Lead Project Engineer

Curtiss-Wright•Santa Clarita, CA

6d•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a Lead Project Engineer in Santa Clarita, CA to provide technical leadership and program execution support across complex, mission-critical defense engineering initiatives. This role focuses on driving program performance, supporting cross-functional coordination, and ensuring alignment with customer requirements and business objectives. The ideal candidate brings strong expertise in Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) management and solid proficiency in Microsoft Project, with demonstrated experience contributing to large-scale, multi-disciplinary programs in defense or aerospace environments.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering required
8–12+ years of engineering experience, preferably within defense or aerospace programs.
Experience contributing to complex programs with involvement in scope, schedule, and delivery execution.
Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Project and Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) management.
Ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams and influence stakeholders at multiple levels.
Solid systems-level understanding with the ability to work across engineering disciplines.
Strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills in dynamic environments.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or relevant certifications are a plus.
Familiarity with risk management, cost tracking, and program execution frameworks (e.g., EVMS is a plus).

Responsibilities

Lead execution of key program activities within complex defense programs, ensuring alignment with defined objectives, customer requirements, and organizational priorities.
Develop and maintain Integrated Master Schedules (IMS), identifying risks, dependencies, and critical paths to support on-time program delivery.
Partner with program leadership to provide schedule insights, highlight risks, and support data-driven decision-making.
Coordinate with cross-functional engineering teams to achieve program milestones, operating effectively within a matrixed organization.
Apply established best practices in program execution, including schedule management, cost awareness, and risk mitigation.
Support technical reviews of designs, specifications, and system architectures to ensure compliance with performance and defense standards.
Assist in resolving technical and programmatic issues, balancing cost, schedule, and performance considerations.
Contribute to continuous improvement efforts by enhancing engineering processes, tools, and execution methodologies.
Support development of test strategies, validation activities, and system integration planning to ensure product readiness.
Collaborate with manufacturing and production teams to support production readiness and lifecycle considerations.
Participate in customer interactions, including technical discussions and program reviews, as needed.
Provide mentorship and guidance to junior engineers, supporting team development and knowledge sharing.