Principal Aerosystems Engineer
Burlington, MA
Engineering /
On-site
Crgo is a venture-backed startup developing the next-generation air cargo solution, combining hybrid-electric autonomous VTOL aircraft with safety-focused ground infrastructure – a first in its category. Crgo’s heavy-lift, long-range vehicle elevates customer supply chain and distribution capabilities with charter-level service at freight prices, disrupting the $150B air cargo market. The team comprises industry leaders from aviation, robotics, and logistics, whose record includes successful exits and historic regulatory achievements.
Crgo is seeking a highly experienced technical leader with a strong knowledge of autonomous aircraft systems to lead the architecture, development, and execution of our autonomous cargo carrying VTOL aircraft system. This role offers a unique opportunity to drive innovation in the avionics, controls, and powertrain systems of autonomous aircraft and shape the future of aerial logistics. This is the right position for an individual that is passionate about aviation technology development and has a track record of delivering robust, certifiable, systems for aerospace products. As a key member of our engineering team, you will be responsible for leading the design, development, and optimization of all systems in our autonomous cargo carrying VTOL aircraft.
Responsibilties
- Systems level ownership of the aircraft design from initial development through delivery to the manufacturing/production team
- Lead the architecture, development, execution, test and delivery for our autonomous aircraft system
- Define technical requirements, specifications, interfaces, and performance targets for all systems and subsystems as needed to deliver a robust, certifiable aircraft system
- Lead the analysis, design and development of aircraft systems and aerodynamics
- Grow the aircraft development team from the ground up alongside the founding team
- Lead the execution of aircraft design, build, test, and preparation for production ensuring that critical milestones and deadlines are met
- Develop the technical program schedule alongside our program management staff and senior leadership
- Manage progress across development teams (internal and external) to ensure harmony and efficiency, removing roadblocks as they arise
- Help create an environment of productivity, creativity, and autonomy so that the technical team can work efficiently and fruitfully on the most important tasks
- Proactively and creatively approach problems, enabling the team to solve them efficiently
- Embody a proactive and optimistic approach, bringing a can-do attitude to the workplace every day, fostering a positive and dynamic work environment
- Travel up to 30% of the time including domestic and international
Qualifications
- Bachelor's or advanced degrees in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field
- 7+ years of technical systems-level experience in the autonomous, automated, or remotely piloted aircraft systems for the commercial and/or DOD industries
- Demonstrable and proven experience leading an aircraft design
- Experience in the development and delivery to a schedule of a complex hardware and software system
- Exceptional verbal and written communication skills with the ability to articulate problems and solutions to both technical and non-technical individuals
- Excels at collaborating in a fast-paced startup environment with changing priorities, technical requirements, and a growing team
- Must be eligible to work in the US
Great to have Qualifications and Skills
- Experience in the design, development, and manufacture of VTOL aircraft
- Demonstrated skill in aligning priorities, coordinating timelines, and leading complex scope, resource, and schedule trades
- 10+ years of technical systems-level experience in the aerospace commercial and/or DOD industries
- Broad understanding across major aircraft systems (Aerodynamics, Flight Controls, Structures, Avionics, Powertrain, Mission Software, etc.) with meaningful depth in at least one
- Experience with systems engineering, requirements management, CAD, software engineering, and program management tools
- You are an empathetic team-player, who is an excellent listener and can persuasively communicate their ideas and plans to parties of all backgrounds
- Hands-on capability in a lab/field setting and able to build and prove out designs empirically
- You are an ambitious and self-motivated individual who eagerly approaches ambiguity as the next challenge and is committed to delivering a high-quality work product
- Previous experience in a technical leadership role within the aviation, aerospace, automotive or robotics industries
- Experience with certification of aircraft
- You are a highly detail-oriented and have a track record of excellent judgement
- You are an avid aviation enthusiast
Benefits
- Our company offers a competitive benefits package including generous healthcare and ST/LT disability coverage with the option to include an HSA, a 401k plan with a company match component, unlimited PTO, flexible work from home policies, stock options, free parking on-site, and a well-stocked snacks and coffee environment.
Work Location
- Our company’s headquarters are currently located in Burlington, MA and is planning to move to Waltham, MA in 2024. This position is primarily on-site.
Crgo is a venture-backed aerospace company headquartered in Burlington, MA and is founded by a group of aviation, robotics, and logistics experts. The team’s diverse experience spans across industry leaders including American Robotics, Airobotics, Archer, Rolls-Royce, Boeing, iRobot, Apple, FedEx, UPS, and Amazon.
