft types.

Essential Job Functions:

• Platform Integration Lead

  • Own the aircraft‑level mechanical & structural integration of the Nomad hardware stack, SATCOM apertures, and platform‑interface modules (PIMs).

    Develop and coordinate AFForm1067 packages, air‑worthiness artifacts, and flight‑clearance data with System Program Offices (SPOs), Flight Test Centers, and OEMs.

    Perform trade studies and SWaP‑C analyses to down‑select form‑factor options for priority platforms.

• Digital Engineering & Model‑Based Design

  • Author/maintain3‑D CAD assemblies, interface‑control models, and parametric weight/balance data inside the program’s government‑owned digital thread.

  • Feed real‑time design feedback to Nomad,Smith,andWatch IPTs and the Government architecture team.

• System Integration Laboratory (SIL) Support

  • Define aircraft‑representative fixtures, wiring harnesses, and environmental test setups; oversee buildout and day‑to‑day operation of the IntegrationSIL.

  • Execute vibration, EMI/EMC, thermal, and functional checkout testing prior to DT/OT.

• Flight Test & Fielding

  • Draft test plans, hazard analyses, and Interim Authorizations to Test (IATT); serve as on‑board or ground‑test engineer during developmental and operational flights.

  • Lead red‑line capture, root‑cause analysis, and incorporation of lessons learned into subsequent builds and Product Delivery Orders (PDOs).

• Program Execution & Mentorship

  • Maintain integration milestones within the Integrated Master Schedule; brief risk, cost, and readiness metrics to Government leadership.

  • Provide technical mentorship to mid‑level engineers; cultivate a culture of agile, DevSecOps‑aligned hardware development.

Required Skills:

Due to the sensitivity of customer related requirements, U.S. Citizenship is required.

B.S. in Aeronautical, Aerospace, or Mechanical Engineering and 15+years of aircraft modification or avionics‑hardware integration experience (military platforms highly desired) or a Masters degree plus 12 years of experience.

Demonstrated expertise in: structural analysis (FEM), weight & balance, wiring/HARNESS integration, and MIL‑STD environmental qualification.

Hands‑on experience guiding systems from lab to flight test to fielding within USAF or DoD acquisition frameworks (AFI63‑101/20‑101).

Proficiency with CREO, NX, CATIA, or SolidWorks; familiarity with MBSE (SysML/CAMEO) a plus.

Active TS/SCI clearance.

Desired Skills:

Prior involvement in ABMS, OMS/UCI, CJADC2, or open‑architecture avionics programs.

Working knowledge of multiband SATCOM hardware, NSA‑accredited crypto devices, and cross‑domain solutions.

Experience authoring or reviewing Air Force flight‑clearance and air‑worthiness documentation (AF879, AFCB, E‑Series).

Agile/Scrum or SAFecertification; familiarity with DevSecOps toolchains in classified environments.

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