Senior Staff Engineer – Actuation Systems Architecture & Design

About the role

The Senior Staff Engineer will own the architecture, design, and integration of actuation systems for a Group 5 UAV fighter aircraft, translating first‑principle concepts into operational capability.

Key responsibilities

• Lead architecture, requirements definition, and detailed design of actuation systems for bay doors and other airframe mechanisms.
• Own actuator selection, sizing, sequencing, redundancy management, and failure‑mode analysis.
• Integrate actuation systems with control surfaces, weapons bay doors, and other vehicle mechanisms, handling timing, load, sealing, and structural interfaces.
• Define power and thermal architecture, coordinating with EPS and thermal management teams.
• Develop verification traceability and lead design‑maturity reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR).

Required profile

• U.S. citizen with active Secret clearance or higher.
• 8–15 years of aircraft actuation systems design experience, including electric actuation (EMA/EHA) or centralized hydraulics.
• B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical Engineering or related field.
• Proven ability to source COTS/custom aerospace components and manage supplier schedules.
• Demonstrated self‑direction and ability to deliver functional hardware under tight timelines.

Required skills

• Electric actuation design (EMA, EHA)
• Centralized hydraulic systems
• Actuator selection, sizing, and power/thermal interface design
• Failure Mode Effects Analysis (FMEA) and redundancy management
• Integration with Electrical Power Systems (EPS) and thermal management
• Knowledge of MIL‑STD‑810 and MIL‑HDBK‑516 for qualification and airworthiness
• Sourcing and qualification of COTS/custom aerospace components