Job Information
Cirrus Aircraft AD&D Engineer Principal - Mechanical Systems and Powerplants in Duluth, Minnesota
Description
Job Summary
The AD&D Engineer Principal - Mechanical Systems and Powerplants is a visionary and hands-on engineer responsible for driving the early-stage development of new and innovative aircraft, systems, or powerplant development projects within the Cirrus Advanced Design and Development (AD&D) department. This position will focus on the initial phases of aircraft development—ideation, hypothesis generation, stakeholder engagement, technology maturation, and conceptual design.
Duties and Responsibilities/Essential Functions
Lead the development of Mechanical Systems and Powerplants from ideation thru conceptual design and into practical product paths – including but not limited to piston engines, turbine engines, pneumatic systems, hydraulic systems, fuel systems, environmental control systems, and kinematic systems
Provide guidance to technical professionals, making quick, sound engineering decisions with limited data
Generate and test hypotheses through hands-on prototyping, simulation, and evaluation, with minimal supervision
Create and manage development plans focused on early-stage exploration, requirements capture, and concept validation
Engineer and refine requirements and objectives through stakeholder engagement and iterative experimentation
Translate verbal direction and vision into actionable design objectives and development strategies
Collaborate directly with pilots, mechanics, and experimental technicians, as well as external stakeholders such as Product Development, Certification, and Production teams
Foster a culture of rapid prototyping, testing, and iteration, learning from both success and failure
Communicate complex ideas effectively and efficiently to diverse audiences
Travel up to 25% may be required
Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Systems Engineering (or related STEM discipline)
10+ years of experience in aviation, aerospace, or advanced product development
Broad technical skillset related to aircraft, with strong understanding of mechanical systems and powerplants
Previous early product development experience – from a clean sheet to working prototypes
Proven track record of producing results when developing new designs or products
Willingness to take smart risks, accept accountability, and fix mistakes
Demonstrated ability to lead small technical teams and manage early development projects
Intrinsic motivation to drive progress - to explore, challenge, and innovate – and to minimize administrative overhead
Experienced in iterative development cycles, with a strong ability to identify non-viable solutions early and reorient technical strategy quickly
Strong hands-on skills in prototyping, simulation, and testing.
Comfortable operating under tight deadlines with minimal direction and in a shop or lab environment
Proficient in creating engineering design definition - 3D models, 2D drawings, sketches, schematics, BOMs
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with fluency in English
Preferred qualifications
Master's degree in related discipline.
Previous aircraft development program experience, from early concepts to entry into service
Previous experience leading Integrated Product Teams or similar technical teams
Private pilot certificate or personal aviation experience
Familiarity with system safety and system development standards (e.g., ARP4754A, ARP4761)
Familiarity with PTC products (e.g. CREO, Windchill)
Familiarity with Mathworks products (e.g. Matlab, Simulink)
Familiarity with Atlassian products (e.g. Jira, Confluence)
Proficient in at least one coding language
Experience with FAA certification processes and standards (e.g. Part 23, Part 27, Advisory Circulars, Industry Consensus Standards)
Experience in cross-disciplinary system integration and trade studies
Demonstrated ability to communicate, negotiate, and collaborate effectively across all levels of an organization, from the shop floor to the C-suite
Bonus points if your weekends involve flying, plane spotting, or building RC aircraft
Competencies
To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:
Strategic Thinking & Decision Making
Cross-functional Leadership
Risk & Opportunity Management
Stakeholder Engagement & Communication
Conflict Management
Resiliency & Adaptability
Other DutiesPlease note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this position. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice. Work beyond 40 hours per week may be required.
Cirrus is dedicated to a drug free work environment promoting equal employment opportunity. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, national origin, color, age, disability, religion, pregnancy, veteran status, marital and family status, sexual orientation, receipt of public assistance, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.