Staff Engineer - Mechanical
About The Position
Thales is looking for a Staff Engineer - Mechanical who will serve as a technical leader in the design, development, qualification, and lifecycle support of In-Flight Entertainment and Connectivity (IFEC) Line Replaceable Unit (LRU) products. This role is responsible for leading complex mechanical engineering initiatives, developing innovative design solutions, ensuring compliance with aerospace standards and regulatory requirements, and driving product performance, reliability, manufacturability, and cost objectives across multiple programs. In this position, you will provide technical leadership across cross-functional engineering teams, influence mechanical architecture and design strategy, evaluate emerging technologies, resolve complex engineering challenges, and support products throughout their entire lifecycle. You will collaborate closely with Systems, Electrical, Software, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, and Program Management teams while mentoring engineers, promoting engineering best practices, and helping deliver high-quality aerospace products that meet customer requirements and business objectives.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, or a related engineering discipline; Master’s degree preferred.
- Minimum of 15 years of mechanical design engineering experience within the aerospace industry.
- Proven experience serving as a technical lead, system architect, or recognized subject matter expert across multiple product development programs.
- Experience supporting Boeing, Airbus, or other major commercial aircraft OEM line-fit programs, including DO-160 environmental qualification and aerospace certification activities.
- Demonstrated expertise leading innovation initiatives, advanced technology research, or intellectual property development for next-generation aerospace products.
- Proven ability to provide technical leadership across geographically distributed engineering teams while mentoring engineers, influencing cross-functional stakeholders, and advancing engineering best practices.
Nice To Haves
- Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
- Experience serving as the mechanical engineering technical authority across multiple product lines or geographically distributed engineering organizations.
- Demonstrated success leading innovation initiatives, advanced technology research, or intellectual property (patent) development.
- Experience establishing mechanical design standards, engineering best practices, and long-term technology roadmaps.
- Proven ability to mentor, coach, and develop engineers while fostering technical excellence and continuous improvement across engineering teams.
- Experience representing the organization as a senior technical advisor with customers, suppliers, certification authorities, or industry partners during design reviews, technical discussions, and strategic engineering initiatives.
Responsibilities
- Serve as the technical lead for the design, development, integration, qualification, and lifecycle support of complex electro-mechanical aerospace systems, ensuring compliance with customer requirements, certification standards, and business objectives.
- Lead complex mechanical engineering efforts by resolving technical challenges related to thermal management, structural integrity, vibration, EMI/ESD, reliability, manufacturability, and product performance.
- Provide technical leadership across multiple development programs by conducting trade studies, evaluating design alternatives, mitigating technical risks, and influencing product architecture and long-term technology strategies.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Systems, Electrical, Software, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, and Program Management to deliver high-quality, cost-effective mechanical solutions.
- Represent the organization as the primary mechanical engineering expert with customers, suppliers, certification authorities, and development partners by leading technical reviews, design discussions, and engineering presentations.
- Mentor and develop engineers while driving engineering excellence through design reviews, continuous improvement initiatives, adoption of emerging technologies, and the establishment of mechanical engineering best practices.
Benefits
- Elective Health, Dental, Vision, FSA/HSA, Voluntary Life and AD&D, Whole Group Life w/LTC, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, Accident Insurance, Legal Plan, Identity Theft, and Pet Insurance
- Retirement Savings Plan after 30 days of employment with a company contribution and a match, and with no vesting period
- Company paid holidays and Paid Time Off
- Company provided Life Insurance, AD&D, Disability, Employee Assistance Plan, and Well-being Program
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
