Lead Interiors Engineer

Pats Aircraft LLC•Georgetown, DE

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

This position manages and supports the Interiors Engineering activities required for the design, installation, substantiation, integration, and FAA certification of aircraft interior completion projects. The Interiors Engineering Lead serves as the technical authority for cabin interior systems including monuments, furnishings, seating, lighting, cabin layouts, and associated structural and systems integration. The employee in this role leads a collaborative engineering team, provides liaison engineering support during aircraft completion activities, and manages multiple projects under minimal supervision.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or similar from four-year college or university or equivalent combination of education and experience.
8-12 years practical work experience in a directly related job role.
Minimum 5 years supporting aircraft interior completion programs, aircraft modifications, or Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) development.
Demonstrated experience leading engineering teams supporting VIP, VVIP, or business aircraft completion programs.
Extensive knowledge of aircraft interior systems, monument design, seating installations, cabin layouts, and interior integration.
Experience with FAA certification processes and regulations applicable to transport-category aircraft.
Ability to build positive relationships and to maintain cross-functional partnerships.
Effective written and verbal communication skills.
Effective analytical and problem-solving skills.
Effective computer skills; Microsoft Office software and other company and discipline specific software applications.
Must be detail-oriented with the ability to multi-task.
Ability and willingness to work extended hours, when needed.
Read, write and understand the English language.
Ability to read, write, analyze and interpret complex contracts, legal documents, technical documents, engineering drawings, regulations, procedures and manuals.
Write reports, business correspondence and procedure manuals.
Effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients or customers.
Standard safety precautions are required in all areas where hazardous conditions exist.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Autodesk Inventor, AutoCAD, and SolidWorks CAD systems preferred.
FAA Designated Engineering Representative (DER) designation preferred.
Ability to obtain DER authority in applicable technical disciplines preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead and manage all aspects of aircraft interior completion engineering projects, including scope, schedule, cost, technical performance, certification compliance, and resource allocation.
Serve as the technical authority for aircraft interior systems including monuments, galleys, lavatories, partitions, seating systems, cabinetry, upholstery, soft goods, and cabin furnishings.
Serve as subject matter expert for integration of aircraft systems into cabin interior furnishings and liner systems.
Oversee development and approval of engineering deliverables including drawings, compliance reports, substantiation reports, engineering orders, and Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA).
Develop, maintain, and execute comprehensive project plans that define engineering schedules, resource allocations, certification milestones, budget objectives, and recovery strategies to address schedule deviations, budget impacts, and unforeseen program challenges.
Support cross-functional engineering activities involving Interiors, Electrical, Mechanical, Stress, Certification, Manufacturing, and Program Management teams.
Manage technical interfaces with suppliers and subcontractors, ensuring deliverables meet project requirements, quality standards, certification objectives, and schedule commitments.
Manage and ensure execution of strategic goals; continually and actively seek opportunities to drive continuous improvement and business excellence.
Integrate technical, safety, regulatory, customer, manufacturing, and cost considerations into aircraft interior designs.
Identify project risks and opportunities; anticipate and resolve complex technical and programmatic issues in a creative and effective manner.
Lead the presentation and review of interior design solutions during customer and internal design reviews, including Preliminary Design Reviews (PDR), Critical Design Reviews (CDR), Certification Reviews, and Production Reviews.
Implement and maintain engineering objectives and initiatives.
Effectively delegate tasking to ensure tasks are completed accurately and efficiently.
Lead development of compliance data packages supporting FAA requirements for flammability compliance, heat release and smoke density requirements, direct view compliance, occupant safety, emergency egress, Head Injury Criteria (HIC), dynamic seating requirements, structural substantiation of monuments and furnishings, and cabin safety and systems integration.
Support the coordination between engineering representatives and subject FAA Designated Engineering Representative (DER) and ODA Unit Members.
Support Sales and Business Development teams in proposal preparation, project estimation, customer presentations, and technical evaluations.
Develop, implement, and maintain standardized processes and procedures that improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and overall performance of Interiors Engineering operations.
Provide technical and functional leadership to the Interiors Engineering team, including mentoring, coaching, performance management, competency development, and workforce planning.
Ensure that engineering efforts are carried out in compliance with accepted engineering standards or practices, regulatory standards, department standards and company procedures.
Coordinate support from external engineering partners by developing requests for quotation (RFQs), soliciting and evaluating proposals, negotiating terms, managing assigned work scopes, and ensuring deliverables are completed in accordance with project schedules.
Ensure personnel training requirements are complied with in a timely manner; improve training where practical to upgrade skills of existing personnel.
Perform regular reviews of employees and set yearly department and individual goals.
Maintain and record accurate time accounting records in CIMA; verify subordinates’ reporting.
Complete initial / recurrent training requirements in a timely manner.
Lead, manage and directly supervise all assigned staff members.
Manage and coordinate the work plan for the assigned staff; set departmental goals; assign work activities, projects and programs; monitor workflow; meet with staff to identify and resolve problems; review and evaluate work products, methods and procedures.
Be accountable for departmental labor budgets and the activities, workflow, work schedules, attendance, and compliance with safety standards and policies for all assigned staff.
Participate in candidate selection; provide training, motivation and evaluation of assigned personnel; provide or coordinate staff training; review work output; coach employees to correct deficiencies; promote career development; initiate disciplinary and termination procedures.