{"id":623677,"url":"https://alion.io/job/albers-chief-engineer-aerospace-structures-and-hardware","title":"Chief Engineer, Aerospace Structures and Hardware","company":{"id":668815,"name":"Albers Aerospace","domain":"albers.aero","url":"https://alion.io/company/albers-2","size_band":"51-200","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Rippling","truth_index":{"grade":"A","score":93,"open_postings":41,"ghost_share":0.122,"stale_share":0,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":57,"computed_at":"2026-10-29T05:49:05Z"}},"role":"Aerospace","role_family":"Aerospace","seniority":"head","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["McKinney, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":137000,"max_usd":238000,"period":"year","method":"role_seniority_country_remote_cell","sample_n":23},"experience_years_min":12,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"AS9100","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-07-20T16:53:34Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-07-20","last_verified_at":"2026-10-29T19:55:24Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":101,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":0,"flags":["company_stale"],"days_open":100},"description":"Our core competencies include systems engineering, program management, logistics, production support, aircraft maintenance, and aviation/aerospace services. We were founded in 2015 and since our establishment, we have been attracting the best talent in our fields of interest enabling us to provide cutting-edge solutions and support to our warfighters. We understand and provide expert consultation on weapons systems acquisition programs, maintenance/modernization programs, and sustainment programs. We know defense and we know aircraft systems.\n Albers Aerospace is seeking a highly experienced Chief Engineer - Aerospace Structures & Hardware to provide technical leadership across complex aerospace and defense programs spanning development, production readiness, low-rate production, and full-rate manufacturing. This role serves as the senior technical authority responsible for ensuring products are technically sound, manufacturable, producible, and scalable while meeting customer, schedule, cost, and quality objectives.\nThe Chief Engineer will work closely with customers, program leadership, engineering teams, suppliers, manufacturing operations, and quality organizations to bridge the gap between design intent and successful production execution. While the prime customer retains design authority, this position plays a critical role in evaluating technical requirements, assessing manufacturing feasibility, mitigating production risks, and driving continuous improvement throughout the product lifecycle.\nThe ideal candidate combines deep aerospace hardware expertise with practical manufacturing experience and the ability to lead cross-functional teams in fast-paced, mission-critical environments.\n\nEssential Job Functions:\nServe as the senior technical leader for aerospace structures, mechanical systems, and complex hardware programs from development through production.\nProvide technical direction and decision-making across engineering, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and program management functions.\nEnsure alignment between customer requirements, technical baselines, manufacturing capabilities, and business objectives.\nAct as the primary engineering liaison between customers, suppliers, manufacturing operations, and program teams.\nLead technical reviews, design assessments, production readiness evaluations, and engineering risk reviews.\nLead Design for Manufacturability (DFM), Design for Assembly (DFA), producibility, and production readiness initiatives.\nEvaluate technical data packages, engineering drawings, specifications, and manufacturing plans to identify risks, gaps, and opportunities for improvement.\nDevelop strategies to improve production efficiency, reduce cycle time, increase yield, and enhance product quality.\nSupport transition from development and prototype builds into repeatable production environments.\nLead First Article Inspection (FAI), Production Readiness Reviews (PRR), and qualification planning activities.\nAssess supplier capabilities, manufacturing processes, and technical readiness to support program requirements.\nLead make-versus-buy analyses based on technical capability, cost, schedule, capacity, and risk considerations.\nSupport supplier selection, qualification, transition, and second-source manufacturing initiatives.\nCollaborate with suppliers and internal manufacturing teams to resolve technical issues and improve production performance.\nDrive successful industrialization and scaling of products across internal and external manufacturing sources.\nIdentify technical, manufacturing, and supply chain risks and develop mitigation strategies.\nDrive recurring cost reduction initiatives through process improvements, alternative sourcing strategies, value engineering, and manufacturing optimization.\nSupport proposal development, cost estimating, technical planning, and business case evaluations.\nLead root cause investigations and corrective actions related to production, quality, and technical performance issues.\nEstablish and promote engineering best practices, standard work, and lessons learned across programs.\nServe as a trusted technical advisor to customers, program leadership, and executive management.\nLead customer technical interchange meetings, production reviews, and manufacturing readiness discussions.\nSupport contract pursuits, proposal activities, technical volumes, and customer presentations.\nPartner with Program Management to ensure technical execution supports program cost, schedule, and performance objectives.\nProvide executive-level updates on technical risks, production challenges, and mitigation plans.\n\nRequired Qualifications\nBachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical discipline.\n12+ years of progressive engineering experience within aerospace, defense, aviation, or other highly regulated manufacturing environments.\nDemonstrated experience leading complex aerospace hardware, structures, mechanical assemblies, or aircraft-related systems from development through production.\nStrong background in manufacturing engineering, producibility, industrialization, and production readiness activities.\nExperience evaluating and interpreting engineering drawings, technical data packages, specifications, and manufacturing requirements.\nExperience supporting supplier management, supplier qualification, second-source production, or production transfer activities.\nKnowledge of aerospace manufacturing processes including machining, fabrication, assembly, integration, and inspection.\nExperience supporting build-to-print manufacturing, engineering development programs, production ramp-up efforts, or production restart initiatives.\nStrong analytical, problem-solving, and technical decision-making skills.\nAbility to influence cross-functional teams and communicate effectively with customers, suppliers, and executive leadership.\nMust be a U.S. Citizen.\nAbility to obtain and maintain a U.S. Department of Defense security clearance.\n\nPreferred Qualifications\nMaster's degree in Engineering, Systems Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related field.\nExperience supporting military aircraft, airborne mission systems, weapons integration, aircraft modifications, or aerospace structures.\nWorking knowledge of AS9100, First Article Inspection (AS9102), Configuration Management, MRB processes, Engineering Change Management, and Production Readiness Reviews.\nExperience with complex machined structures, aerospace assemblies, composites, electromechanical systems, harness integration, or mission equipment packaging.\nFamiliarity with environmental qualification requirements including vibration, thermal, shock, EMI/EMC, and environmental testing.\nExperience leading Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) and cross-functional technical organizations.\nPrior experience serving as a Chief Engineer, Engineering Director, Technical Director, Lead Systems Engineer, IPT Lead, Program Engineer, or Technical Program Manager.\nActive Secret or Top Secret security clearance.\n\nNote: The duties and responsibilities described on this document are not necessarily a comprehensive list and additional tasks may be assigned to the teammate from time to time; and the scope of the job may change as necessitated by business demands.\n\nReasonable Accommodations\nTo accomplish this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation, each essential function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodation may be made to help enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.\nAlbers Aerospace is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate. 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