Director, Aircraft Integration

Executive Recruiting Group • San Luis Obispo, CA

2d

About The Position

We seeking a Director of Aircraft who possesses the mindset to holistically and practically balance performance, safety, and customer satisfaction, while embodying the spirit of innovation that drives all decisions for the sake of the aircraft. As the Director, Aircraft Engineer, you will oversee the holistic design and development of the vehicle, integrating aerodynamics, structural design, propulsion systems, and flight controls into a cohesive, high-performance aircraft. You are expected to take ownership of the aircraft-level trade-offs among performance, electric propulsion, energy efficiency, vehicle control, safety, and regulatory compliance. Your insights will guide configuration, technology integration, and development strategies in this cross-disciplinary, rapidly evolving field.

Requirements

• Advanced Degree & Experience: Master’s in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline, with 15+ years of experience in aircraft-level integration, preferably with a focus on innovative air vehicle projects.
• Aircraft-Level Design Thinking: Demonstrated ability to think holistically at the aircraft level, making decisions that balance performance, safety, energy efficiency, and customer experience, always prioritizing what is best for the aircraft.
• Aircraft Structural & Load Integration: Strong understanding of structural design fundamentals, including load path design, load estimation for various flight scenarios, and spatial integration for optimal packaging, maintenance, and weight & balance.
• Multidisciplinary Leadership: Proven leadership in guiding cross-functional teams.
• Certification Knowledge: Understanding of FAA/EASA certification frameworks and experience embedding regulatory compliance into the aircraft design process.
• Ambiguity Navigation & Innovation: Ability to lead in ambiguous situations and evolve practical, innovative solutions under uncertain and rapidly changing conditions.
• Mentorship & Collaboration: Strong communication and mentoring skills, capable of fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing culture across technical disciplines with a highly diverse cross-cultural team

Responsibilities

• Lead and guide the aircraft-level design process, making strategic decisions that prioritize aircraft safety, performance, and customer experience.
• Develop and assess multidisciplinary trade studies involving propulsion, structure, control systems, and battery/electrical architectures.
• Balance customer-focused goals with technical feasibility and certification constraints across all development phases.
• Integrate electric propulsion systems, power management, and vehicle control into a cohesive vehicle design.
• Support and assess system architectures including VMS, FBW flight controls, and electric power systems with a deep understanding of their interdependence.
• Lead vehicle-level safety assessments and contribute to certification strategies with FAA/EASA regulatory frameworks in mind.
• Mentor and inspire cross-functional engineering teams while fostering a collaborative and culturally diverse environment.
• Continuously improve vehicle design based on test results, lessons learned, and emerging industry insights.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director