Senior Principal Engineer
About The Position
PennAero is hiring a Senior Cost Engineer at our Briles Aerospace Company in Gardena, CA. Briles Aerospace is a certified manufacturer of high-strength aerospace fasteners with decades of industry experience. Our team brings deep technical knowledge and advanced manufacturing techniques to every project, producing precision components that meet exacting aerospace specifications. About PennAero: PennAero is a leading manufacturer of highly engineered fasteners and specialized components for critical aerospace, defense, space, and advanced energy applications. We partner with customers to solve their most complex challenges, bringing technical depth and disciplined, agile execution when it matters most. Experience guides our growth—strengthening capabilities and expanding our global platform as markets evolve. To learn more about PennAero's capabilities and commitment to aerospace excellence, visit https://pennaero.com We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Principal Engineer to support aerospace manufacturing operations. This role is responsible for developing and optimizing manufacturing methods while establishing, validating, and controlling product and process cost. The ideal candidate brings deep hands-on aerospace experience, strong cost-setting capabilities, and the ability to influence decisions across Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, and Finance.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Manufacturing, Mechanical, Industrial, or related discipline)
- 10+ years of engineering experience in aerospace manufacturing
- Demonstrated experience setting and managing costs in a manufacturing environment
- Strong understanding of labor standards, overhead allocation, and manufacturing economics
- Proven experience developing and improving manufacturing processes
- Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and routings
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills
- Background in cost modeling, standard costing, or should-cost analysis
Responsibilities
- Develop, document, and maintain manufacturing methods, process flows, routings, and work instructions
- Analyze existing processes to improve efficiency, quality, yield, and cycle time
- Support new product introduction (NPI), including process definition and manufacturability reviews
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies
- Provide technical support to Production, Quality, and Engineering teams during troubleshooting and process changes
- Establish and validate standard costs, including labor, overhead, material, and processing
- Develop cost models and cost estimates for new and existing products
- Perform cost roll-ups, variance analysis, and cost reduction opportunities
- Support pricing, quoting, margin analysis, and make/buy decisions
- Partner with Supply Chain and Manufacturing to identify cost savings and productivity improvements
- Support audits, should-cost analysis, and customer cost reviews as needed
- Serve as a senior technical authority and advisor across Engineering and Operations
- Work closely with Design Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Finance, and Supply Chain
- Provide data-driven recommendations to leadership related to process and cost decisions
- Support DFMEA/PFMEA, risk assessments, and capacity planning activities
Benefits
- Medical Insurance and Prescription Drugs
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Life Insurance
- Short-Term Disability
- Long-Term Disability Insurance (for eligible employees)
- Employee Assistance Plan (EAP)
- Paid Time Off (may include vacation and sick time)
- Retirement Program
- Other Voluntary Benefits
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
