Chief Engineer, Wing

Chief Engineer, Fixed Wing

Job Location: Warner Robins, GA 31088‑7810

Department: MERC – Mercer Engineering Research Center

Job Details: The Chief Engineer leads all technical activities for the Aircraft Directorate, overseeing design, development, prototyping, production, and operation under the supervision of the technical director. The role ensures compliance with MERC policies, processes, and standards, and works as an integrated program team to deliver contractual requirements.

• Execute all contractual efforts, including design, development, prototyping, production, operation, etc.
• Serve as the technical focal point for all contracts in the product area.
• Identify required technical resources for the product area and work to hire, train, and equip the team.
• Collaborate with technical leads and program managers to execute integrated program plans, ensuring holistic program success.
• Ensure accuracy and sufficiency of all engineering artifacts required to comply with MERC Standard Processes; review product quality and document lessons learned.
• Write and obtain performance documentation for each team member at contract completion.
• Communicate program status, issues, and challenges to senior leadership, including the Technical Director, Director of Acquisition Strategy, Sr. Director of Engineering and Programs, and Executive Director.
• Serve as primary focal point to current customers within the product area and across MERC.
• Lead capture management on contract opportunities; coordinate proposal development with acquisition and business development teams.
• Manage engineering and technical team; oversee training of new employees.
• Justify budget and resource allocation recommendations to senior management.
• Provide capital investment requirements for the product area.
• Protect MERC competition‑sensitive, proprietary information and intellectual property.

• US citizenship is required.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Security Clearance.
• Ph.D. in a relevant engineering field from an ABET‑accredited institution and 10+ years of directly related technical experience; OR Master’s degree and 12+ years of experience; OR Bachelor’s degree and 13+ years of experience.
• 11+ years leadership experience with an advanced degree (or 13+ years with a bachelor’s degree).
• Extensive experience in aerospace, electrical, software, environmental, biomedical, mechanical, or systems engineering.
• Proven ability to lead diverse teams across multiple disciplines.
• Strong knowledge of engineering principles, analysis, test, and design.
• Exceptional organizational and time‑management skills with meticulous attention to detail.
• Ability to bridge communication gaps among engineering, operations, business development, and clients.
• Superior budgeting and cost management skills; able to estimate early costs and keep projects within budget.
• Skill in drafting clear and comprehensive reports on contracts, resource allocation, and product quality.
• Technical acumen and troubleshooting capability across varied programs.
• Experience in business development: customer interface, estimating, scheduling, technical proposal development, and follow‑through.
• Additional requirements may be added as appropriate.

• Expertise in aircraft structural integrity, including finite element analysis and/or computational fluid dynamics.
• Experience with aircraft airworthiness.
• Knowledge of durability and damage tolerance analysis.
• Background in aircraft reliability and sustainment.
• Familiarity with aircraft instrumentation and flight data collection.
• Understanding of loads and environment spectra surveys.
• Experience with health and usage monitoring systems.
• Competence in nondestructive or corrosion inspection techniques.

MERC offers a generous benefits package including health and dental insurance, retirement plans, tuition reimbursement, vacation/sick leave accrual, and holiday pay. The institute’s location provides access to Southern‑style culture, good schools, and nearby beaches and mountains.

Mercer University provides comprehensive health insurance, generous retirement contributions, tuition waivers, paid vacation and sick leave, technology discounts, flexible schedules, and a strong commitment to employee growth and work‑life balance.

Staff MERC Exempt

40 hours per week

EEO/Veteran/Disability

: https://merceruni