Project Engineer

Project Engineer

Published 07.09.2026

Company : Safran Electronics & Defense Job field : Architecture and systems engineering Location : Irvine , California , United States Contract type : Permanent Contract duration : Full-time Required degree : Bachelors Degree Required experience : More than 8 years Professional status : Professional, Engineer & Manager Salary range : $105K - $155K ITAR : ITAR Controlled position

# 2026-183699

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Published 07.09.2026

Job Description

Job Summary:

The Project Engineer leads and oversees a cross-functional team of engineers in the development of new products, the improvement and sustainment of products and processes, and guiding them throughout the product life cycle. This role serves as the technical project leader, responsible for planning, organizing, and executing complex engineering projects, from initial design through qualification, certification, and production transfer. The Project Engineer also manages sustaining projects, addressing design changes, supplier, and customer requests, and providing production support. This position requires close coordination with other departments, particularly Program Management, to ensure alignment on budgets, schedules, milestones, and deliverables for engineering projects.

Essential Job Function:

• Coordinate engineering activities and projects with other departments. This includes project schedule(s), cost management, scope control, milestones, performance metrics (earned value, SPI/CPI), deliverables, perform risk management and mitigation, manage product assurance, scope, and change.
• Collaborate with engineering managers to assemble the skillsets needed for each project and provide forecast of resources needs.
• Provide leadership, technical guidance, and training for engineering teams assigned to a specific project and/or related activities.
• Responsible for ensuring the engineering execution of the program tailored PROMPT activities.
• Responsible for the overall technical compliance of the products to the customer specification and the fulfillment of the technical statement of the work. Able to manage engineering scope, recognize scope growth and incomplete work.
• Technical project leader and Company engineering representative in front of the customers.
• Review project-related documentation package(s) to ensure accuracy.
• Ensure the timely and efficient completion of projects to achieve the companys strategic and financial goals.
• Lead formal design reviews. Prepare and present technical information for Technical Interface Meetings (TIMs), Preliminary Design Reviews (PDRs), Critical Design Reviews (CDRs), etc.
• Ensure project complies with company policies and processes.
• Lead and manage estimates and proposals.
• Oversee continuous improvement projects for existing products, manage project plans, and track work packages.
• Set expectations for task completion & deliveries to the Project Management Office (PMO) or the customer.
• Lead Engineering Review Board.
• Make technical decisions with support from manager and technical leads.
• Lead the development of the engineering portions of the Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) and update the schedule to reflect execution and workarounds.
• Utilize Earned Value (EV) to track project performance and make informed decisions based on data.

. Other Duties assigned.

Job Requirements

Required Competencies:

Education/Experience

• Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited course of study in engineering, aerospace, electrical, engineering technology, manufacturing, industrial, mechanical, or systems engineering.
• Experience in a new product development environment.
• Typical experience:

Project Engineer: 7 or more years related work experience or an equivalent combination of technical education and experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
• Strong knowledge of the fundamentals of aerospace, electrical, or mechanical design.
• Strong understanding of system engineering development processes, such as ARP 4754 or IEEE 632.
• Understanding of basic electrical and/or mechanical design.
• A deep understanding of root cause corrective action.
• Knowledge of change control management.
• Experience with DO-160, ARP4761, and MIL-STD-810 preferred.
• Familiar with Advance Product Quality Planning is a plus but not required.

Leadership Skills / Management Skills / Personal Skills

• Inductive reasoning
• Integrity
• Judgement and problem solving
• Leadership
• Communication, both verbally and written and through active listening and reading comprehension.
• Customer oriented
• Adaptable and flexible
• Ability to summarize complex information
• Analytical thinking
• Dependability
• Change agent
• Planning, organization and prioritizing

Travel Specificity:

Potential travel between Irvine, California and other locations up to 25%.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of the job, the employee is regularly required to remain in a stationary position and occasionally move about the office and laboratory. Constantly operates and uses a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a copier/printer and laboratory machinery. The ability to communicate information and ideas so others will understand. Must be able to exchange accurate information The ability to observe, identify and assess details at close range (within a few feet of the observer). Occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds across the office for various needs.

Work Environment:

The work environment is split between office & laboratory work, with most work being performed in the office. The noise level in the office is typically quiet while the noise level in the lab can occasionally require hearing protection.

Experience in Relevant Business Sector:

• Experience within the aerospace industry required.

But what else? (advantages, specific features, etc.)

In addition to the above, will work with their teams on various projects simultaneously that are $1,000,000+ per year. Experience leading or participating in a new development program from initiation at program award to completion of certification and transfer to production. Lead all project management activities and able to assign appropriate work to themselves. Participate in Non-Advocacy Review (NARs) for design reviews on other programs. Make technical decisions in alignment with the Program Plan independently. Understand and apply the critical path method. Act on project based on Earned Value (EV) and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Manage EV for multiple work packages across one or more programs. Lead technical risk/opportunity register. Propose various solutions and tools for technical and project issues. Is knowledgeable in two or more product lines. Create solutions that can be applied to the product line in its entirety.

Company Information

Safran is an international high-technology group operating in the fields of aerospace (propulsion, equipment and interiors), space and defense. Its mission is to contribute sustainably to a safer world, where air transport becomes ever more environmentally friendly, comfortable and accessible. Present on every continent, the Group employs 110,000 people and generated €31.3 billion in revenue in 2025. Safran holds, either independently or through partnerships, leading global or European positions in its markets.

Safran was ranked second in the Aerospace & Defense sector in TIME magazines ""Worlds Best Companies 2025"" ranking.

Safran Electronics & Defense is an international company with more than 19,000 employees who bring together expertise and team spirit to design high-technology solutions for the aerospace, defense and space sectors. By combining human and technological intelligence, the company develops products and services for both civil and military customers, operating on land, at sea, in the air and in space.

Locate your future workplace

1833 Alton Parkway CA 92606

Irvine

California United States

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100,000

employees worldwide

27

Number of countries where Safran is located

35

business area families