Chief Engineer, Defense NPD
About The Position
The Chief Engineer (NPD Defense) leads and manages a multidisciplinary engineering team focused on the development, integration, and support of defense and military product lines. This role is responsible for driving new product development with a strong emphasis on mechanical engineering excellence, system integration, and technical leadership. This position operates at the intersection of leadership and deep technical expertise. Depending on organizational structure, this role may function as a combined people leader and technical lead or evolve into a highly technical chief/principal engineer role with reduced direct management responsibilities. The Chief Engineer plays a critical role in shaping the future engineering structure, including the separation and maturation of new product development and sustaining engineering capabilities. The role requires strong mechanical engineering fundamentals, particularly in mobile HVAC and power systems, along with the ability to guide complex system-level design, ensure compliance with military standards, and drive innovation across a growing defense portfolio.
Requirements
- Accredited Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field with ten (10) or more years of related experience
- Exposure to both new product development and sustaining engineering environments
- Experience working in cross-functional teams including controls, electrical, and software engineering
Nice To Haves
- Accredited Master’s degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering
- Strong mechanical engineering background with emphasis on system-level design rather than pure CAD execution
- Experience with mobile HVAC systems, thermal management, or air handling systems in industrial or heavy equipment environments
- Understanding of integrated power and air systems, including voltage regulation and system stability requirements
- Experience working on defense or military programs, including familiarity with MIL-SPEC standards and compliance documentation
- Familiarity with Siemens NX and Teamcenter or similar PLM/CAD systems
- Strong business acumen, including exposure to product strategy, cost management, or P&L considerations
Responsibilities
- Lead and develop an engineering team consisting of engineers, designers, and technicians, with flexibility to scale or restructure based on future organizational design
- Provide both technical leadership and people leadership, balancing system-level engineering guidance with team development, accountability, and performance management
- Collaborate on the development and execution of engineering strategy across defense-focused product lines, including both new product development and legacy product support with Product Management
- Lead the continued development and expansion of key defense products while supporting the transition away from low-volume legacy programs
- Establish and reinforce strong mechanical engineering practices, including form, fit, function, system packaging, and overall design integrity
- Guide system-level design across integrated mechanical, thermal, and power systems, including: Mobile HVAC systems (compressors, condensers, evaporators, thermal calculations), Airflow and pressurization requirements, including aircraft cooling applications and air start, Power generation and delivery systems requiring stable, controlled voltage outputs
- Collaborate closely with electrical, controls, and software engineers to ensure full system integration across multidisciplinary domains
- Support and influence the evolution of organizational structure, including the separation of new product development and sustaining engineering workstreams
- Ensure engineering work aligns with military and defense program requirements, including MIL-SPEC compliance, first article inspections, and documentation standards
- Partner with program management and cross-functional teams to ensure alignment on project execution and technical requirements
- Serve as a key technical decision-maker influencing product direction, architecture, and adoption of new technologies
- Act as a technical advisor and mentor across the engineering organization
- Interface with customers, suppliers, and internal stakeholders to resolve complex technical challenges
- Contribute to budgeting, forecasting, and product line strategy, including understanding business performance and P&L considerations
- Drive continuous improvement in engineering processes, development methodologies, and system integration approaches to local and Oshkosh policies
Benefits
- Competitive total rewards package
- People-first culture
- Opportunities to support team member growth and success
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
