Chief Engineer, Defense

San Francisco. Posted 2 months ago

The role

The Chief Engineer will lead technical development for aircraft applications in support of the military. This role serves as the top technical authority responsible for aircraft integrity, performance, and delivery across all engineering disciplines.

What you will do

Drive aircraft development across all subsystems
Communicate with internal teams and external stakeholders
Serve as the final engineering authority on design decisions
Translate defense customer and mission requirements into engineering specifications
Identify, track, and mitigate technical risks
Align engineering, manufacturing, quality, flight test, and program management teams
Mentor and grow a high-performing engineering organization
Guide analysis, ground test, and flight test campaigns

Required qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field
10+ years of experience in aircraft design and development
Significant experience in flight vehicles
Prior experience supporting defense or military aerospace programs
Familiarity with defense acquisition processes
Demonstrated experience owning technical, schedule, and cost outcomes on a complex aerospace program
Deep working knowledge of aircraft systems integration
Strong track record of engaging with government customers, prime contractors, or defense agencies
U.S. citizenship required
Secret Clearance required
Experience with modern tactical mission systems integrations and their architectures
Familiarity with MIL-STD and DoD airworthiness certification processes

Nice to have

Master's or PhD preferred
Top Secret desired

Benefits

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
401(k) program
Transparent stock option plan
Self-managed and flexible time-off policy
PTO
Paid holidays
Sick time

Before you apply

U.S. citizenship required
Secret Clearance required

About the company

Astro Mechanica is a vertically integrated aerospace company developing a scalable technology platform to power critical infrastructure, mission operations, and the future of flight. The team is a group of engineers dedicated to advancing aerospace.