Senior Manager-Flight Controls Systems

Cirrus Aircraft•, AZ

About The Position

The Senior Manager, Flight Control Systems leads the strategy, development, integration, verification, certification, production transition, and operational support of aircraft flight control systems. The role leads a multidisciplinary engineering organization that includes flight controls systems engineers, control law developers, modeling and simulation engineers, and systems integration and test engineers. In partnership with the Advanced Design and Development organization, the team develops and matures innovative flight control technologies and transitions them into certified aircraft products. The position also serves as site leader for the Arizona Innovation Center. The Senior Manager is responsible for organizational leadership and execution, flight control system technical governance, certification planning, integration and test capabilities, resource and budget management, and communication with internal and external stakeholders. The role establishes processes, tools, and technical standards to improve execution and support scalable development of flight control systems.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Systems, Software Engineering, or a related technical field.
10+ years of progressively responsible aerospace engineering experience, including substantial experience developing aircraft flight control systems across multiple phases of the product lifecycle.
5+ years of direct leadership experience managing technical teams, technical leaders, suppliers, and cross-functional execution.
Demonstrated experience leading aircraft flight control system development from initial design through integration, verification, flight test, and certification.
Demonstrated experience developing, managing, or operating flight control system test facilities, such as system integration laboratories, hardware-in-the-loop benches, engineering simulators, or iron-bird test rigs.
Working knowledge of aircraft certification, system safety, development assurance, environmental qualification, and airborne hardware/software development practices, including familiarity with ARP4754A/B, ARP4761A, DO-178C, DO-254, and DO-160.
Experience with model-based development, simulation, requirements management, configuration management, issue tracking, and verification toolchains.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, sound technical judgment, and ability to lead through ambiguity in an early-stage development environment.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Systems, Software Engineering, or a related technical field.
Experience leading teams of 10 or more engineers working on multiple complex projects.
Previous certification experience with standards such as 14 CFR Part 23.
Process development experience, such as Six Sigma Green Belt or other process development experience.
Process mapping and deployment experience, such as VSM.
Use of design tools such as Creo, MATLAB, VBA, or similar programs.
Requirements management tool experience with PTC Integrity, DOORS, Jama, or equivalent.
Change management and configuration management tool experience with JIRA, Windchill, ClearQuest, ClearCase, or equivalent.
Pilot or Ground School experience.

Responsibilities

Build, lead, develop, and retain a high-performing multidisciplinary Flight Control Systems organization, establishing accountability, technical ownership, workforce plans, execution priorities, and a culture of safety, innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Serve as site leader for the Arizona Innovation Center, providing local leadership and coordinating site operations, resources, facilities, and cross-functional activities.
Lead development, integration, certification, and lifecycle support of aircraft flight control systems.
Provide leadership, governance, and oversight for flight controls requirements, safety, development assurance, verification, validation, certification, and technical execution.
Partner with Advanced Design and Development to mature, integrate, and transition innovative flight control technologies and capabilities into certifiable aircraft products for current and future programs.
Partner with Certification, ODA, suppliers, and program stakeholders to establish certification strategies, means of compliance, and certification plans.
Establish and oversee flight controls integration, simulation, and test capabilities supporting development, verification, and certification of current and future aircraft programs.
Own organizational budgeting, resource planning, schedule commitments, risk management, and performance reporting.
Establish engineering processes, tools, and technical standards that improve execution, reduce program risk, and enable scalable flight control system development.
Communicate technical, programmatic, certification, and organizational topics to engineering teams, program leadership, executive management, suppliers, and regulatory authorities.

Benefits

Medical, vision, and dental coverage, with additional dependent coverage options.
Employer-paid group term life and short- and long-term disability insurance.
Flexible Spending Account and Health Savings Account offerings, with company contributions to an HSA.
Calm Health, Employee Assistance Program, and wellness incentives through the medical provider.
401(k) plan with dollar-for-dollar match up to 5% after 90 days and 100% vesting after one year of service.
Various PTO plans starting at 100 accrued hours within the first year.
Paid holidays.
Two weeks of paid parental leave.
Paid time for funeral leave and jury duty.
Tuition reimbursement program and professional growth opportunities.
Cirrus Store, partner, and marketplace discounts.
Company and employee clubs at various locations.
Sign-on bonus.