Sr. Director Flight Test Operations

Under the Airbus Americas Engineering (AA1) Organization, the Head of Production Flight Test team is responsible for the financial, operational, functional, resources and people management and leadership of his/her multifunctional Flight Test team at the Mobile Manufacturing Site. The Director of Flight Test will liaise with A320/A220 Program Engineering, relevant Airbus Centers of Competence and the Customer Line to obtain Certificate of Airworthiness (CoA) and customer acceptance of production aircraft.

Primary Responsibilities

• Operational and Functional Responsibility:

  • Manage all ground tests and flight tests required to obtain Certificate of Airworthiness (CoA) and customer acceptance of production aircraft.

  • Coordination with the Customer Line organization, including planning, to manage resources in order to achieve daily objectives.

  • Manage day-to-day operations to achieve daily/weekly/monthly industrial targets.

  • Work as an integrated organization by participating in inter-company activities such as, but not limited to, improvement, AOS, digital transformation, etc...

  • Establish, maintain updates and enforce the compliance of Flight Test Operations with FTC manuals for both the A220 and A320 Programs:

    • Flight Operations Manual (FOM).

    • Ground Operations Method (GOM).

    • Safety Management System manual (SMS).

  • Establishes Flight Test engineering operational strategies by evaluating engineering trends, establishing critical measurements, determining productivity, quality, and anticipating customer (internal and external) strategies and needs..

  • Translates company strategy by defining short, mid and long term action plans to meet developed business direction and initiatives.

  • Collaborates and cooperates in transnational and cross program Flight Test and Engineering routines and workshops to objectives, strategies and improvement activities related to process, ways of working and product improvement.

  • Develops engineering organizational strategies by contributing engineering information, analysis, and recommendations to strategic thinking and direction, and establishing engineering objectives in line with organizational objectives.

  • Shapes and translates the Flight Test Engineering organization to impact the top company objectives.

  • Defines with key national and transnational organizational stakeholders on Flight Test Engineering required performance and operational strategies to protect MMS industrial activities and serial ramp up targets

  • Manage team objectives and communicate metrics and Key Performance Indicators (KPI's) for the Flight Test activities and deliverables as well as defining, deciding and implementing corrective and improvement measures and strategies to foster efficiency.

• Resources and People Responsibility:

  • Creates and implements business and engineering compliant resource and capability development strategies, including determining roles, accountabilities and responsibilities, communicating and accomplishing the implementation of values, policies, and procedures.

  • Defines staff recruitment, selection, training, coaching, disciplinary, and communication programs, while planning, monitoring, appraising, and reviewing performance contributions, and planning and reviewing compensation strategies.

  • Provides leadership and direction to create and sustain an environment for an efficient, effective, inclusive and diverse engineering team while promoting and accomplish the implementation of the Airbus values and ethical behavior as a key behavioral standard

  • Accountable for building and promoting a working culture and environment that attracts, retains and develops industry leading engineering talent and minimizes attrition.

  • Accountable for defining and implementing corresponding processes to develop and maintain the team members at the appropriate level of skills and qualification, while fostering a spirit of commitment and accountability to ensure the highest degree of local team autonomy.

  • Accountable for the technical and soft skills / competences development of personnel who are qualified for Delegation of Authority for approval of Flight Conditions, and Technical Acceptance Completion (TAC) through DOS delegation from 1VX for the A320, and Airbus Canada for the A220.

• Financial Responsibility:

  • Defines, consolidates and manages in close coordination with engineering, finance and the Flight Test Engineering annual operational plan (AOP) content including finance/budget, resources, headcount and strategies.

  • Accountable for the Flight Test Engineering financial performance management throughout the year, analyzing trends, initiating corrective actions to variations to ensure the annual financial targets are met.

  • Define short, mid and long term financial efficiency strategies by estimating, forecasting, and anticipating requirements, developing action plans; measuring and analyzing the results to contribute to the A320 or A220 family program delivery and financial objectives.

  • Communicates business and financial performance to local and transnational management and key business stakeholders through regularly scheduled meetings.

  • Collaborates and coordinates with Flight Test transnational stakeholders to anticipate and establish workload scope, volume and decide on make/buy strategy for the business activities and to secure ramp up objectives.

  • Responsible for all financial aspects of the Flight Test engineering organization including budget and program performance.

  • Maintain an appropriate Flight Test Qualification (Pilot/FTE/GTE) to act as a crew member on Production Test Flights.

  • Conduct duties in accordance with the applicable Pilot/FTE/GTE job description.

  • Plans and reviews compensation strategies and reviews contributions to performance, providing periodic feedback and reviews to all team managers and group members and decides on individual and team objectives and performance achievements. Celebrate significant individual, team, or group achievements with proper recognition.

  • Accountable for the personal development of the engineering staff and ensuring that succession planning is in place for all management levels of the organization and for technical critical positions.

  • Measure team member performance and behaviors ensuring strict compliance with ethics and compliance.

  • Responsible for creating and maintaining an engaged, dynamic and resilient team that are capable of adapting to changing business requirements while maintaining a high level of engineering capability and authority and acting on deliverables.

• Manage Global Flight Test Support to external organizations:

  • Support other Airbus directorates on operational matters such as:

    • As part of the 1VX community, Product, People and Flight Safety are of major importance. Therefore, participate/support, when and if time permits, to activities related to Airbus directorates in operational matters such as, but not limited to, Engineering Directorate, Customers Directorate and customer support various activities. To be defined in coordination with 1VX and Airbus North America related organizations.

