What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Design Engineer position at Red Oak Technologies?
Since 1995, Red Oak Technologies has been a trusted partner in the tech industry, delivering innovative talent solutions that drive progress. We specialize in quickly acquiring and efficiently matching top-tier professional talent with clients in immediate need of highly skilled contract, permanent or project management based resources.
Senior Design Engineer
Preferred Location: Colorado (Centennial area)
Additional Acceptable Locations: Dayton, OH; Plano, TX; Wichita, KS
Work Model: Onsite/Hybrid, NO fully remote
Citizenship Requirement: Our client is working government based projects and US citizenship is required
Position Overview
We are seeking a Senior Design Engineer to support the refresh and advancement of an existing aircraft design currently at Preliminary Design Review (PDR) maturity. This role will contribute to the evolution of a next-generation aircraft concept, updating and adapting the design to meet current operational and regulatory requirements.
The ideal candidate brings deep aerospace engineering experience, can operate independently, and is comfortable providing expert-level assessments within a small, high-performing engineering team.
Key Responsibilities
Review, assess, and refresh existing aircraft designs to meet updated requirements
Support system-level aircraft design decisions across multiple engineering disciplines
Participate in and support design and requirements reviews
Ensure design compliance and clearly articulate design rationale and trade studies
Contribute to proposal development and technical narratives as needed
Perform engineering assessments using existing models and data
Operate independently with minimal training or oversight
No heavy drawing production required in the near term; focus is on design, analysis, and compliance until 2027
Core Technical Skill Areas
Candidates may specialize in one or more of the following areas, with overall experience contributing to aircraft design:
Aerodynamic design
Landing gear systems
Hydraulic systems
Aircraft structures and structural assessment
Stress engineering
Weight & balance analysis (ability to communicate the aircraft’s “weight story”)
Aircraft systems integration
Propulsion systems
General aerospace systems engineering
Tools & Technical Environment
CATIA V5 (required): Ability to access models and perform structural and weight assessments
MATLAB
Standard aerospace engineering design and analysis tools
Limited drawing release during this phase; emphasis is on design maturity and compliance
Preferred / Nice-to-Have Qualifications
Experience supporting proposal development
Ability to translate engineering concepts into clear proposal or customer-facing narratives
Prior experience on similar aircraft development programs
Combined test and design engineering background
Ideal Candidate Profile
Experience Level: Senior-level (Level 3 scope or above)
Approach: Self-starter who can work independently with minimal direction
Education: Bachelor’s degree required
Capabilities:
Quickly assess and build upon existing designs, files, and requirements
Provide expert-level input without requiring extensive onboarding or training
Collaborate effectively within a small, fast-moving engineering team
Background:
Government or defense experience helpful but not required
Civilian aerospace experience strongly welcomed
Prior experience on similar aircraft programs is a significant plus
Travel:
Required travel to Colorado for initial onboarding and integration
Additional travel may be required for key meetings or milestones
All approved travel will be covered
Overtime:
Must be pre-approved
Overtime is paid at the standard hourly rate (no time-and-a-half)
Additional Information
This is a high-visibility, high-impact engineering effort with strong long-term potential
Significant engineering work will remain based in Colorado even if other activities occur elsewhere
Strong performance may lead to extended engagement or conversion opportunities
Red Oak Technologies is made up of people from a wide variety of backgrounds and lifestyles. We embrace diversity and invite applications from people of all walks of life. See what it’s like to be at the top; connect with one of our recruiters and apply today.
Let us help you find your next career opportunity! JOIN RED OAK TECHNOLOGIES!
Learn what it’s like to be a Red Oak Consultant!
Red Oak Five (Core Values): Relationships First | Exceptional Quality and Service | Unwavering Integrity and Trust | Be Easy To Do Business With | Respect Everyone