Job Information
Acron Aviation Lead Project Engineer in Phoenix, Arizona
Full Time Reg
Phoenix, AZ, US
About Acron Aviation (Avionics):
Acron Aviation designs, engineers, and manufactures certified avionics systems that support safety‑critical flight operations across commercial and military aviation. Our avionics portfolio includes surveillance, recorders, displays, and related systems developed in regulated environments and deployed on aircraft worldwide. We partner closely with operators and OEMs to deliver reliable, certifiable technology throughout the full product lifecycle—from development and qualification through production and aftermarket support. At Acron Aviation, avionics engineering is rooted in technical rigor, operational discipline, and a customer‑first approach to execution.
About our Surveillance Product Line:
Acron Aviation’s Surveillance organization develops and sustains safety‑critical systems that enable aircraft awareness, collision avoidance, and airspace interoperability. Our surveillance portfolio includes ADS‑B, Mode S transponders, traffic collision avoidance, and integrated surveillance solutions deployed across commercial, military, and rotorcraft platforms. This work is performed in highly regulated environments. It requires deep expertise in systems, hardware, software, and RF across the full lifecycle—from requirements and certification through production and in‑service support. Surveillance engineering at Acron Aviation emphasizes technical rigor, disciplined execution, and close coordination with operators and OEM partners.
Job Description:
Acron Aviation is seeking an experienced Project Engineer to join our engineering team in our Surveillance product line.
The Project Engineer (PE) manages the technical aspects of a specific project or effort and ensures technical, schedule, and cost targets are met. The PE is similar in nature to the Program Manager (PM), just more functionally focused, with the PM as its primary customer. The PE is both a project manager and a technical leader/expert. A PE’s duties are broad in nature and may encompass multiple phases of a product’s lifecycle, including pursuit, development, production, or post-delivery support. While possessing technical expertise and experience, the individual will coordinate and lead the engineering product development activities. The PE plans, schedules, and directs the engineering support of the assigned projects, and keeps the team on plan through proactive engagement, constant and robust communication/collaboration, and focused risk management. They are responsible for and have authority over all engineering resources associated with or in support of the project, and must continually engage and collaborate with engineering functional leadership to ensure the necessary resources and support are available. The PE musters, shepherds, and leads the engineering team to success, providing quality, error-free technical deliverables to the PM and Acron Aviation customers within the approved budget and schedule. The PE maintains open and clear communication with the PM, the engineering function, and assigned team members, suppliers, and customer(s). The PE is a leader in a vitally important role and accountable to the PM and the engineering leadership team.
Essential Functions:
Partner with the PM and Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) to ensure the success of the program; technical, schedule, and cost targets are properly defined and met.
In drawing their support from the engineering function, the PE must constantly engage the other cross-functional leaders to advocate for the program’s needs and priorities while working with leadership to understand and accommodate the demands of competing programs.
Interface and work closely with the customer(s) on technical and contractual requirements. Anticipate and fulfill customer needs to ensure 100% customer satisfaction and continued business expansion; negotiate as required and obtain positive resolution.
Working in conjunction with PM and proposal lead to decompose business case and customer contract requirements into Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) elements, support creation of the detailed Basis of Estimates (BOEs), construct viable Integrated Master Schedule (IMS), determine technical deliverables and associated program risks and opportunities.
Responsible for requirements definition, verification, and distribution, technical baseline development, resource identification and allocation, design trade studies, preliminary design, detailed design, system testing, qualification testing, supporting the handoff to production (production configuration), and ensuring the technical deliverables to support a successful Entry-Into-Service.
Lead the technical development of the program. Serve as the focal point for all engineering development, product definition, resource allocation, task assignment and completion, problem solving, and decision making necessary to accomplish the project charter.
Direct the engineering team assigned to the program, manage their performance, and, through a matrix structure, oversee their participation within the program.
Effectively communicate with the PM and serve as a leader on the project team through a collaborative, trust-based relationship, ensuring all have the latest information available.
Work with the leadership team and functional groups to support the various meetings and reviews necessary to meet business objectives and commitments.
Qualifications:
Strong knowledge of the job area typically obtained through advanced education combined with experience.
Proficient knowledge of the product lifecycle and obsolescence management.
Proficient knowledge of project management, including earned value and risk/scope management.
Bachelor’s Degree and minimum 9 years of prior relevant experience in project engineering.
Graduate Degree and a minimum of 7 years of prior related experience in project engineering.
Preferred Additional Skills:
Working knowledge of resource-loaded scheduling and proficient with the use of Microsoft Project 2016.
Experience with DO-178, DO-254, DO-160 and ARP-4754 product development.
We are an equal opportunity employer committed to a workplace free of discrimination and harassment. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.