    • Support Customer Ferry Flight requirement when contractual obligations are in place.

  • Other duties as assigned

Required Education

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical or systems engineering or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred Education

• Flight Test Qualification as a TP/FTE2 from a recognized Flight Test institution.

• Master's degree in Engineering or Business Management.

Required Experience

• Minimum of 15 years engineering experience Aerospace Engineering activities primarily associated with Flight Test.

• Minimum of 10 years leadership and management experience in the Flight Test or engineering field.

• Minimum 5 years with preference in transnational and multicultural organizations management experience.

Preferred Experience

• Prior Airbus management experience in a Flight Operations environment.

Preferred Licensure/Certifications

• Airbus TP/FTE/GTE qualification.

• Private Pilot License

Travel Required

• 20-30% domestic and international

Citizenship

Authorized to Work in the US

Required Knowledge, Skills, Demonstrated Capabilities

• Knowledge of Flight Test Operations.

• Experience in management of highly technical teams.

• Overall knowledge of either A220 or A320 systems.

• Demonstrated leadership in a matrix, project based environment where positional authority is not clearly defined..

• Advanced knowledge of Airbus industrial processes, airworthiness requirements and aircraft conformity and attestation rules and processes.

• Knowledge of EASA and TCCA regulations concerning flight operations and flight tests.

• Demonstrated skills include: strategic planning, process development, leading and management of engineering and technical staff.

• Able to manage across international boundaries and cultures, prepare clear and concise analysis reports and presentations, clear and professional oral and written communication, professional appearance, demeanor and action, and maintaining and nurturing internal and external technical networks and relationships.

• Ability to challenge and influence the business taking the human aspect of change into account.

• Demonstrated project management skills.

• Demonstrated ability to manage stakeholder expectations.

• Demonstrated success working in a complex, matrix organization,

• Experience coaching employees as part of their professional development.

• Strong analysis and synthesis skills in problem diagnosis.

• Demonstrated ability to lead complex projects from concept to completion.

• Ability to work in a stressful environment.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, Demonstrated Capabilities

• Technical qualification as a TP/FTE/GTE on the A220 or A320.

Required Communication Skills

• Effective communicator and contributor in English of high-level functional and technical matters to teams, senior-level representatives of the company, suppliers, customers, regulators and the general public.

Preferred Communication Skills

• French, German or Spanish language skills

Required Technical Systems Proficiency

• Use of standard office productivity tools

Preferred Technical Systems Proficiency

• Google Workspace

Level of Decision Making:

• Highly complex and specialized, with a high degree of influence on daily operations and deliveries.

• This position is the Senior Airbus Post Holder at the Mobile Manufacturing Site for all Flight Operations and accountability required by the authorities.

• Operational decision making to enable performance of all ground tests and flight tests required to obtain Certificate of Airworthiness (CoA) and customer acceptance of production aircraft.

• Strategic planning and decision making for recruitment and development to ensure the long term viability of the department.

• Able to state Flight Test position without compromising on safety aspects even in front of top management.

• The position represents the organization on high-level functional and technical matters with senior Airbus management, US and international aerospace community as well as suppliers and customers.

• Being able to drive the change especially in the context of production and delivery ramp-up.

• Develop and lead complex initiatives in support of the business strategy.

Organizational information

Is this a people manager?: Yes

# of Exempt Reports: 24

Job Dimensions

• Responsible for management of all customer interfaces with the Flight Test Team during the Acceptance Process.

• Directly influences all Flight Test aspects of the Acceptance and Delivery Process.

• Overall operational department budget of approximately $US 2 million and responsibility for operation of assets worth over $US 1 billion on a daily basis.

• Responsible for compliance with all EASA, TCCA, and FAA regulations regarding Aircraft Operations at the US Manufacturing Site and accountable through the audit process to all applicable agencies.

Nature of Contacts

Involved, negotiation type communication on a regular basis with internal and external parties

Physical Requirements

• Onsite 100%

• Vision: Daily able to see and read computer screen and other electronic equipment with screens, able to read documents, reports and engineering drawings.

• Hearing: Daily able to hear to participate in conversations in person and via teleconference or phone and to hear sounds on production floor including safety warnings or alarms.

• Speaking: Daily able to speak in conversations and meetings, deliver information and participate in communications.

• Equipment Operation (personal computer, telephone, copies, fax machine, and related office equipment and using electronic identification card to enter building floors and internal doors): Daily able to operate most office and personal electronic equipment and some tools including production tools such as hydraulic lifts.

• Carrying: Daily able to carry documents, tools, drawings, electronic equipment up to 30lbs/14kgs.

• Lifting: Daily able to lift documents, tools, drawings, electronic equipment up to 30lbs/14kgs.

• Pushing / Pulling: Daily able to push and pull small office furniture and some equipment and tools.

• Sitting: Daily able to sit for long periods of time in meetings, working on computer.

• Squatting / Kneeling: Daily able to squat or kneel to retrieve or replace items stored on low shelving.

• Standing: Daily able to stand for discussions in offices or on production floor.

• Travel: Rarely able to travel independently and at short notice.

• Walking (include routine walking such as to a shared printer to retrieve documents): Daily able to walk through office and production areas including uneven surfaces.

• Appropriate hearing/eye protection may also be required when visiting the shop floor