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Job Description:
Are you a technical leader who thrives at the intersection of rigorous systems engineering and high-stakes project execution? As the Manager of Project Management & Systems Engineering for Airbus – Flexrotor, you will serve as the central nervous system of our engineering efforts. This is a rare leadership opportunity to oversee the entire technical lifecycle—from initial architecture and MBSE modeling to flight test validation—for one of the most sophisticated VTOL unmanned aerial systems in the industry.
In this role, you aren’t just tracking schedules; you are the guardian of the Flexrotor’s architectural integrity. You will lead a high-performing team of seven professionals, including Project Managers, Systems Engineers, and Autonomy Specialists, ensuring that every design decision aligns with our cost, schedule, and airworthiness objectives. From governing product development gates (P0-P3) to defining verification strategies for autonomous flight, your leadership will directly determine the maturity and success of the Flexrotor portfolio.
Meet the Team:
The Airbus Helicopters Flexrotor Program offers one of the most sophisticated small tactical unmanned aerial systems (STUAS) with vertical take-off and landing (VTOL). It can be used day or night by US and allied forces for a diverse range of intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) on land and at sea.
Your Working Environment:
Nestled in the heart of the spectacular Columbia River Gorge in Bingen, WA, our workplace offers innovation and the ability to contribute to game-changing solutions while enjoying the flexibility to spread your wings. Whether it's solving complex challenges, or celebrating victories, you’ll be part of a cohesive crew that thrives on innovation and the beauty that the Northwest has to offer!
How We Care for You:
Financial Rewards: Competitive base salary, incentive compensation which may include profit sharing schemes, retirement savings plan and the ability to participate in an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”)
Work/Life Balance: Paid time off including personal time, holidays and a generous paid parental leave program.
Health & Welfare: Comprehensive insurance coverage including medical (traditional and high-deductible health plans), prescription, dental, vision, life, disability, Employee Assistance Plan (“EAP”) and other supplemental benefit coverages.
Your Challenges:
Project & Technical Governance: 40%
Lead engineering project schedule development and execution oversight across multiple development efforts.
Manage and mentor team of Project Managers, ensuring performance, development, milestone alignment and risk visibility.
Oversee cost, schedule, and performance metrics to ensure delivery within defined program objectives.
Govern product development gates including Kick-off, CoDR, P0, P1, P2 and P3 reviews.
Drive technical risk identification, mitigation planning, and risk burn-down tracking.
Ensure cross-functional alignment between engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, quality and certification teams.
Escalate high-impact program risks and architectural decisions appropriately.
Systems Engineering & Architecture Leadership: 35%
Lead and mentor Systems Engineers and System Architect.
Maintain ownership of the system architecture baseline and configuration control.
Ensure end-to-end requirements traceability from mission needs through subsystem verification.
Enforce MBSE methodologies using SysML/UML for system modeling and interface management.
Oversee Interface Control Documents (ICDs) and cross-domain integration.
Provide architectural guidance for hardware, software, autonomy, and data systems integration.
Ensure compliance with applicable aerospace standards and regulatory frameworks.
Verification, Flight Test & Autonomy Oversight: 25%
Lead Verification & Flight Test Engineer and Lead Autonomy & Data Validation Engineer.
Approve system-level verification and validation strategy (ground and flight).
Ensure test readiness criteria are met prior to test campaigns.
Oversee autonomy validation strategy including dataset governance and performance acceptance criteria.
Ensure flight test data analysis drives configuration-controlled improvements.
Ensure Safety-of-Flight considerations are incorporated into system design and testing.
Drive continuous product maturity improvements aligned with operational performance.
Your Boarding Pass:
Possess a Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related technical discipline from an accredited institution.
Have eight (8) + years of aerospace project management and/or systems engineering experience.
Have five (5) + years experience leading development programs involving UAS, VTOL, or complex aerospace systems.
Have five (5) + years experience with MBSE tools (SysML/UML).
Engineering collaboration and issue tracking tools (e.g., JIRA, Confluence or equivalent)
High attention to detail; delivers accurate, complete work with consistently minimal errors and omissions.
Travel Required:
20% Domestic and International
Citizenship:
Must be a US Person under ITAR definition (U.S. Citizen, green card holder or person covered under our existing ITAR license)
Physical Requirements:
Onsite or remote: Onsite 100%
Vision: able to see and read computer screens and other electronic equipment with screens, able to read documents, reports and engineering drawings daily.
Hearing: able to participate in conversations in person and via teleconference or phone and to hear sounds on the production floor including safety warnings or alarms daily.
Speaking: able to speak in conversations and meetings, deliver information and participate in communications daily.
Equipment Operation: able to operate most office and personal electronic equipment and some tools including production tools such as hydraulic lifts daily.
Carrying/Lifting: able to carry/lift documents, tools, drawings, electronic equipment up to 15lbs daily.
Pushing / Pulling: able to push and pull small office furniture and some equipment and tools occasionally.
Sitting/Standing/Walking/Squatting: able to sit for long periods of time, stand for discussions, walk through office and production areas (including uneven surfaces), and squat or kneel to retrieve or replace items occasionally.
Travel: able to travel independently and at short notice, monthly.
Walking: Include routine walking such as to a shared printer to retrieve documents, able to walk through office and production areas including uneven surfaces, daily.
Annual salary range based on the required profile: $143k - $229k Actual minimum and maximum may vary based on geographic differential. Individual pay is based on skills, experience, and other relevant factors.
Take your career to a new level and apply online now!
A full job description will be provided to candidates who progress to the interview stage or any candidate upon request.
This job requires an awareness of any potential compliance risks and a commitment to act with integrity, as the foundation for the Company’s success, reputation and sustainable growth.
Company:
Aerovel CorporationEmployment Type:
US - Direct HireExperience Level:
ProfessionalRemote Type:
On-siteJob Family:
Leadership------
Job Posting End Date: 05.23.2026------
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