Senior Project Engineer

Sierra Space; Louisville (KY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

401K and employer matching

Life and AD&D Insurance

Disability Insurance

Educational reimbursement

Job summary

Sierra Space is seeking a Senior Project Engineer to lead medium-sized technical programs, guiding design, development, and integration of engineering solutions while balancing cost and schedule constraints to deliver high-quality outcomes.

You will drive cross-functional collaboration, mentor engineers, and manage risk, EVMS, and supplier performance, ensuring clear communication with customers and stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle.

Qualifications

• Requires bachelor’s degree in a related field (or equivalent work experience)
• Demonstrated ability to lead medium-sized cross-functional teams
• Strong project management skills and cost/schedule management
• Experience with risk/opportunity management and EVMS processes

Responsibilities

• Lead and execute medium-sized technical projects with successful integration of engineering solutions
• Oversee design, development, and implementation of projects to meet specs and quality standards within cost/schedule constraints
• Provide technical estimation support for Basis of Estimates, Proposals, and Contracts
• Mentor junior engineers and manage supplier relations including SOWs and performance plans
• Interface with customers and stakeholders, delivering status updates and KPIs to leadership
• Drive innovation and continuous improvement across the engineering team

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Cross-functional teams

Communication

Risk management

EVMS

Lean/Agile

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Master's degree

Tools

CAD software

MS Project

Primavera

PLM

Job description

• The Senior Project Engineer role involves leading and executing medium-sized technical projects, ensuring the successful integration of engineering solutions, and driving innovation within the team. This position requires a strong technical foundation, extensive engineering expertise, and demonstrated leadership capabilities
• The role includes overseeing the design, development, and implementation of engineering projects, managing key programmatic functions, and ensuring projects meet technical specifications and quality standards as well as cost & schedule constraints. This role serves as a bridge between the Engineering and Program Office on a given project
• In this role, you will lead medium-sized cross-functional teams and projects, effectively balancing technical and programmatic constraints while overseeing the design, development, and implementation of engineering projects. You will provide technical estimation support to develop Basis of Estimates, Proposals, and Contracts, ensuring that projects meet technical specifications and quality standards
• Your responsibilities will include conducting high-impact trade studies, leading technical evaluations, and providing technical guidance and mentorship to junior engineers. You will manage suppliers by developing and managing Statements of Work, addressing supplier issues, and creating return-to-green plans for supplier schedules. Additionally, you will support Program Management Teams by owning key programmatic functions such as Risk Management and Cost/Schedule management
• As part of your role, you will interface with key customers and stakeholders, communicate and coordinate across engineering and functional teams, and provide clear verbal and written communication of technical concepts, plans, and actions. You will deliver status updates and key insights on project progress to leadership, including reporting Key Performance Indicators and Technical Performance Metrics
• Furthermore, you will drive innovation and continuous improvement within the engineering team and play a crucial role in conflict resolution by serving as the bridge between Engineering and Program offices, acting as the voice of all stakeholders, from support functions to the customer

Benefits

• Medical Coverage: We offer two comprehensive medical plans, a PPO and an HDHP, designed to prioritize the well-being of our team members
• Dental Coverage: HMO and PPO dental plans are aimed at promoting optimal oral health and reducing costs
• Vision Coverage: Our vision plan offers access to a wide range of in-network and out-of-network providers
• Flexible Spending Accounts: Maximize savings and use pre-tax dollars to pay for medical and dependent care expenses
• Health Savings Account: This tax-advantaged savings account allows team members to set aside pre-tax funds to cover qualified medical expenses
• Life and AD&D Insurance: Comprehensive Basic and Supplemental Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance offers financial protection to your family
• Disability Insurance: Short-term and long-term disability insurance provides wage replacement should you suffer a disability that prevents you from working
• 401K Profit Sharing Plan: Employees may contribute 1% to 100% of base salary up to the annual IRS maximum. Employer match provided with a 5-year vesting schedule
• Employee Assistance Program: Confidential service available 24/7 that provides assessment, counseling, resources and referrals to employees
• Professional Development / Educational Reimbursement Plan: Reimbursement for undergraduate and graduate tuition, books and fees.

Excellent leadership, communication, and strategic thinking skillsRequires bachelor’s degree in a related field (or equivalent work experience in lieu of degree or master’s +6 yrs experience)Typically, 8+ years of related experienceDemonstrated ability to work and communicate with technical and specialty subject matter experts of varying functional disciplines to drive project outcomesClear verbal and written communication of technical concepts, plans, and actionsProgressive experience managing projects across the entire development life cycleStrong project management skills, including the ability to handle complex engineering design evaluations and resolve issuesExtensive technical expertise and experience in the relevant engineering disciplineAbility to lead medium-sized cross-functional teams and projectsProven track record of successfully leading technical teams through project executionStrong technical foundation with demonstrated leadership capabilitiesUnderstanding of key programmatic disciplines (e.g., Cost/Schedule management)Expertise in the implementation and execution of effective risk and opportunity managementExpertise in project management techniques and processes, including EVMS, CAM, or equivalentPrior experiences with a significant focus on project managementExperience with material acquisitionExperience with supply chain managementExperience with systems engineering and integrationProfessional Certifications: Project Management Professional (PMP) certificationExperience with CAD software and engineering design toolsProficiency in project management software and tools (e.g., MS Project, Primavera)Knowledge of industry standards and regulationsExperience in product lifecycle management (PLM)Familiarity with Agile and Lean methodologiesStrong analytical and decision-making skillsAbility to manage multiple projects simultaneouslyDemonstrated ability to drive innovation and continuous improvement initiativesExperience in developing and managing project budgets