Aeronautical engineer Jobs in San Diego, CA

DCS Corp is seeking to hire a Senior Aeronautical Engineer to lead airframe integration for Major Release 2 (FY25–27), transforming digital designs into airworthy systems across multiple military aircraft in Dayton, OH. Join a fast-paced, integrated team delivering Phalanx Griffon (PG)—the Air Force’s open-architecture, platform-agnostic airborne node pushing multi-level secure data to the tactical edge.

We Offer:

• Max salary: $184,666k/year
• Relocation assistance up to $5,000 provided
• Medical/Dental/Vision/Life Insurances, Paid Time Off, 11 holidays, of which 10 are paid per year (Federal Government holidays), Flexible Spending Accounts, Employee Stock Ownership Plan, Retirement Plan, Educational Assistance, Disability Insurance, TRICARE Benefits
• An ESOP company
• Working for a Company that has received great reviews
• A great work environment
• Working with a diverse group of employees

Shift hours/schedules:

• Onsite (plant or customer location)
• Typical shift hours: 7:30am-4:30pm or 8:00am-5pm

Key Responsibilities:

Aircraft Integration & Airworthiness

• Lead integration of Nomad hardware, SATCOM apertures, and platform interface modules (PIMs) across aircraft.
• Author AF Form 1067s and coordinate airworthiness, flight-clearance, and modification packages with SPOs and OEMs.
• Perform SWaP-C trade studies and structural integration assessments.

Digital Engineering & Modeling

• Develop and maintain 3D CAD assemblies and weight/balance models using CREO, NX, CATIA, or SolidWorks.
• Ensure real-time feedback loops with cross-functional IPTs and align with the program’s digital thread.

System Integration Lab (SIL) & Test Support

• Design aircraft-representative fixtures, harnesses, and environmental setups; manage daily SIL operations.
• Oversee pre-flight testing including vibration, EMI/EMC, thermal, and functional validation.

Flight Test & Fielding

• Draft test plans and IATT packages; support DT/OT as onboard or ground test engineer.
• Capture redlines, conduct root-cause analysis, and incorporate lessons learned into future builds.

Program Leadership & Mentorship

• Track integration milestones in the IMS and brief readiness, cost, and risk to stakeholders.
• Mentor mid-level engineers and promote agile, DevSecOps-aligned hardware development.

Minimum Requirements:

• Due to the sensitivity of customer related requirements, U.S. Citizenship is required
• Active TS/SCI clearance.
• B.S. in Aeronautical, Aerospace, or Mechanical Engineering and 15+ years of aircraft modification or avionics‑hardware integration experience (military platforms highly desired) or a Masters degree plus 12 years of experience.
• Demonstrated expertise in structural analysis (FEM), weight & balance, wiring/HARNESS integration, and MIL‑STD environmental qualification.
• Hands‑on experience guiding systems from lab to flight test to fielding within USAF or DoD acquisition frameworks (AFI 63‑101/20‑101).
• Proficiency with CREO, NX, CATIA, or SolidWorks; familiarity with MBSE (SysML/CAMEO) a plus.

Desired Qualifications:

• Prior involvement in ABMS, OMS/UCI, CJADC2, or open‑architecture avionics programs.
• Working knowledge of multiband SATCOM hardware, NSA‑accredited crypto devices, and cross‑domain solutions.
• Experience authoring or reviewing Air Force flight‑clearance and air‑worthiness documentation (AF 879, AFCB, E‑Series).
• Agile/Scrum or SAFe certification; familiarity with DevSecOps toolchains in classified environments.