From Ontic's posting. “We” and “our” refer to the employer.
We are a fast-paced business with ambitious growth plans; so if you are dedicated, enthusiastic and always seeking ways to improve, you'll enjoy a career with us!
The Engineering Manager – Configuration Management & Applications Engineering is responsible for leading two critical engineering functions that ensure technical integrity, regulatory compliance, and successful execution of customer requirements throughout the product lifecycle.
This role provides strategic and operational leadership for the Configuration Management (CM) organization and the Applications Engineering (AE) team. The manager ensures company design and manufacturing intellectual property is maintained in accordance with ANSI/EIA-649 Configuration Management principles while overseeing contract technical reviews, proposal support, and customer technical engagement to ensure customer requirements are accurately understood, flowed down, and executed.
The position serves as a key interface between Engineering, Program Management, Business Development, Operations, Supply Chain, Quality, Manufacturing, and customers to support new business opportunities, sustainment programs, and lifecycle product management.
Essential Responsibilities
Leadership
Lead, mentor, and develop Configuration Management and Applications Engineering personnel.
Establish departmental objectives, performance metrics, and continuous improvement initiatives aligned with business goals.
Manage staffing, workload prioritization, budgets, and resource allocation across both functions.
Foster a culture of technical excellence, accountability, collaboration, and customer focus.
Configuration Management
Establish and maintain Configuration Management processes compliant with ANSI/EIA-649 and applicable aerospace industry standards.
Ensure integrity, control, and traceability of product configuration throughout the product lifecycle.
Manage engineering baselines, product structures, Bills of Material (BOMs), engineering drawings, specifications, and technical data packages.
Lead Engineering Change Proposal (ECP), Engineering Change Notice (ECN), and Change Control Board (CCB) processes.
Ensure configuration identification, change management, status accounting, and configuration verification activities are effectively executed.
Protect and maintain company design and manufacturing intellectual property.
Support audits related to AS9100, customer requirements, and regulatory agencies.
Collaborate with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, and Operations to ensure controlled implementation of engineering changes.
Develop and improve CM policies, procedures, and digital workflows supporting product lifecycle management (PLM).
Applications Engineering
Lead technical review of customer Requests for Quotation (RFQs), Requests for Proposal (RFPs), and contracts.
Ensure customer technical requirements and contractual flow-downs are thoroughly reviewed for feasibility, compliance, and risk.
Experience reviewing customer technical requirements and contractual flow-downs.
Experience supporting proposal development and engineering cost estimation.
Strong understanding of manufacturing, product lifecycle management, and engineering documentation.
Excellent communication and leadership skills.
Preferred
Experience with AS9100 quality systems.
Familiarity with military specifications and defense contracting requirements.
Experience with Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems.
Experience with ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle, or similar.
Knowledge of export compliance requirements (ITAR/EAR).
Lean Six Sigma certification or equivalent continuous improvement experience.
Experience supporting legacy aerospace products and sustainment programs.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Strong understanding of configuration identification, change control, status accounting, and configuration audits.
Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and technical documentation.
Strong analytical and systems-thinking capabilities.
Excellent project management and organizational skills.
Ability to evaluate technical risk and make sound engineering decisions.
Strong customer-facing communication skills.
Ability to influence across functional organizations.
Demonstrated leadership in developing high-performing technical teams.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and engineering information systems.
Key Performance Indicators
Configuration change cycle time
Engineering change implementation effectiveness
Configuration audit compliance
Proposal technical review turnaround time
Accuracy of engineering cost and schedule estimates
Customer technical response timeliness
Contract technical compliance
Engineering resource utilization
Team engagement and development
Working Relationships
This position regularly interfaces with: Engineering
Program Management
Revenue Management / Sales Team
Operations / Manufacturing
Supply Chain / Procurement
Quality Assurance
Contracts
Customers
Regulatory agencies
Leadership Expectations
The Engineering Manager is expected to: Champion technical integrity and disciplined engineering execution.
Promote collaboration across departments.
Develop and mentor engineering talent.
Drive continuous improvement through data-driven decision making.
Balance customer responsiveness with sound engineering judgment.
Protect Ontic's technical intellectual property while ensuring customer commitments are met safely, efficiently, and compliantly.
Work Environment
This position operates in a combination of office, engineering laboratory, and aerospace manufacturing environments. Occasional travel (10–25%) may be required to support suppliers, customers, or Ontic manufacturing locations.
Why Join Ontic?
At Ontic, we sustain the world's aerospace fleets by manufacturing and supporting critical products that keep aircraft flying safely for decades. You'll have the opportunity to lead technically challenging projects that directly impact commercial and defense aviation while collaborating with multidisciplinary teams in a highly regulated, mission-driven environment.
Compensation
Compensation Pay Range
$135K-$175K
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Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
This position must meet export control compliance requirements. To meet export control compliance requirements, a “U.S. Person ” as defined by 22. C.F.R. §120.15 is required. “U.S. Person” includes U.S. Citizen, lawful permanent resident, asylee, or refugee.
Employer application notice
Equal opportunity and accommodations
Ontic Engineering and Manufacturing Inc. is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex including sexual orientation and gender identity, national origin, disability, protected Veteran
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