What are the responsibilities and job description for the Design Engineering Manager - Sustaining position at Van's Aircraft, Inc.?
The Design Engineering Manager for Sustaining leads a team of engineers responsible for continuous product improvement, cost reduction, and compliance within the product portfolio. This role ensures existing designs remain competitive, manufacturable, and reliable over time. The manager oversees design updates, regulatory changes, customer feedback integration, and engineering support for manufacturing and service teams.
Responsibilities:
- Manage sustaining engineering projects including design updates, cost reduction, and compliance improvements
- Lead a team of design engineers to provide timely support for production and field issues
- Partner with manufacturing engineering to resolve production challenges
- Ensure regulatory, safety, and certification requirements are met
- Support customers with technical solutions, retrofit options, and documentation updates
- Maintain configuration control and documentation accuracy
- Drive continuous improvement in design practices, tools, and methods
- Coach and mentor engineers to grow technical and leadership skills
Skills and qualifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical, Materials, or Aerospace Engineering
- 9 years engineering experience in a regulated manufacturing environment
- 3 years in a leadership role managing engineers
- Strong knowledge of product design, materials, and mechanical analysis tools
- Proven track record of driving cost, quality, and performance improvements
- Experience with CAD (SolidWorks preferred), PLM/PDM systems, and regulatory compliance processes
- Preference for candidates who are involved and passionate about aviation
Work Environment:
Split between office and shop floor. Must be available for business travel as needed (approx. 10%).
About Van's Aircraft, Inc.
Van's Aircraft, founded in 1973 by Richard VanGrunsven, leads in designing and manufacturing high-performance kit aircraft. With a strong reputation for innovation and excellence, Van's is based at Oregon’s Aurora State Airport (KUAO) and is home to a dedicated team of about 110 employees. We are committed to improving our products to meet the highest standards of safety, quality, and performance. As Van's continues to grow, we’re expanding our capabilities and exploring new opportunities in aviation, creating exciting career potential. We value cross-departmental collaboration, providing visibility into how your role contributes to our collective success. We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including paid time off, holidays, health, dental, vision, life and short-term disability insurance, a 401K plan, and access to an employee flying club.
