New Product Development Engineer Jobs in California

Overview of the Position:

The New Product Development Engineer supports technical operations within an FAA Part 145 Repair Station environment. This role provides cross-functional engineering support for maintenance, repair, overhaul (MRO), new product development, reverse engineering, tooling development, and process improvement activities. The position uses strong mechanical aptitude and regulatory awareness to work collaboratively with Quality, Production, Procurement and Customer Service teams to ensure airworthiness, compliance, and operational efficiency.

The New Product Development Engineer assists in the development of repair data, alternate part documentation, tooling (TTE), and internal engineering processes while maintaining adherence to FAA regulations and company procedures.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Engineering & Technical Support

• Develop and coordinate New Product Development activities
• Help to identify and review opportunities for New Product Development
• Develop and revise engineering drawings, models, and technical documentation.
• Support reverse engineering efforts for alternate parts, repair processes, including DER repairs.
• Assist in development and maintenance of manufacturing and repair process documentation (FQCS).
• Assist in tooling, fixture, and test equipment (TTE) design, development and documentation.
• Evaluate parts and assemblies for fit, form, and function.
• Provide technical support to Production and Inspection teams.

Regulatory & Compliance

• Ensure all engineering data complies with FAA Part 145 regulations and company Repair Station Manual (RSM).
• Assist with preparation of technical substantiation packages as required.

Quality & Process Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve engineering workflows and documentation controls.
• Support root cause analysis and corrective action investigations.
• Assist in validation of inspection criteria and acceptance standards.
• Maintain configuration control and revision tracking of engineering data.

Collaboration & Communication

• Coordinate with customers, vendors, and internal departments regarding technical requirements.
• Provide technical clarification for manufacturing and repair activities.
• Participate in cross-functional meetings and project planning sessions.
• Maintain clear and professional documentation and communication records.

Other Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Working knowledge of FAA Part 145 repair station requirements.
• Understanding of commercial aviation maintenance and overhaul practices.
• Familiarity with GD&T and engineering drawing interpretation.
• Basic understanding of materials, machining processes, and inspection techniques.
• Exposure to export compliance principles (EAR, ECCN classification) preferred.

• Proficiency in CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks or similar) preferred.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to interpret technical manuals, CMM reports, and inspection data.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.

• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a regulated environment.
• Ability to work independently while maintaining compliance and documentation discipline.
• Ability to interface effectively with FAA representatives, DERs, and customers.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of proprietary and export-controlled information.

Education /Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related technical field preferred; equivalent experience considered.
• 2--5 years of experience in aerospace, manufacturing, or MRO environment preferred.
• Experience within an FAA Part 145 repair station strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with AS9100 or ISO quality systems desirable.

Other Qualifications:

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Language Skills: Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.

Mathematical Skills: Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.

Reasoning Ability: Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

The physical demands described here are representatives of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, and crawl; and lift up to 25 pounds.
• Is regularly required to sit and use hands to finger, handle, or feel.
• Is frequently required to talk or listen.
• Works in moderate noise levels.