KC-135 First Line Engineering Manager
About The Position
The Boeing Legacy Tankers (KC-135 and KDC/KC-10) organization is seeking a First Line Engineering Manager to direct a multi-discipline team responsible for aircraft integration and structural analysis across aging commercial-derivative military platforms. The role manages engineers and provides technical authority across structures, mechanical, avionics, and fuel systems engineering, ensuring integration and execution of sustainment and development efforts. The manager serves as a technical interface to executive leadership, program management, and external customers. The role oversees engineering delivery, sustainment and modification portfolios, airworthiness modifications, proposals, team performance, and adoption of digital engineering tools. Candidates must complete an assessment during the selection process. The role requires compliance with U.S. export control requirements and the ability to obtain a U.S. Security Clearance; an interim and/or final U.S. Secret Clearance is required post-start. Boeing will not sponsor employment visas. Relocation is available subject to candidate eligibility.
Requirements
- At least one year of experience in a leadership role, such as team leader, temporary manager, large-scale cross-functional project/program management, or formal manager experience; alternatively, completion of Boeing's internal Exploring Leadership course.
- 10 or more years of experience across all phases of the support equipment development lifecycle, including design, development, production, acquisition, and sustainment.
- Experience with structural design principles for repair and maintenance, such as fatigue, damage tolerance, corrosion, stress analysis, statics, materials strength and characteristics, and repair techniques.
- Experience working with aircraft systems integration, such as avionics, flight controls, and other mechanical systems.
- Experience participating in the Engineering Non-Recurring Product Development process.
- Experience managing cost and schedule performance using Earned-Value Management principles.
- Experience developing and maintaining relationships and partnerships with senior executives, customers, stakeholders, peers, and partners.
- Must meet U.S. export control compliance requirements as a U.S. Person.
- Must be able to obtain a U.S. Security Clearance; U.S. citizenship is required by the U.S. Government for clearance eligibility.
- Must complete the selection-process assessment.
- Employer will not sponsor applicants for employment visa status.
Nice To Haves
- Experience in military airworthiness processes, data rights defense, and certification coordination.
- Expertise in production engineering processes, including build-to-print release and factory liaison activities.
- Background in digital engineering adoption, including PLM and configuration management tools.
- History of successful talent development and growing technical leadership within engineering teams.
Responsibilities
- Lead and develop a team of engineers, including technical leads and senior staff; manage competency development, staffing forecasts, and redeployment to address skill gaps.
- Align engineering managers on program priorities, technical scopes, and integration requirements, and drive collaborative execution across cross-functional teams and business units.
- Oversee engineering delivery and control-account management within sustainment and modification portfolios.
- Provide regular technical briefings to senior Boeing leadership and external customers on program status, risks, and technical challenges.
- Identify and resolve production engineering issues by promoting technical improvements that enhance product quality and reduce non-conformances.
- Lead airworthiness modification team efforts and serve as the primary liaison for military certification and regulatory coordination.
- Manage proposal development, including technical scope definition, labor estimating, and statement-of-work authoring.
- Define, track, and analyze performance indicators for team utilization, throughput, and quality, and implement process improvements.
- Drive adoption of digital engineering tools and process integration, including PLM, configuration management, and automated health metrics.
Benefits
- Competitive base pay and variable compensation opportunities.
- Eligible employees may enroll in health insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life and disability insurance, and programs providing paid and unpaid time away from work.
- Relocation based on candidate eligibility.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
Education Level
No Education Listed
