Weight & Balancing/Mass Properties Engineer III-IV - Kratos Defense

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc., is a leading defense technology company focused on unmanned 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.

Kratos Unmanned Aerial Systems (KUAS), a division of Kratos Defense, is renowned for its expertise in developing, delivering, integrating, and supporting high-performance, cost-effective, jet-powered Unmanned Aerial Systems (Targets and Tactical). As a mid-tier defense contractor, we've demonstrated agility and innovation in providing aircraft to the US military and global allies and partners. Our track record of delivering top-notch jet-powered subscale targets has established us as a go-to defense contractor capable of delivering capabilities at an affordable price.

At KUAS, we prioritize innovation, collaboration, and growth. Our team collaborates to cultivate a supportive and dynamic workplace, fostering creativity and promoting professional development while honoring personal and family lives. Join our team and help shape the future of unmanned technology within the defense industry today!

General Job Summary

Act as lead authority regarding the mass properties of KUAS target platforms (i.e., unmanned aerial vehicles). Perform weight control analyses, report major aircraft design changes using mass properties database, manage database and reporting system, and develop systematic weight and balancing methodology to be applied across all platforms. Work with senior-level engineers and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) across numerous programs to

assess weight distribution impacts on launch characteristics and flight performance. Oversee modeling of fuel tank systems and fuel distributions throughout different flight stages. Develop methodology to assess the shifting center of gravity (CG) during flight and understand the impact on flight performance during high-g loading maneuvers. Disposition weight reports, provide source data, and review design revisions affecting aircraft weight and CG.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

The duties and responsibilities listed below apply to all levels of Weight and Balance Engineers. A Weight & Balance Engineer is expected to demonstrate proficiency in these duties, but may have several core competencies.

Primary job responsibilities will include the following:

• Develop systematic methodology for tracking and assessing vehicle weights, weight distributions, and centers of gravity(CG).
• Define weight, balancing, and mass properties related design requirements.
• Provide systematic and target configuration guidance.
• Lead efforts to design and/or modify supporting apparatus for measuring weight distributions and associated CGs.
• Develop and maintain weight, balance, and mass properties accounting system.
• Generate weight, balance reports and maintain in systematic database.
• Calculate component weights, moment arms, and mass moments of inertia from CAD models and engineering drawings.
• Define acceptable CG envelopes for external customers to ensure performance requirements are met during flight testing events.
• Conceptual and Preliminary aircraft design.
• Outer Mold Line (OML) definition including surface shaping, sizing and placement.
• Air vehicle performance requirements and analysis.
• Weight and balance estimation, tracking, and management.
• Engine inlet and exhaust design.
• Engine performance requirements/analysis.
• Develop, maintain, and document aerodynamic databases.
• Aircraft performance modeling and simulation.
• Simulation of airframe, systems, and environment.
• Classical aerodynamics analysis.
• Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis.
• Aerodynamic loads determination.
• Wind tunnel test planning, execution, and analysis.
• Support various hardware/software design, test, troubleshooting, and documentation activities.
• Flight test planning, execution, and analysis.
• Analyses in support of requirements generation, verification, and validation.
• Prepare formal, controlled engineering documentation (i.e. drawings, specifications, test procedures, technical reports, etc.).
• Prepare and present design review material in support of technical interchange meetings with suppliers and external/internal customers.
• Support customer training activities.
• Foreign and domestic travel to support test activities.

Weight & Balance Engineer III

• Performs complex engineering tasks as assigned by their manager.
• Supports program planning of engineering activities through detailed scope definition.
• May act as System Engineer to help communicate top level requirements to subsystems and determine proper verification and validation methods.
• Reports progress on engineering efforts to technical leadership.
• Provides direction and oversight, both technically and programmatically, to Aero/Flight Sciences Engineers
• Establishes and maintains best practices for design, analysis, and testing responsibilities held by the Aero/Flight Sciences group.
• Mentors Level I-II Aero/Flight Sciences Engineers.
• Other duties may be assigned.

Weight & Balance Engineer IV

• Provide oversight to the Aero/Flight Sciences group to help prioritize and delegate group work given the companys programmatic requirements.
• Manages the engineering teams effort and time within the budget and schedule provided for the task.
• Acts as key liaison for programs (both internal and external) on all matters having to do with aerodynamic design and performance, propulsion, modeling and simulation, and verification.
• Stays current on the "state-of-the-practice" through training and industry involvement/exposure, and mentors the Aero/Flight Sciences group with this knowledge.
• Mentors Level I-III Aero/Flight Science Engineers.

• Other duties may be assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:

None.

#Remote

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

Required:

• Highly self-motivated.
• Versatile and adaptable to diverse engineering problems.
• Demonstrated strength in one or more of the listed essential job functions.
• Demonstrated focus on customer satisfaction.
• Demonstrated strong communication skills.
• Must be able to work in a multidisciplinary team environment.
• Ability to travel as necessary to perform job duties.
• Ability to maintain sensitive and confidential information as required by government standards.
• Ability to interact effectively with peers and supervisors.
• Ability to interact appropriately with the public when necessary.
• Ability to adhere to workplace rules.

Preferred:

• MATLAB and Simulink experience strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with C/C++ and Java software is strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with unmanned aircraft systems and operations is preferred.
• Understanding of autopilot flight control design is strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with unmanned aircraft systems and operations is preferred.
• Familiarity with software configuration management systems is preferred

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Required:

Each successive level of an Weight & Balance Engineer builds on the identified education and experience qualifications listed for the previous level(s) of Aero/Flight Science Engineer. May be required to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance at the appropriate level (requires U.S. Citizenship).

• Bachelor and/or Masters of Science in Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, or Computer Science.
• 8+ years of experience working in area of weight, balancing, and mass properties.
• Experience using a mass properties database tracking weights and CGs.
• Experience using MatLab.

Weight & Balance Engineer III

• Requires BS degree in Engineering (Aeronautical/Aerospace Engineering preferred).
• 6 + years related experience in related engineering discipline.
• 3+ years lead engineer experience in the aerospace industry.

Weight & Balance Engineer IV

• Requires BS degree in Engineering (MS Aeronautical/Aerospace Engineering preferred).
• 11 + years related experience in related engineering discipline.
• 6+ years lead engineer experience in the aerospace industry.

Preferred:

• 10+ years of experience working in area of weight, balancing, and mass properties.
• Experience developing and managing large data sets and associated Product Data Management Software (PDM).
• Familiarity with CATIA or 3DX.
• Familiarity using Simulink.
• Experience with aircraft weighing apparatus, weighing procedures, and equipment calibration methods.
• Experience with instrumentation and data acquisition systems.
• Knowledgeable of military weight and balance reporting requirements and methods.

WORK ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Office and or manufacturing environment.
• Ability to stand and sit for long periods of time.
• Ability to perform repetitive motion (keyboarding, 10-key phones).
• Frequent outside contact with customers and suppliers.
• May work extended hours or weekends.
• May be required to lift up to 50 pounds in accordance with KUAS General Safety Training guidelines.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:

• 10-25% May be required to support flight test activities, new business development, and customer maintenance occasionally.