Aerospace
Engineering professionals in Aerospace
These engineering leaders run or have run engineering teams at aircraft makers, aircraft engine businesses and aerospace component suppliers. A reader can learn how aerospace programs move designs through development, certification and production, and where those programs run into trouble.
Professionals to explore
01—10Chad Jakel
LinkedInExperience: Director and Chief Engineer 777-9 CI&R · Boeing
Director and Chief Engineer 777-9 CI&R at Boeing since 2025. The highlight describes production engineering leadership in the commercial and military aerospace industry. Other listed roles include Director and Chief Engineer, Boeing Everett Delivery Center at Boeing (2023–2026), Director, Seattle Delivery Center Chief Engineer at Boeing (2021–2023), 747 767 Tanker Engineering senior Leader at Boeing (2020–2021) and 777 Senior Production Engineering Leader at Boeing (2018–2020).
Dayton Whitfield
LinkedInExperience: Director of Engineering, 777X · Boeing
Director of Engineering, 777X at Boeing since 2024. The highlight describes more than 21 years of experience in aerospace engineering leadership, design and analysis. Other listed roles include Director - 787 Airplane Level Integration at Boeing (2021–2024), VC-25B Deputy Chief Engineer and Certification Engineering Leader at Boeing (2020–2021), Deputy Chief Engineer, 787 Program at Boeing (2019–2021) and Senior Engineering Manager - 787 Safety, Certification, and Performance Leader at Boeing (2018–2019).
Eric Possert
LinkedInExperience: Director of Engineering · Senior Aerospace SSP
Director of Engineering at Senior Aerospace SSP since 2026. The highlight lists this role in the Engineering and Technical department at director level. Other listed roles include Director Of Design Engineering at Senior Aerospace SSP (2022–2026), Design Engineering Manager at Senior Aerospace SSP (2020–2022), Principal Engineer at Senior Aerospace SSP (2016–2019) and Project Engineer at Senior Aerospace SSP (2011–2016).
Hassan Z.
LinkedInExperience: Engineering Director, Product Excellence Chief Engineer · Collins Aerospace
Engineering Director, Product Excellence Chief Engineer at Collins Aerospace since 2024. The highlight describes this role as Engineering Director for nacelle product development at Collins Aerospace. Other listed roles include Associate Director, Research & Technology at Collins Aerospace (2023–2024), Director, Technology (Defense Airframes) at GKN Aerospace (2022–2023), Design & Technology Director, Advanced Defense Systems at GKN Aerospace (2020–2022) and Engineering Director, Design (& Technology) - Defense Airframe at GKN Aerospace (2020).
Joel Kirk
LinkedInExperience: Executive Leader - Systems Engineering · GE Aerospace
Executive Leader - Systems Engineering at GE Aerospace since 2024. The highlight describes GE Aerospace as an aviation and aerospace component manufacturing company. Other listed roles include Executive Leader - Advanced Systems Design & Technology at GE Aerospace (2019–2021), Program Leader - Additive Design Technology at GE Aerospace (2016–2018), Operations Leader - Production Engineering at GE Aerospace (2015–2016) and Engineering Manager - New Product Turbine Design at GE Aerospace (2013–2015).
Kent Whitmer
LinkedInExperience: Director of Engineering · Able Aerospace
Director of Engineering at Able Aerospace since 2025. The highlight describes 25+ years of experience in engineering and commercial aerospace, managing product development from conception through customer acceptance. Other listed roles include Director Of Product Development at Able Aerospace (2014–2025), VP Engineering at Able Aerospace (2008–2014) and VP Engineering at WENCOR (1995–2008).
Kevin M Raub
LinkedInExperience: Sr Technical Engineering Manager · Honeywell Aerospace
Former Sr Technical Engineering Manager at Honeywell Aerospace (2020–2022). The highlight describes this person as an engineering leader for 160 global employees, with chief engineer roles in design, installations and turbine engine type certification. Also Sr Director at Honeywell Aerospace since 2026 and Adjunct Faculty at Grand Canyon University since 2025. Other listed roles include Staff Engineer at Honeywell Aerospace (2018–2020) and Staff Certification Engineer at Honeywell Aerospace (2015–2018).
Peter Umino
LinkedInExperience: BCA 777X Mechanical Systems Chief Engineer · Boeing
BCA 777X Mechanical Systems Chief Engineer at Boeing since 2023. The highlight describes serving as Chief Engineer (Director), leading a matrix organization of 400 engineers across Boeing Commercial programs, including hardware, electronics and software development. Other listed roles include Boeing Commercial Airplanes - Environmental Control Systems Chief Engineer at Boeing (2022–2023), Senior Manager System Engineering at Boeing (2018–2022) and Engineering Manager - 777X Environment Control Systems at Boeing (2015–2018).
Venkat Ganji
LinkedInExperience: Director of Engineering · Honeywell Aerospace
Director of Engineering at Honeywell Aerospace since 2026. The highlight describes aerospace product development and deploying digital engineering solutions for MBSE, design, simulation and digital twins. Other listed roles include Director of Engineering at Honeywell (2023–2026), Sr Engineering Manager, Product Development, Aircraft Engines & Power Systems at Honeywell (2021–2023), Sr Engineering Manager, Digital Transformation & MBE at Honeywell (2018–2021) and Engineering Manager at Honeywell (2015–2018).
Venkata Neeladri Raju Kucharlapati
LinkedInExperience: Director of Engineering, ECDA (Site Leader - Engines & Power Systems) · Honeywell Aerospace
Director of Engineering, ECDA (Site Leader - Engines & Power Systems) at Honeywell Aerospace since 2026. The highlight describes leading teams in the design and development of aero gas turbine engines. Other listed roles include Senior Engineering Manager, Structures (Site Leader-Engines & Power Systems) at Honeywell Aerospace (2026), Senior Engineering Manager, Structures (Site Leader-Engines & Power Systems) at Honeywell (2022–2026), Engineering Manager, Structures (Site Leader-Aero Mechanical) at Honeywell (2018–2022) and Lead Engineer (Site Leader-Aero Mechanical) at Honeywell (2017–2018).
Choose the right perspective
Check whether the person's relevant role is current or past and whether it covered a whole aircraft program or a specific system or component. Ask them for one design, certification or production decision they owned and what they would do differently.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01Tell me about a time when a technical constraint forced you to choose between delivering on schedule, keeping costs down, or meeting performance requirements. What did you choose and why?
- 02Which manufacturing or material limitation surprised you most during a program, and how did it change what you'd recommend for a similar project?
- 03Walk me through a reliability or quality issue that affected operating cost. What would you do differently if you started that program again?
Reaching engineering professionals in Aerospace
How can I contact one of these engineering professionals in Aerospace?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 6 companies, including Boeing, Senior Aerospace SSP and Collins Aerospace, based on profile data retrieved on September 30, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach engineering professionals in Aerospace?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. It includes Instant Expert's 20% fee, so an offer that pays the person $100 costs you $125. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot and may describe past or present roles. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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