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Development Engineer

Eleven Recruiting

Decatur, AL

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JOB DETAILS
SALARY
$130,000–$150,000 Per Year
SKILLS
Aerospace Engineering, Aerospace and Defense, Air Force, Analysis Skills, CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing), Cross-Functional, Data Collection, Design Services, DoD Clearance, Electricity, Government, Instrumentation, Integration Testing, Leadership, Licensing, MATLAB, Mechanical Engineering, Mentoring, Military, Military/DoD Standards, Product Development, Project/Program Management, Prototyping, Python Programming/Scripting Language, Requirements Validation/Verification, Security Clearance, Solenoids, SolidWorks, Systems Administration/Management, Team Lead/Manager, Team Player, Technical Leadership, Test Design, Test Plan/Schedule, Test Requirements, Testing
LOCATION
Decatur, AL
POSTED
30+ days ago
Eleven Recruiting is searching for a Senior Development Engineer to join a leading space and defense manufacturer at its growing build-and-test facility in Decatur, AL. The site supports defense programs including munition dispensing systems, carriage and release of air-launched weapon systems, and ramp-launched ejection systems. The Principal Development Engineer plays the lead role in program development and test execution — guiding programs through all phases of the lifecycle, including early prototype build, prototype testing, environmental testing, and flight testing.
This is a hands-on leadership role. You'll lead a small team of development engineers while remaining a strong individual contributor — planning the test, designing the fixturing, building the hardware, and executing the test yourself. The team runs lean, and you're expected to turn a wrench.
A near-term priority: leading a small team supporting a series of government flight tests at a major Air Force test range — building and assembling hardware, integrating weapons, and going downrange to support test execution. You'll be the technical lead representing the team and the company in front of the customer.
Responsibilities:
  • Lead test planning and execution activities, data collection, reduction, and analysis, and product development on a multi-discipline team supporting multiple programs.
  • Take a Verification Cross Reference Matrix (VCRM) and work with the design team and chief engineer to develop a test plan that satisfies verification requirements by test.
  • Generate detailed test procedures, with support from junior development engineers.
  • Own test execution end to end, including:
    • Test design and test fixture design
    • Instrumentation selection and setup (strain gauges, load cells, pressure transducers)
    • Data acquisition system setup and use
    • High-speed video capture
    • Shock and vibration testing (vibe profiles per MIL-STD-810, coordinated with outside test houses)
    • Thermal testing
    • Energetic assembly and function testing (training provided)
  • Perform data collection and reduction using Excel and Python (MATLAB welcome).
  • Support test scheduling and duration estimates in partnership with program management.
  • Mentor and direct junior development engineers; take high-level direction from the chief engineer and run independently.
Required Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering (or related).
  • 5–10 years of experience in development, test, or integration of aerospace or military hardware.
  • Mechanically confident and hands-on — comfortable assembling and building development hardware yourself.
  • Test planning and test design experience — you've built test plans and written test procedures, not just executed someone else's.
  • Data acquisition and test execution experience — instrumentation fundamentals and DAQ setup/use.
  • Self-starter who can take high-level direction and lead a small test team without detailed oversight.
  • VCRM / requirements verification experience.
  • MIL-STD-810 familiarity.
  • US Person (ITAR); ability to obtain a DoD security clearance.
Preferred Qualifications:
  • Python experience.
  • SolidWorks or comparable CAD.
  • High-speed video experience.
  • Shock and vibe testing experience.
  • Energetics handling experience; willingness to pursue ATF licensing (blaster certification) with company support.
  • Active clearance.
  • Basic electrical fluency (DC circuits, solenoids, harnessing).
Salary: $130,000 - $150,000

About the Company

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Eleven Recruiting