Job Title: Flight Control Systems Engineer
Job Summary:
The Flight Control Systems Engineer Manager is responsible for leading and overseeing the design, integration, testing, optimization, and maintenance of flight control systems in aircraft. This role involves managing a team of engineers and collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure that flight control systems, including autopilot, flight management, and manual control systems, meet safety, regulatory, and performance standards. The Manager will be responsible for managing complex projects, ensuring system reliability and efficiency, and driving improvements in flight control system technologies and operations.
Key Responsibilities:
Team Leadership and Management:
- Lead, mentor, and manage a team of flight control systems engineers and technicians, providing guidance, career development, and performance reviews.
- Set clear objectives and priorities for the team, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and project deadlines.
- Foster a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, and innovation to maintain high standards of safety, quality, and efficiency in flight control systems.
System Design and Integration:
- Oversee the design, integration, and optimization of flight control systems, including autopilot, flight management systems, and manual flight controls, ensuring they meet both technical specifications and regulatory requirements.
- Ensure that flight control systems are effectively integrated with avionics, navigation, and communication systems for seamless operation across multiple aircraft subsystems.
- Provide technical leadership in system architecture, contributing to the overall design and ensuring high reliability and performance.
Testing, Validation, and Performance Optimization:
- Oversee the testing, validation, and certification of flight control systems, ensuring that all systems meet safety, regulatory, and performance standards.
- Manage and lead system-level validation, including simulation, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing, and flight tests, to confirm functionality under various operating conditions.
- Identify opportunities for optimization and lead efforts to improve system efficiency, reliability, and functionality, including reducing fuel consumption and enhancing operational safety.
Troubleshooting and Issue Resolution:
- Lead troubleshooting efforts for complex flight control system issues, identifying root causes and implementing corrective actions.
- Oversee the resolution of performance or system failures, ensuring that solutions are implemented efficiently and do not impact operational safety or performance.
- Develop long-term strategies to improve the reliability of flight control systems and reduce the occurrence of system failures.
Regulatory Compliance and Safety:
- Ensure that all flight control systems comply with relevant aviation regulatory standards, including FAA, EASA, and other applicable industry certifications.
- Lead efforts to maintain the safety and certification of flight control systems by ensuring that all system developments, testing, and maintenance adhere to regulatory guidelines.
- Ensure that safety-critical systems are designed with redundancy and fail-safe features, and that proper safety measures are implemented during design, testing, and operational use.
Project Management:
- Lead and manage flight control systems-related projects, ensuring successful project execution on time, within budget, and according to specifications.
- Develop and maintain project plans, track milestones, and allocate resources effectively to meet deadlines.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including avionics, systems, mechanical, and software engineers, to ensure successful integration and development of flight control systems.
Collaboration with Cross-Functional Teams:
- Work closely with other departments (e.g., avionics, mechanical, electrical) to ensure flight control systems meet overall aircraft system integration goals.
- Collaborate with suppliers, vendors, and third-party contractors to source components and systems for integration into flight control systems.
- Serve as the primary technical liaison for all flight control system-related matters, providing expert guidance to internal teams, management, and external partners.
Continuous Improvement and Innovation:
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives for flight control systems, staying informed on new technologies and industry trends to integrate innovative solutions.
- Lead efforts to enhance system performance, reduce system complexity, and improve cost-efficiency across the life cycle of flight control systems.
- Foster a culture of innovation, encouraging the team to explore new methods, tools, and technologies to advance flight control system capabilities.
Documentation and Reporting:
- Oversee the creation and maintenance of technical documentation, including system specifications, test plans, reports, and maintenance procedures.
- Ensure accurate and complete records of system development, testing, and certification activities for regulatory compliance and audits.
- Prepare and present regular reports to senior management, stakeholders, and external regulatory bodies on the status of flight control system projects, performance, and compliance.
Budget and Resource Management:
- Develop and manage the budget for flight control systems development, including costs for engineering resources, equipment, testing, and certification.
- Ensure that resources are allocated efficiently, managing costs while maintaining high standards of performance and safety.
- Track project expenditures, ensuring that projects are completed within budget constraints while meeting technical and operational goals.
Skills and Knowledge Required:
- Extensive knowledge of flight control systems, including autopilot, flight management, stability augmentation, and manual control systems.
- Expertise in avionics, navigation, communication, and control systems in the context of flight control.
- In-depth understanding of regulatory compliance standards and safety protocols for flight control systems (e.g., FAA, EASA).
- Proven leadership skills with experience in managing teams and leading cross-functional projects.
- Expertise in troubleshooting, system integration, and performance optimization of complex flight control systems.
- Strong project management skills, including experience managing resources, timelines, and budgets for flight control system development and integration.
- Familiarity with simulation software (e.g., MATLAB, Simulink) and system modeling tools for flight control system analysis and performance evaluation.
- Strong problem-solving and analytical skills to resolve complex technical issues effectively.
- Excellent communication skills to collaborate with internal teams and external stakeholders, including suppliers, vendors, and regulatory authorities.
Educational Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical field.
- Professional certifications related to flight control systems, avionics, or regulatory compliance (e.g., Six Sigma, FAA certifications) are highly desirable.
Key Focus Areas:
Avionics and Flight Control Systems:
Strategically overseeing the design, development, and implementation of advanced flight control systems and avionics.- Ensuring compliance with regulatory standards (e.g., DO-178C, DO-254) and driving innovations to enhance system performance and reliability.
- Managing system integration and validation activities to ensure seamless operation across all flight control components.
Safety and Emergency Systems:
Leading the design, testing, and certification of safety-critical systems such as fire suppression, oxygen delivery, and evacuation tools.- Establishing robust safety protocols and conducting high-level risk assessments to mitigate operational hazards.
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams and regulatory bodies to ensure systems meet and exceed safety standards.
Precision Instrumentation:
Defining and implementing strategies for the calibration, validation, and optimization of precision instruments used for navigation, communication, and control.- Driving continuous improvement initiatives to enhance the accuracy, reliability, and environmental resilience of instrumentation systems.
- Mentoring and managing engineering teams to build expertise and ensure alignment with organizational quality and performance goals.
Experience:
- 7+ years of experience in flight control systems, avionics, or related fields, with at least 3 years in a leadership or managerial role.
- Proven track record in designing, integrating, and optimizing flight control systems, including autopilot, flight management, and stability augmentation systems.
- Hands-on experience with the calibration, testing, and troubleshooting of flight control systems and avionics.
- Experience leading large-scale flight control systems projects and managing cross-functional engineering teams.
Tools and Technologies:
- Proficiency with flight control systems and avionics technologies, including autopilot, flight management, and navigation systems.
- Expertise in simulation and modeling software (e.g., MATLAB, Simulink) for analyzing and optimizing flight control systems.
- Experience with diagnostic tools and software used in avionics systems testing and troubleshooting.
Other Requirements:
- Strong leadership, organizational, and interpersonal skills to manage teams and collaborate across departments.
- Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and prioritize tasks in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
- A commitment to ensuring the highest standards of safety, performance, and regulatory compliance in flight control systems.
- Willingness to travel to facilities or aircraft for system installations, testing, and troubleshooting as needed.