Principal Engineer – Aerospace Research and Development

Employment Type: Direct Hire
Position Type: Full-Time
Work Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan
Work Arrangement: Onsite
Salary Range: $130,000–$160,000 annually, depending on experience and education
Bonus: 15% bonus opportunity
Schedule: 1st Shift
Experience Required: Typically 10+ years of related engineering experience
Technical Experience Required: Axial piston pump experience
Education Required: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Electronic, or Systems Engineering, or a related technical discipline
Relocation Assistance: Available
Travel Requirements: Occasional customer visits, including international travel

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Principal Engineer to lead complex aerospace research and development assignments involving new technologies, products, equipment, materials, and engineering methods.

This position requires axial piston pump experience and advanced technical expertise to solve challenging engineering problems, evaluate new concepts, and support projects with significant product, customer, technology, and business impact.

The selected candidate will serve as a technical subject matter expert, conduct engineering analyses and testing, provide recommendations to leadership and customers, and guide multidisciplinary teams through complex development activities.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate independent engineering judgment, strong analytical skills, and the ability to make sound technical decisions when information is incomplete. This role also includes mentoring engineers and transferring specialized knowledge across project teams.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Research, Design, and Technology Development

• Research and execute complex engineering assignments requiring new or improved methods, techniques, and procedures.
• Develop new or refined equipment, materials, processes, products, and concepts using advanced engineering principles.
• Apply axial piston pump experience to relevant aerospace research and development activities.
• Investigate and implement emerging technologies to improve product cost and performance.
• Evaluate technical concepts against cost, resource availability, schedules, business plans, and other engineering and economic considerations.
• Provide expert recommendations regarding manufacturing techniques, materials, properties, and process capabilities that influence long-term engineering plans.

Engineering Analysis, Testing, and Documentation

• Conduct or direct analyses and tests supporting new designs, methods, materials, equipment, and processes.
• Determine required actions, coordinate technical tasks, and document findings and results.
• Compile and analyze operational, test, and research data to establish performance standards for new or modified products.
• Evaluate the feasibility and technical soundness of proposed tests, products, and equipment.
• Develop evaluation methods when available data are incomplete or additional testing is needed.
• Apply established engineering practices, industry standards, and documentation methods.
• Ensure engineering activities comply with applicable company policies and aerospace industry requirements.

Technical Leadership and Project Execution

• Plan and conduct complex assignments involving major projects or multiple concurrent programs.
• Establish technical goals and objectives and coordinate activities within and across divisions.
• Review project progress, evaluate results, and recommend changes to methods or procedures.
• Provide technical leadership to integrated product development and cross-functional teams.
• Serve as a technical consultant to senior management on significant engineering issues.
• Represent the organization on major projects and in technical discussions.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives involving engineering technology, product development, analytical tools, and production methods.

Collaboration, Communication, and Mentoring

• Coordinate with technical specialists to share recommendations, lessons learned, problem-solving methods, and analytical approaches.
• Prepare technical proposals and presentations for internal and external audiences.
• Communicate complex findings and recommendations to customers, division leadership, and senior management.
• Serve as a technical subject matter expert and resource.
• Mentor developing engineers through technical feedback, goal-setting, and problem-solving guidance.
• Ensure transfer of specialized knowledge concerning technologies and products.
• Maintain technical expertise through advanced training, research publications, and professional associations.
• Travel to customer locations, including international destinations, as required.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Electronic, or Systems Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Demonstrated ability to perform the position’s responsibilities, typically acquired through 10 or more years of related engineering experience.
• Axial piston pump experience.
• Advanced knowledge of engineering principles, theories, techniques, industry practices, regulations, and policies relevant to the assigned specialty.
• Comprehensive knowledge of continuous improvement principles and the ability to lead their implementation.
• Proficiency with standard business applications and specialized data analysis, engineering design, and project management tools.
• Ability to integrate knowledge from related engineering disciplines and technical specialists.
• Ability to plan and conduct complex assignments involving incomplete data, uncertain variables, and long-term technical considerations.
• Ability to analyze complex policies and recommend significant procedural improvements.
• Ability to respond effectively to complex technical inquiries from customers, leadership, and other divisions.
• Strong analytical skills, including defining problems, collecting data, establishing facts, and drawing valid conclusions.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment when developing engineering methods, techniques, and evaluation criteria.
• Ability to lead complex technology projects and guide the technical work of others.
• Ability to mentor engineers and support technical capability development.
• Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Ability to work onsite in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
• Willingness and ability to travel occasionally, including internationally.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in an applicable engineering discipline.

Work Environment

• Onsite aerospace engineering and research and development environment in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
• Work involves technical analysis, design evaluation, testing, documentation, and technology development.
• Regular collaboration with multidisciplinary engineering teams, manufacturing personnel, customers, and leadership.
• Responsibility for complex projects with significant technical and business impact.
• Occasional customer visits and international travel.
• First-shift schedule.

Key Competencies

• Axial piston pump technology
• Aerospace research and development
• Advanced engineering analysis
• Product and technology development
• Engineering test planning and evaluation
• Technical feasibility assessment
• Independent engineering judgment
• Complex problem-solving
• Data analysis and performance evaluation
• Technical project leadership
• Continuous improvement
• Cross-disciplinary engineering collaboration
• Technical proposals and presentations
• Engineering documentation
• Mentoring and knowledge transfer
• Customer and executive communication

Benefits

• Medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage.
• Optional life, accident, hospital indemnity, and critical illness insurance.
• 401(k) plan with company matching contributions equal to 100% of the first 5% of pay.
• Company-funded defined-contribution retirement plan with an annual contribution equal to 3% of pay.
• Career development and tuition reimbursement.
• Paid parental leave.
• Short-term and long-term disability programs.
• Adoption assistance.
• Care.com membership and financial planning assistance.
• Optional identity protection, legal protection, and pet wellness programs.
• Paid time off and up to 15 company-paid holidays.
• Relocation assistance.