Principal Mechanical Design Engineer
RTX· Defense· Oct 9, 2026 · 19d ago
Asheville, NC
In office
Full-time
Principal
$133K–$210K est.
8+ years exp
Job description
Date Posted:
2026-10-09 Country:
United States of America Location:
US-NC-ASHEVILLE-330 ~ 330 Pratt Whitney Blvd ~ PRATT WHITNEY Position Role Type:
Onsite U.S. Citizen, U.S. Person, or Immigration Status Requirements:
U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are authorized to access information under this program/contract. Security Clearance Type:
None/Not Required Security Clearance Status:
Not Required
At RTX, the world s largest aerospace and defense company, 185,000 great minds are united by purpose and inspired to make a difference solving the world’s most complex problems. With our three market leading businesses, world-class operations and investments in research and development, we offer capabilities and opportunity no one else can. Together, we push the boundaries of known science and find new ways to connect and protect our world.
Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines and auxiliary power systems and has been revolutionizing modern flight for over 100 years. Join us and help shape the future of aerospace and defense.
Pratt & Whitney’s Hot Section Engineering Support to Operations (HSE ESTO) is seeking a Principal Mechanical Design Engineer – HSE ESTO Airfoils in Asheville, NC. In this role, you will provide senior technical leadership for military and commercial airfoil production support, driving corrective actions, engineering changes, producibility improvements, and cost reduction while mentoring onsite and outsource design teams and serving as a technical focal point for applicable airfoil hardware.
What You Will Do:
Lead corrective action, Quality Notifications (QN), Cost of Poor Quality, and producibility initiatives to deliver measurable improvements in quality, cost, and production performance.
Develop and approve Class II engineering changes using Pro-Cert, data-driven decision making, and risk-based “Right-size Analysis” to improve airfoil hardware and processes.
Serve as technical Subject Matter Expert (SME) and Component Integrated Product Team (CIPT) Delegate Approver for assigned airfoil part families and engine hardware while developing onsite and outsource engineering teams toward delegate authority.
Lead cross-functional teams with operations, quality, procurement, suppliers, and engineering SMEs to resolve root causes, Stop Delivery Order (SDO)/Fleet Podding Notification (FPN) investigations, eSRI requests, and Materials Resource Planning (MRP) related requirements.
Provide technical leadership and mentorship by managing outsource design quality, presenting recommendations to CIPTs/HSE-ESTO/Program Management, and driving continuous improvement and lessons learned.
Travel Requiremen t: 15% | Domestic
What You Will Learn:
Advanced HSE ESTO airfoil design, production support, and military/commercial engine hardware.
Leadership of QN, corrective action, Class II engineering change, COPQ, and producibility improvement activities.
CIPT technical leadership, Delegate Approver responsibilities, and risk-based engineering decision making.
Technical mentoring and development of onsite and outsource design teams and SMEs.
Continuous improvement, supplier engagement, defect assessment, and production process optimization.
Qualifications You Must Have:
Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field with 8 years of relevant engineering experience, or an advanced degree with 5 years of relevant engineering experience. Relevant expereince in engineering in mechanical/design engineering, production support, corrective action, and technical problem solving.
Qualifications We Prefer:
Advanced Engineering degree.
Aerospace industry experience in a design or manufacturing environment.
Previous airfoil design experience.
Working proficiency with MS Office, Teamcenter, SAP, and Unigraphics/NX.
Strong communication, interpersonal, relationship-building, and cultural awareness skills.
What We Offer:
Eligible for Relocation.
Learn More & Apply Now!
Department/Segment Overview :
Engineering Support to Operations (ESTO): ESTO provides dedicated support by eliminating quality notifications, escapes, works stops and enabling producibility and delivery of legacy and new parts, assemblies, modules, and engines. ESTO covers all engine programs and part families, enabling engine deliveries, first piece reviews, first article inspections, analysis automation, process certification. ESTO also supports the Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) initiative in Operations. Technical disciplines in ESTO include Project Engineering, Mechanical Design, Structural Analysis, Product Definition, and Manufacturing Engineering.
Please ensure the role type defined below is appropriate for your needs before applying to this role. This position is classified as:
Onsite: Employees who are working in Onsite roles will work primarily onsite. This includes all production and maintenance employees, as they are essential to the development of our products.
Candidates will learn more about the role type and current site status throughout the recruiting process. For onsite and hybrid roles, commuting to and from the assigned site is the employee’s personal responsibility.
As part of our commitment to maintaining a secure hiring process, candidates may be asked to attend select steps of the interview process in-person at one of our office locations, regardless of whether the role is designated as on-site, hybrid or remote.
The salary range for this role is 107,500 USD - 204,500 USD. The salary range provided is a good faith estimate representative of all experience levels. RTX considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role, function and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, location, education/training, and key skills.
Hired applicants may be eligible for benefits, including but not limited to, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, 401(k) match, flexible spending accounts, flexible work schedules, employee assistance program, Employee Scholar Program, parental leave, paid time off, and holidays. Specific benefits are dependent upon the specific business unit as well as whether or not the position is covered by a collective-bargaining agreement.
Hired applicants may be eligible for annual short-term and/or long-term incentive compensation programs depending on the level of the position and whether or not it is covered by a collective-bargaining agreement. Payments under these annual programs are not guaranteed and are dependent upon a variety of factors including, but not limited to, individual performance, business unit performance, and/or the company’s performance.
This role is a U.S.-based role. If the successful candidate resides in a U.S. territory, the appropriate pay structure and benefits will apply.
RTX anticipates the application window closing approximately 40 days from the date the notice was posted. However, factors such as candidate flow and business necessity may require RTX to shorten or extend the application window.
RTX is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any other applicable state or federal protected class. RTX provides affirmative action in employment for qualified Individuals with a Disability and Protected Veterans in compliance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act.
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Dental
Vision
401(K)
Paid Time Off
Parental Leave