Manager, Engineering Aircraft Technical Services

SES•Chicago, IL

About The Position

The Manager, Project Engineering within the Aircraft Technical Services (ATS) department leads and develops the project engineering team responsible for project oversight, schedules, and budgets supporting the development of Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs) for inflight connectivity equipment installed on commercial aircraft worldwide. The manager oversees day-to-day team operations and is accountable for portfolio performance, including on-time and on-budget delivery, certification performance, and the quality of project deliverables. Working with ATS senior leadership, the manager establishes and maintains standards for planning, documenting, and reporting project engineering work; balances team capacity against growth demand; coordinates across ATS and external stakeholders; and builds team capability through recruiting, mentoring, and professional development. The role also ensures compliance with airline, government, and corporate requirements, reports team and project performance, and drives continuous improvement. The position requires 5–10% travel, including occasional international travel, and is ITAR-designated.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical field.
7–10+ years of industry experience.
Strong knowledge of structural and electrical engineering disciplines.
Solid experience in project management, project planning, and budget management.
Strong project management leadership background.
Demonstrable experience selecting, managing, developing, and motivating technically diverse teams.
Experience working with senior management, design teams, and internal and external customers across engineering and operations activities.
Ability to travel 5–10%, including occasional international travel.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to represent the company and report effectively to ATS senior management.
Experience managing professionals and adapting team objectives and priorities to resource and operational challenges.
Strong stakeholder management and interpersonal skills, including the ability to build rapport across organizational levels.
Position is ITAR-designated.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in Engineering, Management, or a related technical field.
In-depth understanding of engineering and certification processes.
Strong knowledge of developing engineering teams.
Experience with the FAA and international equivalents, including developing Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) packages and working with FAA regulators, including ODAs.
Knowledge of wireless and SATCOM airborne equipment and its use onboard commercial aircraft.
Track record of successful leadership experiences leading highly skilled engineering teams.
Certified Project Management Professional (PMP) or equivalent professional certification.

Responsibilities

Oversee day-to-day operations of the project engineering team and ensure high industry standards, customer service, and on-time and on-budget performance.
Manage project operating performance against plans and budgets on weekly, monthly, and quarterly bases.
Support project-related decisions and escalate matters outside established policies; refer proposed changes to operating procedures to ATS senior leadership.
Improve performance in project completion, cross-functional communication, certification, employee satisfaction, and morale.
Provide leadership, professional development, mentoring, and technical guidance to project engineers.
Help recruit, hire, train, and develop employees while balancing available resources against growth demand and business goals.
Manage technical professionals and adjust team objectives and priorities in response to resource and operational challenges across concurrent programs.
Encourage the team to engage with and adopt company goals, identity, and culture.
Provide timely and accurate reporting of operating results, special projects, and team performance, and be accountable for team results.
Work with senior leadership to establish and maintain ATS Project Engineering processes and standards.
Identify and implement continuous improvement opportunities across departmental teams.
Ensure ongoing compliance with airline, government, and corporate regulations and policies, and address potential deviations immediately.
Promote coordination and collaboration within ATS and with external stakeholders.
Travel 5–10%, including occasional international travel.