Sr. Systems Engineer

Founded in 1918, Kearfott Corporation, a global Aerospace and Defense supplier for over 100 years, is a leader in the design and manufacture of precision motion control products and inertial navigation components.  Kearfott has a very long history of innovation and excellence, and is the go-to brand for many of our global clients.  Kearfott is trusted, respected and plays a vital role in the success of America’s aerospace and defense industries. With over a century of expertise & experience, Kearfott is dedicated to providing quality, reliability, and cutting-edge technology to customers worldwide to meet their sea, land, air, and space navigation and guidance requirements.

Kearfott offers a comprehensive benefits package including a 401K, and Tuition Reimbursement.   We offer a 9/80 schedule with every other Friday off, and flexible work options for most positions. 

We are looking for talented individuals who want to be part of a world-class work force. Join Kearfott and become part of a company that is recognized for technical expertise and respected world-wide as a ‘full service’ provider.

For more information visit our website at www.kearfott.com

We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Systems Engineer to join out team in Black Mountain, NC. 

This position is responsible for the following:

• Leading the design and development of electromechanical actuation systems for use in aircraft, missile, land and space products.
• Reviewing and interpreting customer requirements, both technical and programmatic, and assessing the level of effort required to fulfill them. Decomposition and management of lower level requirements for mechanical, electrical, software, firmware and test stand elements of actuation programs.
• System level modeling of actuation systems, including motors, controls etc.
• Support technical program managers to ensure that work breakdown and tasks are adequately set up to ensure schedule and cost performance tracking.
• Guide the development team to ensure design choices meet customer requirements.
• Leading proposal efforts, prototype development and other New Product Introduction (NPI) activities culminating in the transition of new products into production.

Business Development Support

• Travel as required to support customer needs (approximately 10-25%)
• Support proposal efforts and presentation of Kearfott capabilities
• Support and advance relationships with our customers and their engineering teams

Product Life Cycle Engineering

• Develops and maintains requirements and expectations for design of electromechanical actuation systems for use in aerospace and defense applications.
• Reviews customer specifications and assess compliance of design to the requirements.
• Process development and adherence to comply with FAA, EASA, or military certification requirements.
• Ensure system safety, reliability and maintainability considerations are adequately captured in the work packages.
• Decomposes sub-assembly specification requirements from end item specifications, using DOORS.
• Development and validation of performance models using Matlab/Simulink, PLECS or similar tools.
• Ensures that the design activity of all sub-functions (mechanical, electrical, software/firmware, test) can be successfully integrated to ensure the system meets customer requirements.
• Support cost proposal activity including manufacturing and design cost assessment.
• Lead development efforts for customer funded projects as well as IR&D projects.
• Perform and coordinate design analysis.
• Support the preparation of project schedules and perform other project management tasks as required.
• Supports the preparation of formal proposal documents in response to RFP’s.

Critical Competencies

• Understanding of manufacturing and design trade-offs (practical implementation of designs).
• Flight controls understanding or experience is a plus.
• Extensive understanding of the dynamic behavior of electromechanical systems.
• Experience with regulations, certification standards, design assurance and systems standards such FAR 25, ARP4754, DO-254, DO-178C, MIL-STD-882E is a plus.
• DXL scripting for DOORS is a plus.
• Customer centric attitude.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent presentation skills and presentation preparation (design reviews, marketing presentations, etc.)
• Systems design, development and integration experience.
• Ability to lead effectively in a cross functional team environment.
• Ability to effectively communicate, in writing and verbally, across functional areas.
• Drives for results; action oriented.
• Continuously improves in all aspects.

Education & Experience

• Minimum of 10 years in an aerospace motion control engineering and manufacturing environment required.
• B S. in Systems, Mechanical, Electrical or Aerospace Engineering required, M.S. is preferred.
• New product development experience required.
• Solid understanding of aerospace and defense markets and requirements preferred.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the US, visa sponsorship not available.