Defense - Research & Technical Engineer

Spirit AeroSystems designs and builds aerostructures for both commercial and defense customers. With headquarters in Wichita, Kansas, Spirit operates sites in the U.S., U.K., France, and Malaysia. The company's core products include fuselages, pylons, nacelles, and wing components for the world's premier aircraft. Spirit AeroSystems focuses on affordable, innovative composite and aluminum manufacturing solutions to support customers around the globe.

Location: Wichita, KS (On-Site)

Key Accountabilities:

• High energy, self-starter, with applicable knowledge of composite development techniques and manufacturing processes
• Conceives new product configurations, designs, manufacturing processes, and advanced technologies for new aerostructures
• Develops concepts through the initial configuration, prototyping, risk reduction, verification, and validation and is able to progress a project thru to completion
• Understands full life cycle requirements for product development
• Develops future factory vision, concepts, and options
• Defines engineering requirements and compliance approaches upfront
• Authors test reports and certification plans
• Assesses or evaluates product performance and manufacturing cost and viability
• Performs trade studies for design alternatives
• Capable of defining necessary resources and development plans both independently and collaboratively
• Works in concert with other key departments to align and advance research plans, report on status, and deliver findings
• Documents and communicates plans and evaluations for future work packages (i.e. bid and proposal)
• Hands-on experience with a variety of carbon fiber reinforced thermoset matrix composite materials manufacturing processes, including hand layup, compression molding, and vacuum bagging

Required Qualifications:

• Requires a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Aeronautical, or related engineering discipline from an ABET-accredited engineering program
• Experience in an engineering classification / position
  • Level 1: 0-2 years of experience
  • Level 2: 2-5 years of experience
  • Level 3: 5-10 years of experience
• Candidates must be able to obtain and maintain a DoD Security Clearance
• Successful candidates must be able to secure program access approval

Preferred Qualifications:

• Active DoD Security Clearance
• Composites with AFP knowledge and experience
• Proficiency in CATIA or other 3D CAD modeling software
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Project, and PowerPoint
• Team player
• Detail-oriented

Spirit AeroSystems is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy, age, disability, veteran status or any other protected factor under federal, state or local law.

Kansas Tax Credit: Join Spirit AeroSystems' Kansas team and you may be eligible for a $5,000 state of Kansas Aviation tax credit for up to five years. Click here for more information on the tax credit.