Director of Advanced Design

Requirements

10+ years of experience in conceptual or preliminary design of aerospace systems, with technical leadership roles on Group 5 UAS, similar class aircraft, or advanced missile systems

Demonstrated expertise in at least one of the core aerospace hardware disciplines: aerodynamics, structures, propulsion integration, or electrical systems

Deep understanding of system architecture, mission requirements, and full product lifecycle development

Proven experience leading high-performance engineering teams, ideally in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment

Strong communication, collaboration, and technical leadership skills

(Desirable) Advanced degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering or related field

(Desirable) Experience with rapid prototyping and iterative development environments

(Desirable) Hands-on experience with advanced design tools, simulation, and test equipment

What the job involves

We are seeking a Director of Advanced Design for the Air Dominance & Strike hardware engineering organization

This role will oversee the conceptual design for Group 5 Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and advanced missile platforms

Direct the end-to-end conceptual design process for UAV and missile platforms, including mission analysis, configuration trade studies, requirements development, and architecture selection

Serve as a technical expert for early-phase pursuits, shaping concept white-papers, customer proposals, and technology roadmaps, partnering with the chief engineering team

Collaborate with internal stakeholders to ensure alignment with technical feasibility, affordability, and customer mission needs

Support direct interactions with customers to translate mission requirements into design concepts

Act as a senior technical decision-maker, applying engineering intuition and prior experience to ensure effective design paths and avoid costly development missteps

Partner with Chief Engineers and product teams to align engineering execution with broader mission and capability goals

Stay at the forefront of emerging aerospace technologies and threats, incorporating disruptive innovations into early-stage designs

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