Senior Principal Engineer - Space Technology Development

Honda South Carolina Manufacturing; Raymond (OH); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Honda South Carolina Manufacturing seeks a senior engineering leader to establish and run a U.S. space development organization, transferring know-how from Japan and building facilities, capabilities, and processes for space-qualified development.

You will hire and mentor engineers, standardize systems engineering practices, and drive technology transfer. Candidates should have a Bachelor's in Engineering, about 10 years in aerospace or space programs, and familiarity with NASA processes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering (Aero/Mech/Elec/Systems) or related field.
• Around 10 years of relevant experience.
• Experience in aerospace or space systems development and working with NASA or equivalent space agencies preferred.
• Leading systems engineering activities in space programs.
• Experience in space hardware and/or software development, space experiments / investigation design, or space mission execution.
• Familiarity with NASA or US space industry development and program approval processes.

Responsibilities

• Serve as technical leader aligning activities with program objectives, customer needs, quality expectations, and long‑term growth.
• Develop, implement, and oversee a Safety & Mission Assurance framework that meets space industry requirements and ensure product reliability, risk mitigation, and compliance.
• Identify, establish, and scale U.S. development and testing capability to support model build, testing, and evaluation.
• Establish and lead a high-performing U.S. engineering organization by hiring, developing, and mentoring technical talent across multiple disciplines.
• Define, standardize, and continuously improve engineering development processes including systems engineering, configuration management, design reviews, verification/validation, and readiness gate criteria to transform automotive development capabilities into space-qualified development processes.
• Drive successful technology and know‑how transfer from Japan to the U.S. ensuring engineering teams fully understand the design intent, processes, standards, and system‑level technical integration.

Skills

Systems engineering leadership

Space hardware development

NASA familiarity

Space software development

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering

Job description

What Makes a Honda, Is Who Makes a Honda

Honda has a clear vision for the future, and it’s a joyful one. We are looking for individuals with the skills, courage, persistence, and dreams that will help us reach our future-focused goals. At our core is innovation. Honda is constantly innovating and developing solutions to drive our business with record success. We strive to be a company that serves as a source of “power” that supports people around the world who are trying to do things based on their own initiative and that helps people expand their own potential. To this end, Honda strives to realize “the joy and freedom of mobility” by developing new technologies and an innovative approach to achieve a “zero environmental footprint.”

We are looking for qualified individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, continuous improvement values, and a strong work ethic to join our team.

If your goals and values align with Honda’s, we want you to join our team to Bring the Future!

Job Purpose

• This position will establish and lead engineering and technical development targeted for the U.S. space industry by building a high-performing engineering organization, transferring critical technologies and expertise from Japan, and establishing the facilities, capabilities, and processes needed to drive advanced development and long-term competitiveness.

Key Accountabilities

• Serve as technical leader aligning engineering activities with program objectives, customer needs, quality expectations, and long‑term business growth.
• Develop, implement, and oversee a Safety & Mission Assurance framework that meets space industry expectations and regulatory requirements and ensure product reliability, risk mitigation, and compliance.
• Identify, establish, and scale U.S. development and testing capability both internally and externally to support model build, testing, and evaluation.
• Establish and lead a high-performing U.S. engineering organization by hiring, developing, and mentoring technical talent across multiple disciplines to support long‑term product and capability growth.
• Define, standardize, and continuously improve engineering development processes including systems engineering, configuration management, design reviews, verification/validation, and readiness gate criteria to transform automotive development capabilities into space-qualified development processes.
• Drive successful technology and know‑how transfer from Japan to the U.S. ensuring engineering teams fully understand the design intent, processes, standards, and system‑level technical integration.

Citizenship requirement

• Applicants for this role must be a US citizen, to qualify.

Qualifications, Experience, And Skills

• A Bachelor's Degree in Engineering (e.g. Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Systems Engineering, or a closely related field)
• Minimum Experience:
• Around 10 years of relevant experience.
• Prior experience in aerospace or space systems development and working with NASA or equivalent space agencies preferred.
• Prior experience leading systems engineering activities in space programs.
• Experience in space hardware and/or software development, space experiments / investigation design, or space mission execution.
• Familiarity with NASA or the US space industry development and program approval processes.
• Other job‑specific skills:
• Prior experience leading systems engineering activities in space programs.
• Experience in space hardware and/or software development, space experiments / investigation design, or space mission execution.
• Familiarity with NASA or the US space industry development and program approval processes.

Travel Requirements

• This position may require upto 25% travel annually - combining domestic and international.

Workstyle

• This is an onsite job. One remote workday per week may be possible with prior departmental approval.

Total Rewards

• Competitive Base Salary (pay will be based on several variables that include, but not limited to geographic location, work experience, etc.)
• Regional Bonus (when applicable)
• Manager Lease Car Program (No Cost - Car, Maintenance, and Insurance included)
• Industry‑leading Benefit Plans (Medical, Dental, Vision, Rx)
• Paid time off, including vacation, holidays, shutdown
• Company Paid Short‑Term and Long‑Term Disability
• 401K Plan with company match + additional contribution
• Relocation assistance (if eligible)

Career Growth

• Advancement Opportunities
• Career Mobility
• Education Reimbursement for Continued learning
• Training and Development Programs

Additional Offerings

• Lifestyle Account
• Childcare Reimbursement Account
• Elder Care Support
• Tuition Assistance & Student Loan Repayment
• Wellbeing Program
• Community Service and Engagement Programs
• Product Programs

Honda is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected factor.