Chief Engineer, Defense NPD

About Oshkosh AeroTech an Oshkosh company

Oshkosh AeroTech is a leading provider of aviation ground support products gate equipment and airport services to commercial airlines airports air-freight carriers ground handling and military customers. Oshkosh AeroTech offers products that make a difference in peoples lives by supporting those in our communities who do some of the toughest work. They own many of the most trusted brands in the air transportation industry including LEKTRO JetAire JetPower AmpTekÔ Jetway and more.

The Chief Engineer (NPD Defense) leads and manages a multidisciplinary engineering team focused on the development integration and support of defense and military product lines. This role is responsible for driving new product development with a strong emphasis on mechanical engineering excellence system integration and technical leadership.

This position operates at the intersection of leadership and deep technical expertise. Depending on organizational structure this role may function as a combined people leader and technical lead or evolve into a highly technical chief/principal engineer role with reduced direct management responsibilities. The Chief Engineer plays a critical role in shaping the future engineering structure including the separation and maturation of new product development and sustaining engineering capabilities.

The role requires strong mechanical engineering fundamentals particularly in mobile HVAC and power systems along with the ability to guide complex system-level design ensure compliance with military standards and drive innovation across a growing defense portfolio.

YOUR IMPACT

These duties are not meant to be all-inclusive and other duties may be assigned

• Lead and develop an engineering team consisting of engineers designers and technicians with flexibility to scale or restructure based on future organizational design

• Provide both technical leadership and people leadership balancing system-level engineering guidance with team development accountability and performance management

• Collaborate on the development and execution of engineering strategy across defense-focused product lines including both new product development and legacy product support with Product Management

• Lead the continued development and expansion of key defense products while supporting the transition away from low-volume legacy programs

• Establish and reinforce strong mechanical engineering practices including form fit function system packaging and overall design integrity

• Guide system-level design across integrated mechanical thermal and power systems including:

  • Mobile HVAC systems (compressors condensers evaporators thermal calculations)

  • Airflow and pressurization requirements including aircraft cooling applications and air start

  • Power generation and delivery systems requiring stable controlled voltage outputs

• Collaborate closely with electrical controls and software engineers to ensure full system integration across multidisciplinary domains

• Support and influence the evolution of organizational structure including the separation of new product development and sustaining engineering workstreams

• Ensure engineering work aligns with military and defense program requirements including MIL-SPEC compliance first article inspections and documentation standards

• Partner with program management and cross-functional teams to ensure alignment on project execution and technical requirements

• Serve as a key technical decision-maker influencing product direction architecture and adoption of new technologies

• Act as a technical advisor and mentor across the engineering organization

• Interface with customers suppliers and internal stakeholders to resolve complex technical challenges

• Contribute to budgeting forecasting and product line strategy including understanding business performance and P&L considerations

• Drive continuous improvement in engineering processes development methodologies and system integration approaches to local and Oshkosh policies

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Accredited Bachelors degree in Engineering or related field with ten (10) or more years of related experience

• Exposure to both new product development and sustaining engineering environments

• Experience working in cross-functional teams including controls electrical and software engineering

STANDOUT QUALIFICATIONS

• Accredited Masters degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering

• Strong mechanical engineering background with emphasis on system-level design rather than pure CAD execution

• Experience with mobile HVAC systems thermal management or air handling systems in industrial or heavy equipment environments

• Understanding of integrated power and air systems including voltage regulation and system stability requirements

• Experience working on defense or military programs including familiarity with MIL-SPEC standards and compliance documentation

• Familiarity with Siemens NX and Teamcenter or similar PLM/CAD systems

• Strong business acumen including exposure to product strategy cost management or P&L considerations

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Internal Contacts

  • Frequent interaction with engineering leadership cross-functional teams and program stakeholders

• External Contacts

  • Regular interaction with customers suppliers and external partners

• Communication Skills

  • Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences

• Decision-Making

  • Significant responsibility for high-impact technical and organizational decisions

• Complexity Judgment and Problem Solving

  • Ability to operate in a dynamic environment with evolving organizational structure and competing priorities

• Supervisory/Managerial

  • May include direct leadership responsibilities depending on final role structure

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Physical Demands

  • Frequent: Standing Walking Sitting Reaching Hearing Talking Visual Typing

  • Occasional: Driving Fine Dexterity Manual Dexterity

  • Seldom: Lifting/Carrying 25 lbs. Pushing/Pulling 25 lbs.

• Non-Physical Demands

  • Frequent: Analysis/Reasoning Communication Reading Writing Sustained Mental Activity

• Environmental Demands

  • Frequent: Independent work task switching detailed technical work

  • Occasional: High volume interactions

• Work Schedule

  • Routine shift hours with occasional additional time required

• Demands/Deadlines

  • High volume variable work demands requiring strong prioritization and adaptability

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Pay Range:

The above pay range reflects the minimum and maximum target pay for the position across all U.S. locations. Within this range individual pay is determined by various factors including the scope and responsibilities of the role the candidates experience education and skills as well as the equity of pay among team members in similar positions. Beyond offering a competitive total rewards package we prioritize a people-first culture and offer various opportunities to support team member growth and success.

Oshkosh is committed to working with and offering reasonable accommodation to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to disability for any part of the employment process please contact us at

Oshkosh Corporation is a merit-based Equal Opportunity opportunities are open for application to all qualified individuals and selection decisions are made without regard to race color religion sex national origin age disability veteran status or other protected characteristic. To the extent that information is provided or collected regarding categories as provided by law it will in no way affect the decision regarding an employment application.

Oshkosh Corporation will not discharge or in any manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about discussed or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge (b) in furtherance of an investigation proceeding hearing or action including an investigation conducted by the employer or (c) consistent with Oshkosh Corporations legal duty to furnish information.

Certain positions with Oshkosh Corporation require access to controlled goods and technologies subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations or the Export Administration Regulations. Applicants for these positions may need to be U.S. Persons as defined in these regulations. Generally a U.S. Person is a U.S. citizen lawful permanent resident or an individual who has been admitted as a refugee or granted asylum.