AD&D Engineer Principal - Mechanical Systems and Powerplants

Cirrus•Duluth, MN

49d

About The Position

The AD&D Engineer Principal - Mechanical Systems and Powerplants is a visionary and hands-on engineer responsible for driving the early-stage development of new and innovative aircraft, systems, or powerplant development projects within the Cirrus Advanced Design and Development (AD&D) department. This position will focus on the initial phases of aircraft development—ideation, hypothesis generation, stakeholder engagement, technology maturation, and conceptual design.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Systems Engineering (or related STEM discipline)
10+ years of experience in aviation, aerospace, or advanced product development
Broad technical skillset related to aircraft, with strong understanding of mechanical systems and powerplants
Previous early product development experience – from a clean sheet to working prototypes
Proven track record of producing results when developing new designs or products
Willingness to take smart risks, accept accountability, and fix mistakes
Demonstrated ability to lead small technical teams and manage early development projects
Intrinsic motivation to drive progress - to explore, challenge, and innovate – and to minimize administrative overhead
Experienced in iterative development cycles, with a strong ability to identify non-viable solutions early and reorient technical strategy quickly
Strong hands-on skills in prototyping, simulation, and testing.
Comfortable operating under tight deadlines with minimal direction and in a shop or lab environment
Proficient in creating engineering design definition - 3D models, 2D drawings, sketches, schematics, BOMs
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with fluency in English

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in related discipline.
Previous aircraft development program experience, from early concepts to entry into service
Previous experience leading Integrated Product Teams or similar technical teams
Private pilot certificate or personal aviation experience
Familiarity with system safety and system development standards (e.g., ARP4754A, ARP4761)
Familiarity with PTC products (e.g. CREO, Windchill)
Familiarity with Mathworks products (e.g. Matlab, Simulink)
Familiarity with Atlassian products (e.g. Jira, Confluence)
Proficient in at least one coding language
Experience with FAA certification processes and standards (e.g. Part 23, Part 27, Advisory Circulars, Industry Consensus Standards)
Experience in cross-disciplinary system integration and trade studies
Demonstrated ability to communicate, negotiate, and collaborate effectively across all levels of an organization, from the shop floor to the C-suite
Bonus points if your weekends involve flying, plane spotting, or building RC aircraft

Responsibilities

Lead the development of Mechanical Systems and Powerplants from ideation thru conceptual design and into practical product paths – including but not limited to piston engines, turbine engines, pneumatic systems, hydraulic systems, fuel systems, environmental control systems, and kinematic systems
Provide guidance to technical professionals, making quick, sound engineering decisions with limited data
Generate and test hypotheses through hands-on prototyping, simulation, and evaluation, with minimal supervision
Create and manage development plans focused on early-stage exploration, requirements capture, and concept validation
Engineer and refine requirements and objectives through stakeholder engagement and iterative experimentation
Translate verbal direction and vision into actionable design objectives and development strategies
Collaborate directly with pilots, mechanics, and experimental technicians, as well as external stakeholders such as Product Development, Certification, and Production teams
Foster a culture of rapid prototyping, testing, and iteration, learning from both success and failure
Communicate complex ideas effectively and efficiently to diverse audiences
Travel up to 25% may be required