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Aerospace Chief Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Fibertek, Inc

Program Chief Engineer

Herndon, VA · On-site

Job Title Program Chief Engineer Location Herndon, VA - Herndon, VA 20171 US (Primary) Fibertek ... aerospace and defense * Familiarity with industry-standard engineering tools in one or more ...

Electra

Deputy Chief Engineer

Manassas, VA · On-site

We are a mission-driven aerospace team developing breakthrough technology that unlocks new ... Position Summary Electra seeks a highly experienced Deputy Chief Engineer to support the Chief ...

Sierra Nevada Corporation

Chief Engineer

Plano, TX · On-site

Join our team as a Chief Engineer and lead the charge in innovation and efficiency. Leverage ... Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Aerospace, or a related field. * 14+ years of engineering ...

Sierra Nevada Corporation

Chief Engineer

Plano, TX

Join our team as a Chief Engineer and lead the charge in innovation and efficiency. Leverage ... Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Aerospace, or a related field. * 14+ years of engineering ...

Sierra Nevada Corporation

Chief Engineer

Plano, TX · On-site

Join our team as a Chief Engineer and lead the charge in innovation and efficiency. Leverage ... Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Aerospace, or a related field. * 14+ years of engineering ...

GDIT

Chief Engineer

Albuquerque, NM

$169K - $229K/yr

MS desired * 15+ years of progressive systems engineering experience in aerospace, satellite ground systems, or large-scale DoW programs * 4+ years in technical leadership roles as Chief Engineer ...

Momentus Space LLC

Chief Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

With an experienced team of aerospace, propulsion, and robotics engineers, Momentus has developed a ... As the Chief Engineer, you will be responsible for managing the technical integrity and technical ...

Momentus Space LLC

Chief Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

With an experienced team of aerospace, propulsion, and robotics engineers, Momentus has developed a ... As the Chief Engineer, you will be responsible for managing the technical integrity and technical ...

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All JobsAerospace Chief Engineer Jobs

Aerospace Chief Engineer information

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$32.5K

$92.9K

$181K

How much do aerospace chief engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for aerospace chief engineer in the United States is $92,945.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $59,000.00 and $120,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Aerospace Chief Engineer vs Aerospace Systems Engineer?

AspectAerospace Chief EngineerAerospace Systems Engineer
CredentialsEngineering degree, professional engineering license, extensive experienceEngineering degree, specialized in systems engineering, relevant certifications
Work EnvironmentLeadership role overseeing projects, coordination with multiple teamsDesign, analysis, and integration of aerospace systems within projects
Employer & Industry UsageMajor aerospace companies, defense contractors, research institutionsEngineering firms, aerospace manufacturers, government agencies

The Aerospace Chief Engineer typically holds a senior leadership position responsible for overseeing entire projects and ensuring technical integrity, while the Aerospace Systems Engineer focuses on designing, analyzing, and integrating specific aerospace systems. Both roles require strong engineering credentials, but the Chief Engineer emphasizes leadership and project management, whereas the Systems Engineer concentrates on technical system development.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Aerospace Chief Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Aerospace Chief Engineer, you need advanced expertise in aerospace engineering principles, systems integration, and extensive experience managing complex engineering projects, often supported by a relevant engineering degree and professional licensure (e.g., PE). Familiarity with CAD software, finite element analysis tools, and project management systems is crucial, along with certifications such as PMP or Six Sigma. Outstanding leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills help foster innovation, coordinate multidisciplinary teams, and ensure project alignment. These skills and qualifications are vital for delivering safe, efficient, and groundbreaking aerospace solutions in a highly regulated and competitive industry.

What are some common challenges faced by an Aerospace Chief Engineer when leading multidisciplinary teams on large-scale projects?

Aerospace Chief Engineers often navigate the complexities of managing multidisciplinary teams that include specialists in aerodynamics, propulsion, avionics, structures, and systems engineering. One common challenge is ensuring effective communication and alignment across these diverse groups, as technical priorities can sometimes compete or conflict. Additionally, balancing project timelines, budget constraints, and stringent regulatory requirements demands strong organizational and problem-solving skills. Successful Chief Engineers foster collaboration, anticipate integration issues early, and create transparent decision-making processes to keep projects on track.

What does an Aerospace Chief Engineer do?

