Principal Aerospace Engineer

Sierra Nevada Corporation•Lone Tree, CO

68d•$165,010 - $226,889•Hybrid

About The Position

The ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance), Aviation, and Security (IAS) business area is a leader in ISR and aviation, it is a leading prime manned and unmanned aircraft systems integrator for innovative, high-performance ISR and aviation systems. Its end-to-end Command, Control, Computers, Communications and Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (C4ISR) capabilities encompass design, integration, test, certification, ground/flight training and complete logistics support. IAS tailors solutions to customer cost, performance, and schedule requirements and designs to consistently exceed expectations – with an unrivaled record of on time and on (or under) budget deliveries. As a Principal Aerospace Engineer, you will be a leading expert and visionary in the aerospace field, driving the strategic direction of engineering projects and innovation within the company. You will influence industry standards and lead a team of aerospace engineers.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering or related field.
14+ years of relevant experience.
Higher level relevant degree may substitute for experience.
Extensive experience in advanced aerodynamic analysis principles.
Demonstrated knowledge of engineering principles and practices.
Experience working in multi-disciplinary design and development teams.
Thorough understanding of Computer Aided Engineering tools such as Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD).

Nice To Haves

Master's degree or Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering.
Published research in relevant technical journals.
Understanding of aircraft external loads, aircraft performance and stability and control.
Exposure to wind tunnel and/or aircraft flight test.
Background in the Aerospace and Defense Industry.
Understanding of system-level static and dynamic modeling and simulation.
Exposure to aircraft stability principles and control system design and analysis.
Knowledge of industry-standard aerospace principles, to include, but not limited to parametric design, model-based definition, and fundamentals of flight mechanics.
Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work effectively in a team environment.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills for effective collaboration across multidisciplinary teams.
Exposure to StarCCM+
Exposure to internal & external thermal analysis
Experience with people leadership

Responsibilities

Lead strategic planning and development of advanced aerospace technologies.
Provide visionary leadership and technical direction across multiple projects.
Represent the company at industry conferences and in technical forums.
Establish and influence industry standards and best practices.
Collaborate with executive leadership to align engineering goals with business objectives.
Drive continuous improvement and innovation across engineering functions.
Mentor senior engineers and develop technical talent within the organization.
Provide people leadership for a small team of engineers, including performance management, development planning, recognition, and fostering a high‑performance, collaborative culture.