Project Chief Engineer

Job description

The Project Chief Engineer (PCE) is the technical leader responsible for the successful development, qualification and industrialization of aerospace electrical generation systems, including starter-generators, generators, generator control units, power electronics, and associated electrical power distribution equipment. The PCE provides technical leadership throughout the development, ensuring compliance with customer requirements, SAFRAN standards, regulatory standards, program objectives, and business goals.

Working closely with Program Management, Industrialization, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, and Airworthiness, the PCE leads multidisciplinary engineering teams to deliver safe, reliable, qualifiable, and cost-effective products while serving as the primary technical interface with customers and leadership.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical authority for assigned electrical generation system development programs from concept to entry into production.
• Define and maintain the technical baseline, ensuring compliance with customer requirements, regulatory standards, and SAFRAN standards and processes.
• Lead multidisciplinary engineering teams across systems, electrical, mechanical, electronics, software, test, manufacturing, and testing disciplines.
• Manage project milestones, schedules, budgets, and Non-Recurring Cost targets, ensuring compliance with performance, manufacturability, and support cost objectives.
• Develop technical strategies, system architectures, and design solutions that meet performance, reliability, safety, weight, cost, manufacturability, and schedule objectives.
• Plan, coordinate, and monitor engineering activities to ensure achievement of technical milestones and successful execution of development programs.
• Lead technical reviews, including System Requirements Reviews (SRR), Preliminary Design Reviews (PDR), Critical Design Reviews (CDR), Test Readiness Reviews (TRR), and Production Readiness Reviews (PRR).
• Identify, assess, and mitigate technical risks while driving timely resolution of complex engineering issues.
• Ensure compliance with applicable aerospace regulations and industry standards, including RTCA DO-160, DO-178, DO-254, and other applicable standards.
• Coordinate testing and qualifications activities and serve as the primary technical interface with customers, stakeholders and leadership.
• Oversee system verification, validation, and qualification to ensure successful product development.
• Support transition from development to production by resolving technical issues, overseeing or directly approving engineering changes, and ensuring manufacturing readiness.
• Mentor engineering teams, promote technical excellence, and foster effective collaboration across multiple engineering disciplines and geographic locations.
• Support business development activities by providing technical input for proposals, customer presentations, and strategic planning. Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. This job posting does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment. This position requires access to technologies and hardware subject to US national security based export control requirements. All applicants must be US Persons (8 USC 1324b(a)(3)), or otherwise authorized by the U.S. Government. No company sponsorship will be offered. This description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by an employee within this position. The actual duties, responsibilities and qualifications may vary based on assignment or group. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identify, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic data or other legally protected status. Safran Electrical and Power is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. To verify the information in the job listing or if you need special assistance or an accommodation while seeking employment, please call: 330 321 4172. We will decide on your request for reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case basis
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline is required.
• Master's degree in Engineering or Business Administration is preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible engineering experience, including technical leadership of complex product development programs.
• Demonstrated experience in the design, development, qualification, or support of aerospace electrical generation systems, electrical power systems, rotating machines, power electronics, or closely related aerospace products.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams through the complete product development lifecycle.
• Experience working with FAA, EASA, or other civil or military certification authorities.
• Experience managing technical risks, design reviews, and cross-functional engineering activities.

Core Competencies

• Strong knowledge of aircraft electrical power generation, power conversion, electrical distribution, and control systems.
• Thorough understanding of aerospace development processes, systems engineering principles, and design assurance practices.
• Working knowledge of applicable aerospace regulations, certification requirements, and industry standards.
• Excellent leadership, communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence cross-functional teams and customers.
• Demonstrated analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities in technically complex environments.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining focus on quality, schedule, cost, and customer satisfaction.
• Proficiency with engineering documentation, requirements management, configuration management, and product lifecycle management tools is preferred.