An Aerospace Chief Engineer leads the engineering team responsible for designing, developing, and overseeing the construction of aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and related systems. They ensure that engineering projects meet technical standards, regulatory requirements, and safety protocols. Additionally, they coordinate between multidisciplinary teams, manage project budgets and timelines, and often serve as the primary technical authority on aerospace projects. Their leadership is crucial in driving innovation and ensuring the successful completion of complex aerospace missions.
More about Aerospace Chief Engineer jobs
What states have the most Aerospace Chief Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Aerospace Chief Engineer jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Aerospace Chief Engineer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Aerospace Chief Engineer jobs are:
Aerospace Chief Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Aerospace Chief Engineer job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 92% Full Time, 6% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 94% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $92,945 per year, or $44.7 per hour.

Chief Engineer (Spacecraft)

Impulse Space

Redondo Beach, CA • On-site

$220K - $260K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Posted 10 days ago

Job description

Description
As a Chief Engineer (Spacecraft) at Impulse, you will be the technical leader responsible for the vision, execution, and mission success of a spacecraft product line. This role owns the system architecture and technical direction from early concept development through launch and on-orbit operations. The ideal candidate combines deep spacecraft engineering expertise with exceptional leadership, systems thinking, and execution in fast-paced development environments. 
As Chief Engineer, you will partner closely with engineering, manufacturing, test, mission operations, and executive leadership to drive technical decisions, manage program risk, and ensure delivery of highly reliable space systems. 


Responsibilities
  • Own the spacecraft system architecture and technical baseline across the full program lifecycle  
  • Lead cross-functional technical trade studies and major design decisions to optimize performance, reliability, manufacturability, schedule, and cost  
  • Maintain deep understanding of all spacecraft subsystems, interfaces, operational concepts, and mission objectives 
  • Drive the program technical roadmap in partnership with subsystem leads and subject matter experts while balancing performance, reliability, schedule, risk, and cost  
  • Establish and uphold a high standard of engineering rigor, technical discipline, and configuration control throughout development and operations 
  • Identify technical, operational, and programmatic risks early and develop mitigation strategies to ensure mission success 
  • Define and oversee vehicle-level readiness and certification processes, including major design reviews, test readiness reviews, and mission readiness activities 
  • Serve as the primary technical authority for the program with customers, government stakeholders, launch providers, and external partners 
  • Lead resolution of major anomalies and technical issues, driving root cause investigations and corrective actions through closure  
  • Champion continuous improvement across vehicle design, production, testing, operations, and organizational processes

Minimum Qualifications
  • 10+ years of relevant experience in the spacecraft domain  
  • 5+ years of experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams or managing large-scale technical programs 
  • Proven track record of managing hardware programs through the full lifecycle 
  • Excellent leadership, communication, and decision-making skills in fast-moving technical environments 
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD TS/SCI or TS/SAP security clearance 
  • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Aerospace, or related field 


Preferred Skills and Experience
  • 12+ years' of experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams or managing large-scale technical programs 
  • Direct experience serving as Chief Engineer, Deputy Chief Engineer, System Lead, or equivalent technical authority for a spacecraft 
  • Deep hands-on familiarity with spacecraft integration, environmental testing, launch campaigns, mission operations, and anomaly resolution 
  • Strong understanding of spacecraft subsystem interactions and vehicle-level architecture development 
  • Active TS/SCI security clearance  
  • Experience scaling engineering organizations and development processes within rapidly growing aerospace companies 
  • Intimate knowledge of U.S. Department of Defense standards and requirements  

Additional Information:
Compensation bands are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual level and base pay is determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related skills, education, experience, technical capabilities and internal equity. In addition to base salary, for full-time hires, you may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of stock options, and access to medical, vision & dental coverage as well as access to a 401(k) retirement plan.
Impulse Space’s spacecraft manufacturing business is subject to U.S. export regulations including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR). This position requires applicants to be either U.S. Persons (i.e., U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent U.S. resident (green card holder), an individual granted asylum in the U.S., or an individual admitted in U.S. refugee status) or persons eligible to obtain an export license from the U.S. Departments of State, Commerce, or other applicable U.S. government agencies. Learn more about the ITAR here.  
Impulse Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Impulse Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.