Senior Configuration Design Engineer

ABOUT THE JOB 

We are seeking a Senior Configuration Design Engineer for our Air Dominance & Strike hardware engineering organization. As a Senior Engineer, you will own the architectural configuration, scoping, and optimization methodology for our advanced Group 5 Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and missile programs. You will serve as a technical leader, defining engineering processes, mentoring junior engineers, and directly partnering with Chief Engineers and customers to translate complex mission requirements into revolutionary, buildable aircraft architectures.

WHAT YOU’LL DO 

• Lead the end-to-end conceptual design process for complex UAV and missile platforms, including configuration trade studies, mission analysis, and architecture selection.
• Define and mature aircraft sizing methodologies, deploying parametric modeling and design optimization tools (such as MATLAB, Isight, HEEDS, and NX Unigraphics) to establish robust design paths.
• Drive the design of Outer Mold Lines (OML) and Inner Mold Lines (IML), establishing the geometric standards for downstream analysis teams (CFD, FEA, CEM).
• Serve as the main technical decision-maker for early-stage pursuits, shaping concept white papers, customer proposals, and technology roadmaps in partnership with Chief Engineers.
• Apply engineering intuition and expertise to evaluate configuration alternatives for low-observable (RF/IR signature) survivability, propulsion integration, and structural feasibility.
• Manage high-level vehicle trade studies including engine selection, control effector layout, fuel systems, weapons integration, and mass properties.
• Mentor and develop junior configuration and design engineers, establishing standards for CAD modeling, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T), and design release.
• Interface directly with integrated product teams (IPTs), suppliers, and military customers to present configuration concepts and resolve challenging design problems.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 8+ years of experience in conceptual or preliminary design of aerospace systems, with a track record of technical leadership on UAS, military aircraft, or advanced missile programs.
• Expert-level proficiency in 3D parametric CAD modeling, advanced surfacing, and lofting (Siemens NX preferred, CATIA, or Creo).
• Extensive experience leading multi-disciplinary design teams and trade studies (aerodynamics, structures, propulsion, mass properties, and systems integration).
• Deep understanding of system architecture, mission requirements, and full product development lifecycles.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with a proven ability to write technical proposals and present design solutions to leadership and customers.
• Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. Secret Security Clearance.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• Advanced degree (MS/PhD) in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering.
• Expert knowledge in design-for-survivability, low-observable (LO) shaping, and RF/IR signature reduction.
• Advanced experience in building surrogate models, optimization workflows, or leveraging machine learning tools to accelerate conceptual design cycles.
• Experience with rapid prototyping, flight testing, and hardware-in-the-loop development environments.
• Active U.S. Secret or Top Secret Security Clearance.