SPOCT Leader - Small Uncrewed Engines

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of comprehensive SPOCT strategies for the GEK1500 and GE426 propulsion systems, ensuring engines meet all requirements relating to steady-state performance, transient performance, operability, and control system integration across the full operating envelope.
• Cook with cross-functional teams across aerodynamics, mechanical design, systems engineering, and controls engineering to assess technology capability and maturity.
• Lead design space trade studies and cycle optimization activities for both programs, assessing concept strengths and weaknesses to influence strategic focus areas, customer requirements, and proposal evaluation criteria.
• Conduct preliminary cycle design and performance analysis to support architecture decisions, drive component aerodynamic design requirements to achieve performance targets, and help prioritize technology investments based on performance impact and technology maturity.
• Utilize MBSE tools including CAMEO to manage SPOCT requirements, performance data, and data exchange between individual SPOCT teams and adjacent disciplines.
• Ensure traceability between performance requirements and design specifications, maintain authoritative performance models and operability assessments, and generate performance documentation and operability reports directly from the MBSE environment.
• Lead requirement development, test planning, and qualification planning for performance and operability verification.
• Define performance test objectives, instrumentation requirements, and data analysis approaches.
• Cook with Engine Test leadership on performance testing across multiple test sites, analyze test data to validate performance models and assess operability margins, and support qualification activities to demonstrate compliance with all performance and operability requirements.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related engineering discipline from an accredited university.
• Minimum 6-8 years of experience in an aerospace or mechanical engineering position.
• Minimum 4 years of experience in one or more SPOCT primary disciplines (steady-state performance, transient performance, preliminary cycle design, engine operability, or control systems).

Technical Competencies

• Demonstrated experience leading teams and coordinating cross-functional activities across multiple engineering disciplines.
• Strong understanding of gas turbine engine performance, operability, and control system integration.
• Experience with cycle design parameters early in engine development programs and engine performance characteristics.
• Prominent ability to conduct design space trade studies and influence strategic decisions.

Professional Skills

• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills with ability to guide and influence others.
• Proven process orientation in approach to work.
• Advanced systems thinking and problem analysis skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, collaborative environment with geographically distributed teams.

Security Clearance

• Ability to obtain and maintain a US DoD security clearance.

Desired Characteristics

• Advanced Education and Specialized Experience.
• Master's degree or Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering or Mechanical Engineering.
• Experience with small uncrewed engines, expendable propulsion systems, or limited-life engine applications.
• Experience with scaled engine derivatives.
• Experience with both military and commercial engines.
• Experience with more than one SPOCT discipline.
• Experience with cycle and component aerodynamic design.
• Advanced proficiency with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tools such as CAMEO Systems Modeler.
• Experience with Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) applications or weapon system propulsion integration.
• Experience managing SPOCT activities across multiple concurrent programs.
• Demonstrated ability to balance technical excellence with program execution and cost considerations.