Drive the Future of Gas Turbine Engine Design and Certification as  Lead Mechanical Design Engineer!

PDS Tech Commercial is seeking a highly experienced Lead Mechanical Design  Engineer to support strategic initiatives focused on improving design criteria, certification methodologies, and development processes for gas turbine engine cold-section components.

This role offers a unique opportunity to influence next-generation engine design standards by evaluating Fan, Axial Compressor, and Centrifugal Compressor requirements, identifying opportunities for optimization, and developing innovative approaches that reduce cost, schedule, and development effort while maintaining regulatory compliance.

If you possess deep expertise in gas turbine engine architecture, Fan and Compressor systems, certification, validation, and structural analysis, this is an opportunity to make a lasting impact on future aerospace propulsion programs.

Position Overview

This role focuses on evaluating and improving design requirements for gas turbine engine cold-section hardware with an emphasis on:

• Fan Systems
  
• Axial Compressors
  
• Centrifugal Compressors
  
• Mechanical and Structural Design Requirements
  
• Certification & Compliance Approaches
  
• Verification & Validation Strategies
  

The successful candidate will investigate opportunities to tailor design criteria, improve efficiency, reduce development costs, and support future certification methodologies.

Key Objectives

• Investigate opportunities to optimize engine component design requirements.
  
• Evaluate cold-section engine components, including:
  
  
  
  • Fans
    
  • Axial Compressors
    
  • Centrifugal Compressors
    
  
  
  
• Assess potential savings related to:
  
  
  
  • Design criteria optimization
    
  • Cost reduction
    
  • Resource efficiency
    
  • Schedule improvements
    
  
  
  
• Develop recommendations that maintain compliance while improving overall program performance.
  

Technical Responsibilities

Engineering Analysis & Research

• Conduct extensive technical and regulatory research.
  
• Review industry literature, standards, and certification guidance.
  
• Evaluate current design methods and identify enhancement opportunities.
  
• Develop recommendations for aligning design criteria with compliance requirements.
  

Requirements & Certification Support

• Support requirements development and management activities.
  
• Contribute to verification and validation planning.
  
• Evaluate certification implications associated with proposed design criteria changes.
  
• Support FAA and military regulatory compliance initiatives.
  

Structural & Mechanical Assessment

• Perform engineering evaluations and trade studies.
  
• Assess impacts of modifying existing design criteria.
  
• Evaluate mechanical and structural behavior of cold-section components.
  
• Support development of updated design practices and engineering guidelines.
  

Testing & Validation

• Develop testing, verification, and validation approaches.
  
• Assess qualification methodologies.
  
• Support demonstration of compliance for new design approaches.
  
• Evaluate testing strategies and validation requirements.
  

Technical Leadership

• Lead collaboration efforts across engineering disciplines.
  
• Partner with:
  
  
  
  • Subject Matter Experts (SMEs)
    
  • Chief Engineers
    
  • Systems Teams
    
  • Mechanical Design Teams
    
  • Certification Organizations
    
  
  
  
• Present technical findings and recommendations to stakeholders and customers.
  

Key Deliverables

• Literature and regulatory review summaries.
  
• Recommendations for design criteria optimization.
  
• Candidate improvement opportunity assessments.
  
• Preliminary impact analyses.
  
• Updated design criteria recommendations.
  
• Technical trade studies and evaluation reports.
  
• Testing, validation, and compliance support documentation.
  

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of gas turbine engine design experience
  
• Minimum 5 years supporting Fan & Compressor systems
  
• Minimum 5 years supporting requirements definition, verification, and validation
  
• Minimum 5 years supporting certification and qualification activities
  
• Strong knowledge of:
  
  
  
  • Gas turbine engine architecture
    
  • Fan & Compressor design
    
  • Mechanical requirements
    
  • Structural requirements
    
  • Aerospace certification processes
    
  
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting FAA certification programs.
  
• Military propulsion program experience.
  
• Experience developing engineering design criteria and methods.
  
• Structural and mechanical analysis expertise.
  
• Trade study and design optimization experience.
  
• Customer-facing technical leadership experience.
  
• Advanced engineering degree.
  

What Makes You a Great Fit

•  10+ years of gas turbine engine experience
  
•  Fan & Compressor systems expertise
  
•  Structural and mechanical analysis background
  
•  Verification & validation experience
  
•  FAA and military certification knowledge
  
•  Design criteria and requirements management expertise
  
•  Technical leadership and mentoring abilities
  
•  Strong customer communication and presentation skills
  
•  Ability to drive innovative engineering solutions
  

Why Join Us?

• $69.71/hr pay rate
  
• Remote or onsite flexibility
  
• Opportunity to influence future engine design standards
  
• High-visibility role supporting advanced aerospace propulsion programs
  
• Work alongside senior technical experts and engineering leadership
  
• Opportunity to shape certification strategies and design methodologies
  
• Impact cost, performance, compliance, and innovation across future engine platforms
  

Apply Today!

If you have deep expertise in gas turbine engine architecture, Fan and Compressor systems, certification, verification & validation, structural analysis, and aerospace propulsion development, we'd love to hear from you.

Join PDS Tech Commercial and help define the future of gas turbine engine design, certification, and performance



This position requires use of information or access to facilities subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and/or Export Administration Regulations (EAR). These regulations may limit access of controlled technologies: 1) to U.S. Persons, including U.S. Citizens, lawful permanent residents, and other narrow categories including refugees and asylees, or 2) to certain foreign nationals that have received an export license.     



 

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