Design Engineer

Design Engineer

The Design Engineer investigates and resolves complex aircraft design and build issues, develops structural engineering and instrumentation installation solutions, and authors temporary and permanent engineering instructions to support manufacturing and flight test activities. This role focuses on primary and secondary structural design, special missions and aftermarket modifications, and the disposition of non-conformances, ensuring aircraft integrity and compliance with engineering standards.

Responsibilities

• Investigate design and build issues on aircraft and develop robust structural engineering and instrumentation installation solutions.
• Author temporary engineering instructions to resolve build issues in a timely and efficient manner.
• Review and disposition aircraft non-conformances, including developing clear and actionable rework instructions (MRB).
• Perform detailed investigations of aircraft and engineering drawings and coordinate findings with affected engineering disciplines, Quality Assurance, and operations/manufacturing representatives.
• Design Flight Test engineering change requests and coordinate implementation with work package owners and other stakeholders.
• Author engineering documentation to define structural special instructions or restrictions for aircraft structures and systems.
• Design and release structural and systems installations for Special Missions Engineering and aftermarket modifications.
• Support manufacturing and aircraft modification activities by providing engineering guidance and resolving technical issues on the shop floor.
• Ensure all designs and modifications align with aerospace standards, internal processes, and safety and reliability requirements.
• Communicate engineering solutions and decisions clearly through written documentation and verbal discussions with cross-functional teams.

Essential Skills

• Minimum of 15 years of primary structural design experience on aircraft, including defense and special missions platforms.
• Strong experience in structural design for aerospace applications, with experience in special missions or aftermarket modifications.
• Extensive experience in primary and secondary structural design using CATIA V5.
• Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, or a related discipline from an accredited university.
• Minimum of 15 years of industry experience in aerospace or closely related fields.
• Minimum of 6,000 hours of hands-on experience with CATIA V5.
• Recent, practical experience with 2D drawings and related drafting standards.
• Demonstrated experience supporting manufacturing and aircraft modification activities.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to convey complex engineering concepts clearly.
• Ability to work as a highly motivated self-starter, taking initiative and driving tasks to completion.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in special missions or aftermarket modifications is required and highly valued.
• Experience with munitions integrations is considered an asset.
• Proficiency in CATIA V5 workbenches such as Assembly Design, Part Design (including Boolean operations), Aerospace Sheetmetal, Tubing Design, Kinematics, and Electrical Harness Routing is a strong plus.
• Experience with Teamcenter PLM or similar product lifecycle management tools is a plus.
• Experience in defense-related aircraft programs and special missions configurations is beneficial.
• Strong coordination skills for working with engineering, Quality Assurance, and manufacturing teams.
• Demonstrated ability to author clear engineering instructions, special structural restrictions, and flight test change requests.

Work Environment

This is a long-term contract role supporting a large aerospace and defense original equipment manufacturer in Wichita, working Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in an office setting. The work environment is professional and engineering-focused, with regular collaboration among design engineering, manufacturing, quality, and flight test teams. You will primarily use CATIA V5 and PLM tools, work with engineering drawings and documentation, and support aircraft modification and special missions programs in a structured, process-driven setting.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Wichita, KS.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $60.00 - $90.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Wichita,KS.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 12, 2026.