Sr. Director Flight Test Operations

Airbus•Mobile, AL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

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.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical or systems engineering or an equivalent combination of education and 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.
Authorized to Work in the US
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.
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.
Use of standard office productivity tools

Nice To Haves

Flight Test Qualification as a TP/FTE2 from a recognized Flight Test institution.
Master's degree in Engineering or Business Management.
Prior Airbus management experience in a Flight Operations environment.
Airbus TP/FTE/GTE qualification.
Technical qualification as a TP/FTE/GTE on the A220 or A320.
French, German or Spanish language skills
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Responsibilities

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.
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.
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