Under the [Company] 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 [Company] 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 [Company] 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 [Company] 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 [Company] 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 [Company] 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 [Company] 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 [Company] management experience in a Flight Operations environment.
Preferred Licensure/Certifications
[Company] TP/FTE/GTE qualification.
Private Pilot License
Travel Required
20-30% domestic and international