Principal Engineer Jobs in Washington

Summary

Provides technical leadership and direction for electrical systems design on aircraft modifications and completions, ensuring designs meet client and company requirements and applicable certification and regulatory standards. Oversees high-impact, complex, urgent, or otherwise critical issues, driving collaboration across engineering, programs, production, suppliers, and other functions to achieve successful outcomes. Leads the development of innovative electrical engineering methods, technologies, and strategies aligned with Greenpoint business plans. Is recognized for technical expertise, critical thinking, and dedication to quality. Mentors engineering staff within the electrical discipline and serves as a role model for Greenpoint engineers.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provides clear, effective guidance on technical approaches for certifying and approving electrical systems designs for aircraft modifications and completions, applying methods that deliver the greatest overall value to the company.
• Provides technical direction across a broad range of electrical systems, including aircraft power generation, conversion, and distribution; avionics and electrical interfaces; wiring and interconnection systems, including EWIS; and related system integration.
• Guides the integration of new electrical systems and equipment with existing aircraft configurations, accounting for aircraft-specific interfaces, operating requirements, design constraints, and the applicable certification basis.
• Establishes and maintain relationships with key internal and external technical experts to ensure the availability of appropriate expertise and achievement of program requirements.
• Provides technical leadership and mentoring to engineering staff, supporting the accomplishment of goals and fostering the growth of the organization's electrical engineering capabilities.
• Provides guidance throughout all program phases - from initial requirements development and design through installation, verification, certification, delivery, and post-delivery support - to resolve challenging electrical systems issues.
• Works closely with vendors to ensure system reliability, define equipment qualification testing requirements, resolves in-service problems in a timely manner, and lead root-cause analysis efforts.
• Identifies innovative engineering and certification solutions for modifications and completions, including complex client configurations and the integration of new technologies.
• Develops, reviews, and approves electrical systems designs that meet Greenpoint objectives and client requirements, using engineering best practices and giving particular attention to high-risk designs, novel technologies, and complex system interfaces.
• Presents electrical systems design concepts and their engineering and certification basis to Designated Engineering Representatives (DERs) and regulatory agencies.
• Defines electrical design assurance levels and qualification testing requirements, communicates them to vendors, and presents them to DERs for approval.
• Evaluates suppliers' electrical systems technologies, engineering capabilities, and methods, and presents recommendations to Greenpoint leadership.
• Works with engineering department leaders and executives to identify strategic initiatives that strengthen Greenpoint's competitiveness and profitability in aircraft modifications and completions.
• Advances electrical systems design concepts for the engineering department, considering cost competitiveness, client needs, market differentiation, technology advancements, schedule, and risk.
• Provides technical oversight and specialized project-level coordination across engineering teams to drive the execution of large and complex modification and completion projects, mentors developing engineers, and maintains quality and consistency across designs.
• Partners with leadership to support recruiting, hiring, training, and employee performance.
• Leads or participates in corporate initiatives that support Greenpoint's long-term goals, and works with the team to close action items and help ensure initiative success.
• Works closely with the Quality and Certification teams to provide input on Compliance System Review Board (CSRB) and Corrective Action Request (CAR) actions to support engineering compliance.
• Assists engineering leaders in promoting effective team conduct through mentoring and coaching, setting expectations, and modeling the Code of Conduct.
• Supports and champions corporate directives, policies, and initiatives.
• Maintains regular attendance, including being at work, arriving on time, and working full shifts.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Competencies

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

Greenpoint Core Competencies

• Adaptability – Adapts to changes in the work environment, manages competing demands, and accepts constructive criticism/feedback and changes approach or method to best fit the situation.
• Communications – Expresses ideas and thoughts effectively in verbal and written form, exhibits good listening and comprehension, and keeps others informed and uses appropriate communication methods.
• Dependability – Responds to requests for service and assistance, follows instruction and responds to management direction, takes responsibility for own actions and doing the best job possible, keeps commitments, and maintains reliable attendance.
• Initiative – Sets and achieves challenging goals, demonstrates persistence and overcomes obstacles, measures self against standard of excellence, recognizes and acts on opportunities, and takes calculated risks to accomplish goals.
• Teamwork – Balances team and individual responsibilities, exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views, gives and welcomes feedback, contributes to building a positive team spirit, and puts success of team above own interests.
• Work Quality – Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness, displays commitment to excellence, looks for ways to improve and promote quality, applies feedback to improve performance, and monitors own work to ensure quality.

Job Core Competencies

• Organizational Savvy – You display an understanding of organizational culture and practices, incorporate organizational awareness into decision making, and utilize both formal and informal channels to achieve results; you navigate organizational politics effectively and build alliances across the organization.
• Business Acumen – You understand business implications of decisions, you conduct cost-benefit analyses, you display orientation to profitability, you demonstrate knowledge of market and competition, and you align work with strategic goals.
• Negotiation Skills – Clarifies interests and positions of all parties and adjusts tactics to achieve desired results; manages conflict, manipulation, and strong emotions; and develops alternative options for mutual gain while building consensus through give-and-take.

Summary of Education, Experience & Abilities

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Engineering, minimum 10 years related experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Employees working on programs subject to International Traffic in Arms Regulations must qualify as a US Person which is defined as a US Citizen, a Permanent Resident who does not work for a foreign company/foreign government/foreign governmental agency or organization, or a political asylee for legal compliance purposes.

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Demonstrated electrical engineering knowledge relevant to Greenpoint's products and business, with the ability to collaborate across engineering disciplines.
• In-depth knowledge of engineering substantiation requirements, methodologies, and documentation.
• Experience working with the FAA and other regulatory agencies; ability to interpret applicable requirements and support certification and compliance activities.
• Ability to design, analyze, simulate, and troubleshoot electrical or electronic systems and resolve complex engineering problems.
• Proficiency with applicable CAD, electrical design, and product lifecycle management (PLM) tools. Experience with systems such as Inventor, AutoCAD, Visual Engineer, or Fusion 360 is beneficial.
• Ability to interpret technical drawings, schematics, formulas, scientific equations, graphs, regulations, and other complex technical or business documents.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to define problems, gather and evaluate data, establish facts, and draw sound conclusions using logical, scientific, and mathematical principles.
• Ability to develop, implement, and monitor corrective action plans that improve business processes and certification cycle times.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare reports, business correspondence, and procedures; present complex or sensitive topics; and respond effectively to questions and concerns.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively, build effective working relationships, and motivate, persuade, and influence colleagues and stakeholders.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and work with both abstract and practical concepts.
• Ability to travel and work outside core business hours as required.
• Ability to sit for extended periods; use hands to lift or move up to 10 pounds; occasionally lift or move up to 25 pounds; and perform tasks requiring close and color vision and the ability to adjust focus.

The expected WA salary range for this position is between $150,000.00 - $206,000.00 USD. Actual compensation will be determined based on experience, education, location, and other factors permitted by law.