Principal Project Engineer

Description

The company supplies products and systems for aerospace, transportation, defence, security and space, and its teams are spread across the world.

This is a principal-level engineering role that leads the execution of complex in-flight entertainment, aircraft connectivity, and related product and system projects.

You will work alongside the Program or Project Leader and the Project Design Authority, combine engineering work across disciplines, and deliver solutions that meet technical, customer, quality, cost, and schedule targets.

You will set execution strategy, resolve major technical and delivery problems, and take projects from requirements through design, integration, qualification, certification support, and acceptance.

You will make sound calls when the situation is unclear, shape decisions across functions and levels, and guide other engineers.

Responsibilities

• Lead multidisciplinary engineering teams that develop, integrate, qualify, and field aircraft entertainment and connectivity products and systems.
• Coordinate hardware, software, systems, test, quality, and other engineering groups to solve complex technical problems and manage interfaces between parts of the solution.
• Own the execution plan for assigned projects, covering scope, milestones, resources, risks, dependencies, and engineering budgets, and correct course when performance slips.
• Act as Work Package Manager when assigned, accountable for the package's scope, budget, schedule, risks, and deliverables.
• Work with the Program or Project Leader and the Project Design Authority to keep technical decisions aligned with customer requirements and cost, schedule, and quality commitments.
• Serve as the main engineering contact for customers, key subcontractors, and internal stakeholders on your projects.
• Define and adapt the development strategy and the Systems Engineering Management Plan (SEMP) for each assigned solution.
• Lead requirements definition and solution design, including readiness for preliminary and critical design reviews, validation, qualification, certification support, and final acceptance.
• Run engineering reviews, making sure decisions, risks, actions, and design changes are recorded and resolved.
• Analyze engineering performance data and recurring issues, find root causes, and drive improvements to project execution, product performance, or engineering processes.
• Identify engineering resource and skill gaps and work with functional leaders to staff bids, projects, and product delivery.
• Mentor engineers, share technical and project practices across teams, and take on other duties your manager assigns.

Requirements

• A bachelor's degree in engineering, computer science, or a related technical field, plus 7+ years of engineering experience with growing responsibility, including technical leadership and ownership of execution on complex, multidisciplinary projects.
• A record of leading multidisciplinary engineering teams through the development lifecycle, managing technical dependencies, and resolving complex issues across disciplines.
• Proven use of systems engineering and development processes across requirements, design, integration, verification, validation, and any applicable qualification and certification work.
• Experience building and managing execution plans, resource needs, schedules, budgets, and work packages, including handling deviations that threaten commitments.
• A track record of applying independent technical judgment, weighing solution trade-offs, managing engineering risk, and leading the resolution of hard technical problems.
• Ability to lead technical reviews, explain recommendations to customers and leadership, and influence decisions across functional boundaries.
• Proficiency with the tools used for engineering planning, analysis, documentation, and reporting.

Conditions

The role is onsite in Irvine, CA.

Core hours are Monday through Friday. The position is 9/80 eligible.

The role may require domestic and/or international travel of up to 20%.

No specific regulatory compliance requirements apply.

You must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer at the time of hire. The position is not eligible for visa sponsorship now or in the future.

The reference total target compensation range for this role, covering base salary and variable compensation target, is $165,834.00 to $276,390.00 USD per year. Actual pay depends on factors such as career history, skills, performance, budget, customer program needs, and internal equity, and the company may offer other compensation based on circumstances not tied to protected status.

The company is an equal opportunity employer, including for disability and veteran status.

Benefits

• Full-time employees working 30 or more hours per week and their eligible dependents can choose from health, dental, and vision plans, FSA or HSA, voluntary life and AD&D, whole group life with long-term care, critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident, legal, identity theft, and pet insurance.
• The retirement savings plan opens after 30 days of employment, includes a company contribution and a match, and vests immediately.
• Company-paid holidays and paid time off are provided.
• The company also provides life insurance, AD&D, disability coverage, an employee assistance program, and a well-being program.