Chief Engineer - Aircraft
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 Chief Engineer - Aircraft with excellent aerospace systems design and organizational skills to lead the development and execution of their aircraft system. This position is for an individual that is passionate about aviation technology development and has a track record of delivering aircraft programs on time and to budget. In this role, you will own the aircraft development process, including the opportunity to assemble the development team, build robust design and test processes, and the responsibility to successfully deliver the complete aircraft system. This role will report directly to the CTO.
Responsibilities
- Strategically grow the autonomous aircraft development team from the ground up alongside the founding team
- Own the aircraft design from initial development through delivery to the manufacturing/production 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 all development teams 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
- Be the technical face of the company’s product
Qualifications
- BS/MS or higher degree in a relevant engineering field
- 10+ years of technical and management experience in the aerospace commercial and/or DOD industries
- 3+ years in leadership roles with personnel and P&L responsibilities
- Experience with certification of aircraft
- Demonstrable and proven experience leading an aircraft design team
- Experience in the development and delivery to a schedule of a complex hardware and software system
- Experience in the aviation, aerospace, or robotics industry
- 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 successfully delivering large VTOL or autonomous aircraft(s) in a similar function
- Demonstrated skill in aligning priorities, coordinating timelines, and leading complex scope, resource, and schedule trades
- Broad understanding across major aircraft systems (Aerodynamics, Flight Controls, Structures, Avionics, Powertrain, Mission Software, etc.) with meaningful depth in at least one
- High level of self-awareness of yourself and the team, encompassing an understanding of strengths and weaknesses with the ability to bring in capabilities where and when they are needed
- 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
- 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
- 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.
Equity
- This senior leadership position will be eligible for a significant equity grant.
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.
