Project Engineer

Job Title: Project Engineer
Job Description
This role provides technical leadership and hands-on execution for complex aerospace new product development programs, guiding projects from initial requirements and proposals through design, certification, entry-into-service, and sustaining engineering. The Project Engineer leads small cross-functional teams, coordinates closely with customers and internal stakeholders, and ensures that all designs and deliverables meet stringent technical, regulatory, and quality standards. This position offers a clear growth path into future leadership opportunities and the chance to become a recognized subject matter expert within the organization.
Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and execution for new product development programs, ensuring alignment with customer technical requirements and procurement specifications.
• Coordinate and contribute to all phases of new product development, including technical proposals, design of customer-deliverable hardware, support of development part fabrication, qualification testing, certification activities, entry-into-service, and sustaining engineering.
• Lead small, typically co-located, cross-functional teams and serve as the technical focal point for assigned programs.
• Own, delegate, coordinate, assign, and execute engineering tasks in collaboration with the internal product development team.
• Ensure that designs comply with customer technical requirements, procurement specifications, and applicable industry standards and regulations.
• Provide technical input, review, and approval for engineering drawings, documentation, and analytical outputs.
• Prepare and deliver clear project status presentations and communications for internal leadership and external customers.
• Establish and defend technically sound positions that support program and company objectives.
• Identify and implement improvement activities to reduce cost and cycle time while improving product quality.
• Interface with vendors and suppliers to ensure effective technical communication, mutual understanding, and product compliance.
• Lead and/or directly contribute to internal and external audits, including AS9100 and customer quality audits.
• Develop and maintain state-of-the-art knowledge of relevant engineering disciplines, processes, and tools.
• Establish oneself as a recognized technical subject matter expert, contributing to new business opportunities and maintaining long-term relationships with key customers.
• Proactively communicate across the organization to ensure transparency, alignment with project goals, and effective cross-functional collaboration.
• Understand the company's objectives and commercial strategy, and actively recognize, communicate, and support new business opportunities with the leadership team.
• Decompose and interpret customer and project needs and requirements, including situations where requirements are nebulous or incomplete.
• Produce high-quality technical reports, specifications, and program documentation to support project management and customer communication.
• Support and guide design engineers, analysts, drafters, and test technicians, including delegating work and supervising non-direct reports.
• Contribute to and sometimes lead internal and external audits, ensuring compliance with relevant standards and continuous improvement.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering, or an equivalent combination of education and experience; a Master's degree is preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in metallic or composite ducting and motion compensator design per ARP 699 guidelines as a Project or Systems Engineering focal, or equivalent experience in aerospace product areas such as Environmental Control Systems (ECS), bleed air or air management systems (AMS), valves (pneumatic or electromechanical), heat exchangers, turbo machinery, fuel tank inerting systems (FTIS, OBIGGS, OBOGGS, NGS), pneumatic wing anti-ice systems, ram air systems, high-pressure or low-pressure pneumatic systems, or structural design.
• Experience with aircraft certification to EASA, Transport Canada, CAAC, and/or FAA 14 CFR Part 25 requirements.
• Experience managing programs from award or kick-off through key milestones such as Preliminary Design Review (PDR), Critical Design Review (CDR), Production Readiness Review (PRR), Safety of Flight (SOF), and Entry-into-Service (EIS).
• Demonstrated project management skills and strong interpersonal skills, including experience working with internal and external customers and resources.
• Experience delegating work and supervising non-direct reports, including design engineers, analysts, drafters, and test technicians.
• Experience writing certification documentation such as Acceptance Test Procedures (ATP), Qualification Test Plans (QTP), and Qualification Test Reports (QTR).
• Experience with sheet metal and/or composite manufacturing and forming processes.
• Experience with the Material Review Board (MRB) process and engineering disposition authority.
• Test experience in accordance with RTCA DO-160 and/or MIL-STD-810 or equivalent vibration and environmental test standards.
• Ability to read and support the creation of 3D models and 2D drawings with dimensioning and tolerancing per ANSI/ASME Y14.5 standards.
• Thorough understanding of relevant industry specifications and standards, including aerospace and materials specifications.
• Ability to multi-task and work effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare technical reports and present project status to leadership and customers.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Master's degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering.
• Experience as a technical focal for complex aerospace systems such as ECS, bleed air, AMS, valves, heat exchangers, turbo machinery, fuel tank inerting systems, pneumatic wing anti-ice systems, ram air systems, and high- or low-pressure pneumatic systems.
• Experience leading small cross-functional engineering teams in a co-located environment.
• in systems engineering and requirements decomposition, particularly when customer requirements are incomplete or evolving.
• Experience participating in or leading internal and external audits, including AS9100 and customer quality audits.
• Demonstrated ability to establish oneself as a subject matter expert and to contribute to business development activities.
• Interest in and aptitude for career growth into broader technical leadership or team lead roles.
• Familiarity with technical report writing, specification development, and program support documentation.
• Comfort working closely with vendors and suppliers to ensure technical alignment and compliance.

Work Environment
This position is fully onsite and involves close collaboration with two primary engineering teams: a Project Engineering team and a Design Engineering team. The Project Engineering team is responsible for technical interaction with customers, defining requirements, setting program strategies, preparing technical reports, and leading systems design efforts. The Design Engineering team focuses on detailed design execution and is led by an experienced engineering leader. Work hours follow a Monday through Friday schedule, generally 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with flexibility for start times between approximately 6:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. Core hours during which team members are expected to be available are 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The environment is fast-paced and collaborative, with an emphasis on transparency, cross-functional cooperation, and professional growth. The organization supports career development and aims to promote individuals who demonstrate strong leadership potential and technical excellence.
Job Type & Location
This is a Permanent position based out of BURBANK, CA.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $120000.00 - $135000.00/yr.
health, dental, vision, 401K
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in BURBANK,CA.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Jul 15, 2026.
About Actalent


Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.


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