Senior Staff Engineer, Environmental Control Systems (RX) (R5905)

Dallas · USD 180,800-271,200 / year · Onsite · Posted Sep 22, 2026

At a glance

As a Senior Staff (L5) Environmental Control System (ECS) Engineer, you will take full technical ownership of the Environmental Control System architecture, analysis, design, and integration for a dedicated special access program.
Serving as the sole ECS subject matter expert on this program, you will work from first principles to execute trades, size systems, design hardware, manage external suppliers, support proposals and capture, and deliver flight-ready hardware in a rapid-iteration development environment.

Lead ECS architecture definition and trade studies to meet vehicle thermal, electrical, mass, and volume constraints.
Design and analyze vehicle air inlets, scoops, ducting networks, and ram-air cooling circuits to ensure adequate flow across flight envelopes.
Perform first-principles thermodynamic and heat transfer hand calculations, backed by 1D fluid-thermal network modeling.
Author technical specifications and statements of work (SOW) for ECS hardware, evaluate vendors, and drive supplier technical execution.
Define qualification and verification test plans, design test rigs, support instrumentation/DAQ setup, and execute test campaigns to validate performance against requirements.
Process flight-test thermal and fluid data to identify discrepancies, resolve anomalies via root-cause investigation, and implement rapid design changes.

US Citizens Only & Must have an Active Secret or higher clearance.
8 to 15 years of direct experience in aerospace Environmental Control System and vehicle thermal/fluid system development.
B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
Deep mastery of thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, and heat transfer applied to aircraft or defense systems.
Demonstrated capability with 1D system modeling and ability to size systems from inlets to ram circuits to liquid cooling systems, air cooling systems, and more.
Experience in 3D CAD modeling, routing, and drawing release with PLM workflows.
Proven track record sourcing COTS/custom aerospace components, driving suppliers to schedule, and assembling benchtop or vehicle-level test setups.
Demonstrated ability to self-direct, prioritize technical tasks without oversight, and deliver functional hardware under tight timelines.
Familiarity with aerospace environmental requirements and test standards.