The Chief Engineer for Environmental Control & Thermal Systems leads the technical vision, strategy, and execution for the design, development, and integration of aircraft environmental control and thermal management systems. This senior leadership role drives innovation, ensures compliance with regulatory standards, and guides cross-functional engineering teams to deliver high-performance, reliable, and efficient ECS and thermal solutions across aircraft platforms.
Key Responsibilities:
Define and lead the technical roadmap and architecture for aircraft environmental control systems (ECS), including air conditioning, pressurization, ventilation, and thermal management
Oversee system-level design, integration, and validation activities, ensuring solutions meet performance, reliability, safety, and certification requirements
Collaborate with system architects, mechanical, thermal, and electrical engineering teams to optimize ECS design and integration within the aircraft environment
Provide technical leadership during system trade studies, risk assessments, and failure mode analyses
Drive innovation in thermal control technologies, materials, and control strategies to enhance system efficiency and sustainability
Lead compliance efforts with aerospace regulatory bodies (FAA, EASA) and industry standards (RTCA DO-160, AS9100)
Mentor and develop engineering leadership and technical staff, fostering a culture of technical excellence and continuous improvement
Represent the ECS and thermal systems function in executive-level program reviews, customer engagements, and strategic planning
Collaborate with suppliers and manufacturing teams to ensure design for manufacturability, maintainability, and cost targets
Champion quality, safety, and reliability initiatives throughout the product lifecycle
Key Focus Areas:
Technical leadership and strategy for environmental control and thermal systems
System design, integration, and certification
Innovation and technology advancement
Cross-functional team leadership and mentorship
Regulatory compliance and risk management
Qualifications & Skills:
Education:
Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field (required)
Master’s degree or PhD (preferred)
Experience:
15+ years of progressive engineering leadership in aerospace environmental control, thermal systems, or related fields
Proven experience leading complex system development programs from concept through certification and production
Deep knowledge of aircraft ECS architecture, thermal analysis, fluid dynamics, and control systems
Technical Skills:
Expertise in system-level design, thermal-fluid simulation, FEA, and system integration
Proficient with CAD tools (CATIA, NX, Creo) and thermal modeling software (e.g., ANSYS Fluent, Thermal Desktop)
Familiar with certification requirements and test methodologies for aerospace environmental systems
Strong understanding of materials and manufacturing processes relevant to ECS components
Soft Skills:
Visionary technical leader with excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
Strategic thinker with ability to influence executive decision-making
Collaborative, mentoring-focused, and able to inspire high-performance teams
Results-oriented with strong problem-solving and risk management capabilities