Aerospace Design Subject Matter Expert

Role Overview

This role seeks a seasoned Aerospace Design Subject Matter Expert with over 10 years of professional experience specializing in the design and development of aircraft wings, fuselage structures, and helicopter airframe components. The position involves providing technical leadership across various aircraft design initiatives, including conceptual phases, detailed engineering, modification projects, certification, manufacturing support, and structural integration tasks.

Core Responsibilities

• Act as the key subject matter expert for wing, fuselage, and helicopter structural design activities.
• Lead and manage conceptual, preliminary, and detailed design efforts for aerospace structural parts.
• Create efficient, lightweight airframe solutions while adhering to performance, manufacturability, and certification requirements.
• Review and approve engineering designs, models, drawings, and modifications.
• Support aircraft development projects from initial concept through to certification and production phases.
• Conduct design trade-off studies and optimization analyses.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with stress analysis, loads, aerodynamics, manufacturing, systems integration, and certification teams.
• Assist in resolving in-service technical issues and performing root cause investigations.
• Participate actively in design reviews and technical discussions with customers.
• Mentor and guide junior engineering personnel in aerospace design methodologies.

Technical Expertise

• Wing Design: Structural architecture, wing box elements, spars, ribs, stringers, leading & trailing edge structures, integration of high lift devices, fuel tanks, composite wings, wing-to-fuselage integration.
• Fuselage Design: Structural layouts including frames, stringers, bulkheads; pressure vessel design; integration of doors, windows, emergency exits; floor beams; cabin and cargo integration; metallic and composite structures; structural repair design.
• Helicopter Design: Fuselage, tail boom, rotor mast, transmission bay structures; landing gear integration; composite airframe design; weight optimization; rotorcraft configurations.

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Aeronautical Engineering or related field.
• Minimum 10 years’ experience in aerospace structural design, focusing on wing, fuselage, or helicopter structural components.
• Comprehensive knowledge of aerospace design principles and manufacturing techniques.
• Hands-on experience with both metallic and composite structures.
• Proficiency with structural design, detailed part and assembly design, composite and sheet metal design, structural layout, tolerance analyses, and design for manufacturing and assembly.
• Strong understanding of aircraft primary and secondary structures, integration, weight optimization, damage tolerance, and maintainability.
• Engagement in design processes including requirement analysis, design reviews, configuration and change management, and documentation.
• Expert level use of CAD tools such as CATIA V5/V6, Siemens NX, or Creo; PLM software including Teamcenter, Windchill, or ENOVIA; and supporting tools like GD&T, digital mock-ups, and clash analysis.

Certification and Standards Knowledge

• Experience with FAA regulations including FAR Part 23, 25, 27, 29.
• Familiarity with EASA certification specifications CS-23, CS-25, CS-27, CS-29.
• Knowledge of airworthiness requirements, composite design standards, structural certification processes, and damage tolerance/fatigue requirements.

Leadership and Communication

• Proven technical leadership skills capable of heading design reviews and customer technical conversations.
• Strong analytical problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management aptitude.
• Experience mentoring and coaching team members.
• Ability to work effectively in global engineering teams.

Preferred Profile

Successful candidates will demonstrate deep specialization in aircraft wing, fuselage, or helicopter structural design, with practical experience in structural layouts, detailed design, manufacturing support, and compliance with certification standards. Leadership of design teams and driving complex aerospace programs is essential.