Product Engineer

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc., is a leading defense technology company focused on uncrewed systems, satellite communications, cyber security/warfare, microwave electronics, missile defense, training, and combat systems. Our customers include the U.S. federal government, foreign governments, commercial enterprises, and state and local government agencies. At Kratos, we prioritize affordability as a cornerstone of our technology. We leverage proven, cutting-edge methodologies and technology to minimize costs, streamline schedules, and mitigate risks, ensuring timely delivery of cost-effective solutions to market.

GENERAL JOB SUMMARY:

The Product Engineer is responsible for leading assigned products and engineering workstreams across their full lifecycle, from requirements definition through design release, production support, and customer delivery. This role serves as the technical point of contact (TPOC) for assigned customers and programs, ensuring technical requirements, design intent, and execution details are clearly understood, controlled, and delivered.

Reporting to the Lead Product Engineer, the Product Engineer leads engineering execution at the product and project level, coordinating cross-functional activities across Design Engineering, Manufacturing, Test, Quality, Supply Chain, and Program Management to ensure products are technically mature, configuration-controlled, and ready to build, test, and deliver.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Product & Project Leadership

Lead assigned products and engineering projects from concept through production and sustainment

Own day-to-day engineering execution, priorities, and deliverables for assigned products

Plan, coordinate, and execute engineering activities to meet program schedules and milestones

Identify technical risks and lead mitigation actions in coordination with the Lead Product Engineer

Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) - Customer Interface

Serve as the primary technical point of contact for assigned customers and programs

Lead customer technical discussions, reviews, and issue resolution

Ensure customer requirements are clearly understood, documented, and flowed into engineering deliverables

Support customer design reviews, test reviews, and technical data exchanges

Requirements, Design & Configuration Control

Own requirements flowdown from customer and system requirements to design outputs

Coordinate design activities with Design Engineering and System Engineering

Ensure designs are configuration-controlled and released in accordance with AS9100D

Lead and support engineering change requests (ECRs) and engineering change notices (ECNs)

Design-to-Production & Test Support

Ensure engineering deliverables support manufacturability, assembly, and test readiness

Support build readiness reviews, first article inspections (FAI), and test activities

Provide real-time engineering support to Manufacturing and Test during builds and investigations

Ensure design intent is preserved through production execution

Risk Management & Problem Resolution

Lead or support root cause analysis for technical and product-related issues

Quantify technical impacts of design changes, deviations, or process variation

Implement and verify corrective actions related to product performance and quality

Escalate technical risks appropriately to the Lead Product Engineer and Program Management

Documentation, Data & Digital Thread

Maintain accurate and complete engineering documentation (drawings, BOMs, specifications)

Ensure traceability between requirements, designs, tests, and delivered products

Support integration of engineering data into PLM, ERP, and QMS systems

Ensure engineering data is audit-ready and customer-ready

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Partner with Program Management to support schedule, cost, and risk objectives

Collaborate with Supply Chain to support sourcing, material readiness, and supplier technical issues

Work closely with Quality and Test Engineering to ensure product compliance and validation

Support continuous improvement initiatives related to product execution

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

No direct people management responsibility

May provide technical guidance and task leadership to junior engineers or technicians

Leads by influence, ownership, and technical credibility

Experience and Skills

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

Required

Strong understanding of product engineering and lifecycle management

Experience leading engineering projects or workstreams

Ability to serve as a customer-facing technical point of contact

Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and specifications

Strong problem-solving, communication, and organizational skills

Ability to manage confidential and export-controlled information (ITAR)

Preferred

Experience in aerospace, defense, propulsion, or regulated manufacturing environments

Familiarity with AS9100D, configuration management, and design control

Experience supporting production, test, and sustainment activities

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Required

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related discipline

5+ years of experience in product, design, or manufacturing engineering roles

Demonstrated experience supporting cross-functional engineering execution

Preferred

Experience serving as a customer technical interface

Experience in high-mix, low-volume environments

WORK ENVIRONMENT / PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Office, manufacturing, and test environments

Frequent interaction with shop floor and test areas

May require extended hours during build, test, or customer milestones

May be required to lift materials, components, or equipment up to 40 lbs

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

0-15% as required to support customer engagements, test activities, or other Kratos locations

THE ABOVE STATEMENTS ARE INTENDED TO DESCRIBE THE GENERAL NATURE AND LEVEL OF WORK BEING PERFORMED BY INDIVIDUALS ASSIGNED TO THIS CLASSIFICATION. THEY ARE NOT INTENDED TO BE CONSTRUED AS AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF ALL RESPONSIBILITIES, DUTIES AND SKILLS REQUIRED OF PERSONNEL SO CLASSIFIED.

A REVIEW OF THIS CLASSIFICATION HAS EXCLUDED THE MARGINAL FUNCTIONS OF THE CLASSIFICATION THAT ARE INCIDENTAL TO THE PERFORMANCE OF FUNDAMENTAL JOB JUTIES. ALL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ARE ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS AND REQUIREMENTS AND ARE SUBJECT TO POSSIBLE MODIFICATION TO REASONABLY ACCOMMODATE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES TO PERFORM THIS JOB PROFICIENTLY. THE REQUIREMENTS LISTED IN THIS DOCUMENT ARE THE MINIMUM LEVELS OF KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS OR ABILITIES.

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Job Benefits

Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance Coverage

Life/ADD & Short/Long Term Disability Insurance

401(k) Savings Plan

Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)

Paid Time-Off (PTO)

Holidays

Education Reimbursement

Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance Coverage

Life/ADD & Short/Long Term Disability Insurance

401(k) Savings Plan

Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)

Paid Time-Off (PTO)

Holidays

Education Reimbursement

Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance Coverage

Life/ADD & Short/Long Term Disability Insurance

401(k) Savings Plan

Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)

Paid Time-Off (PTO)

Holidays

Education Reimbursement

Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance Coverage

Life/ADD & Short/Long Term Disability Insurance

401(k) Savings Plan

Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)

Paid Time-Off (PTO)

Holidays

Education Reimbursement