Head of Engineering Design

Metrea•Tampa, FL

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Head of Engineering Design leads the engineering organization responsible for the design, development and integration of aircraft modifications across a mixed portfolio of aircraft platforms from twin engine turboprops to large jet aircraft. This position provides technical and organizational leadership for multidisciplinary engineering teams delivering complex aircraft modification programs, including (but not limited too) structural, mechanical, electrical, avionics, mission systems and cabins for special-mission integrations. These integrations support operations around the globe in various regulatory environments. The Head of Engineering Design is accountable for engineering design quality, technical execution, resource planning, schedule performance, regulatory compliance, and alignment with business and customer objectives. The Head of Engineering Design will bring substantial aircraft modification experience, strong engineering judgment, and a demonstrated ability to lead teams through technically complex, safety-critical, and highly regulated programs.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related technical discipline
Minimum 10 or more years of progressively responsible aerospace engineering experience
Significant experience supporting aircraft modification, integration, certification, or major repair programs, ideally in special mission aviation
Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams through complex aircraft modification programs
Strong knowledge of aircraft design, systems integration, airworthiness, certification, and configuration-management principles
Experience working with FAA certification requirements and applicable regulations including for both Part-23 and Part-25 aircraft, along with ideal experience of operating in other regulatory environments (EASA, CASA etc.)
Experience developing or supporting certification plans, compliance data, engineering substantiation, testing, conformity, and approval activities
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple programs, competing priorities, technical risks, and resource constraints
Strong leadership, communication, decision-making, and stakeholder-management skills
Experience working directly with customers, regulatory representatives, senior leaders, and cross-functional teams
Ability to communicate complex technical issues clearly to both technical and nontechnical audiences
Applicants must be a US citizen.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in engineering, business, aviation management, or a related field
Prior experience in a senior engineering manager, chief engineer, director, or equivalent technical leadership role
Experience as an ODA Unit Member, Designated Engineering Representative, technical specialist, compliance engineer, or certification lead
Experience with Supplemental Type Certificate programs and complex aircraft integration efforts
Experience supporting special-mission, defense, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, VIP, commercial, cargo, or other highly modified aircraft
Familiarity with systems safety, human factors, environmental qualification, software, and airborne electronic hardware standards, as applicable
Experience in an AS9100 or similarly regulated quality-management environment
Experience supporting Department of Defense, federal, international, or export-controlled programs
Familiarity with ITAR, EAR, DFARS, cybersecurity, and customer-specific security requirements
Active or previously held U.S. security clearance, where relevant to the program portfolio

Responsibilities

Lead, develop, and manage multidisciplinary aircraft modification engineering teams across structural, mechanical, electrical, avionics, systems, and related technical disciplines
Establish clear organizational priorities, accountabilities, performance expectations, and development plans for engineering leaders and individual contributors
Build engineering capability through workforce planning, succession planning, technical mentoring, targeted hiring, and professional development
Promote a culture of technical rigor, ownership, collaboration, continuous improvement, and operational accountability
Ensure engineering teams are appropriately staffed and organized to support current programs, new business opportunities, and long-term strategic objectives
Provide executive-level oversight of aircraft modification programs from concept development through design, certification, installation, testing, delivery, and continued operational support
Ensure modification designs meet customer requirements, airworthiness standards, internal engineering requirements, and applicable regulatory obligations
Oversee engineering work related to aircraft structures, systems integration, avionics, electrical systems, mechanical systems, interiors, mission equipment, and special-purpose modifications
Review program status, technical risks, resource requirements, design maturity, and engineering deliverables and develop mitigations as appropriate to ensure on time, budget and performance delivery
Ensure aircraft modification designs are aligned with Metrea’s broader objectives in developing APUS compliant scalable solutions
Establish effective engineering planning, design review, verification, validation, and technical approval processes
Partner with Program Management and Operations to resolve technical issues affecting schedule, cost, installation, testing, or aircraft delivery
Ensure aircraft modifications are designed and developed in accordance with applicable FAA, EASA, UK CAA, military, customer and other regulatory requirements
Partner closely with Certification, Airworthiness, Quality and other key personnel to develop and execute certification strategies
Support certification programs involving STCs, major repairs and alterations, field approvals, conformity activities, and other applicable certification pathways
Ensure engineering data, compliance findings, test plans, substantiation reports, drawings, analyses, and instructions for continued airworthiness meet required standards
Serve as a senior technical interface with regulatory authorities, customers, suppliers, and external engineering partners when required
Establish and maintain engineering standards, procedures, design practices, technical authority structures, and approval processes
Ensure technical decisions are supported by appropriate analysis, testing, documentation, and sound engineering judgment
Lead or support formal design reviews, technical reviews, safety assessments, root-cause investigations, and corrective-action efforts
Ensure compliance with configuration management, document control, product safety, quality-management, export-control, and information-security requirements
Monitor engineering quality indicators and implement corrective actions when performance, compliance, or technical standards are not being met
Strengthen lessons-learned, knowledge-management, and continuous-improvement practices across the engineering organization
Support proposal development, technical estimating, statements of work, schedules, staffing plans, and risk assessments
Provide technical input into bid, no-bid, make, buy, and investment decisions
Assess the technical feasibility, certification complexity, resource requirements, and delivery risk of new aircraft modification opportunities
Ensure engineering commitments are realistic, appropriately resourced, and aligned with contractual and business expectations
Communicate program risks, resource constraints, technical decisions, and required leadership actions clearly and promptly
Develop and manage engineering budgets, staffing plans, labor forecasts, and capital or tool requirements
Dynamically balance resources across competing programs and priorities while informing and managing stakeholders as appropriately aligned with Enterprise objectives
Identify opportunities to improve engineering efficiency, standardization, reuse, and delivery performance without compromising safety or compliance
Manage consultants, suppliers, and external engineering resources as needed