Head of Research & Innovation

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Job Description:

The HO Research & Innovation (HOR&I) will support the CTO in managing all technical aspects of the Flexrotor Program. Working in close partnership with the CTO, the HO R&I is co-responsible for driving the program’s innovations and defining the long-term innovation roadmap. This role ensures the operational execution of R&D improvements and guarantees that both current and emerging technologies align with customer needs and company strategic goals.

Primary Responsibilities:

Innovation & Roadmap Development: 25%

● Strategic Roadmap: Collaborate with the CTO to define, maintain, and execute the Flexrotor innovation roadmap, ensuring

it remains competitive and technologically advanced.

● Technology Scouting: Identify emerging trends in UAS and autonomous systems to integrate into the innovation pipeline.

● Prototyping & R&D: Oversee the transition of innovative concepts from the research phase to practical application

within the Flexrotor platform.

● IP Support: Assist in identifying patentable innovations and protecting the company’s intellectual property.

Execute Program Technical Excellence: 60%

● Operational Oversight: Support the CTO in ensuring technical excellence across the program scope, aligning engineering

outputs with customer expectations and business interests.

● Gate Reviews & Life Cycle: Lead and participate in program gate reviews; manage the technical execution of projects to

ensure rigorous design, analysis, and testing protocols are met.

● Quality & Manufacturability: Review designs specifically for cost-efficiency, manufacturability, and quality assurance

compliance.

Technical Subject Matter Expertise & Mentorship: 20%

● Engineering Leadership: Provide direct guidance and mentorship to engineering staff to foster an innovation-centric

culture.

● Standards Advocacy: Implement and refine company engineering design standards.

● Risk Management: Support proposal development by ensuring technical compliance and identifying risks in new

technology integration.

Facilitate technology and knowledge transfer: 20%

• Participate in facilitation of technology and skills knowledge transfer

Qualified Experience and Training: 

Education:

Required: Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline or equivalent experience

Preferred: Master’s or Doctoral degree in STEM discipline

Experience:

Required

● Minimum of eight (8) years of experience developing and improving aerospace or aviation-related technologies or equivalent

experience in school or professional environment.

● Minimum of six (6) years of experience in UAS, autonomous flight or aviation/aerospace systems in educational or equivalent

experience in school or professional environment.

● Demonstrated problem-solving skills

● Good understanding of design principles

● Demonstrated ability to conceptualize, develop, and design structures, mechanisms, and systems in accordance with

customer requirements and applicable aerospace/aviation standards

● Experience working with other developers and engineers to ensure smooth deployment and continuous operation in an

educational or professional environment.

Travel Required: 

• 25% Domestic and International

Citizenship: 

•  US Person under ITAR definition (U.S. Citizen, green card holder or person covered under our existing ITAR license)

Qualified Skills: 

Knowledge, Skills, Demonstrated Capabilities:

Required

• Ownership, accountability, and attention to detail in all work efforts.

• Must understand principles of Airbus knowledge transfer process and ensure compliance to process. 

• Professionalism, and judgment; ability to excel with minimum supervision.

Communication Skills: 

Required:

• Ability to communicate effectively in verbal and written form in English

• Active listening skills, respecting others’ point of view and taking ownership of contributing the required input while

demonstrating strong communication skills (written, interpersonal, and presentational).

• Demonstrated ability to influence and consult (providing options with pros, cons, and risks) while helping in solving business

processes and/or technical problems.

• Demonstrated interpersonal skills, customer-centric attitude, and ability to embrace cultural diversity.

• Proven team leader, team player and dedication to being a team player.

Technical Systems Proficiency:

Required

• Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems supporting engineering development and configuration control

• Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and digital engineering environments used for aerospace system development (e.g., CATIA, Siemens NX, SolidWorks)

• Systems engineering and requirements management tools (e.g., DOORS, Jama, or equivalent

• Engineering collaboration and project tracking tools (e.g., JIRA, Confluence or equivalent)

• Data analysis and engineering documentation tools 

• Engineering simulation and analysis environments supporting concept validation and prototyping

Preferred

• Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tools (e.g., Cameo/MagicDraw, SysML modeling environments)

• Autonomous systems development environments and simulation frameworks for UAS applications

• Innovation management or technology roadmap planning tools

• Patent search and intellectual property documentation systems

Complexity of the Role:

Level of Decision Making: 

● Innovation Strategy: Collaborates with the CTO and/or Managing Director to make high-level decisions regarding which technologies to pursue and which to omit.

● Tactical Execution: Makes critical operational decisions based on the strategic roadmap provided by the CTO and Managing Director.

● Problem Solving: Solves complex technical problems using a high degree of independent judgment and advanced subject matter expertise.

Organizational information:

Direct Reports: 

Is this a people manager? Yes

# of Exempt Reports: 4-8

# of Non-exempt Reports:

Job Dimensions: 

• Key strategic influence on technological innovation and ability to meet customer needs

Nature of Contacts:

● Involved Communication on a daily Basis with internal and external parties

● Communications with internal and external stakeholders on technical matters

● Uses influencing and collaboration to achieve tasks

Salary range:  Based on the required profile: $190,234.00 - $230,304.00 per year, depending on the candidate's experience. Actual minimum and maximum may vary based on geographic differential. Individual pay is based on skills, experience, and other relevant factors.

Physical Requirements:

• Onsite or remote: 100% onsite. 

• 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 (personal computer, telephone, copies, fax machine, and related office equipment and using electronic identification card to enter building floors and internal doors): able to operate most office and personal electronic equipment and some tools including production tools such as hydraulic lifts. Daily.

• Carrying: able to carry documents, tools, drawings, electronic equipment up to 30lbs/14kgs.

• Lifting:  able to lift documents, tools, drawings, electronic equipment up to 30lbs/14kgs. Daily.

• Pushing / Pulling:  able to push and pull small office furniture and some equipment and tools.  Occasionally.

• Sitting:  able to sit for long periods of time in meetings, working on the computer. Daily.  

• Squatting / Kneeling:  able to squat or kneel to retrieve or replace items stored on low shelving.  Occasionally.

• Standing: able to stand for discussions in offices or on the production floor. Daily.

• Travel:  able to travel independently and at short notice.  Occasionally.

• 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.

• Personal Protective Equipment required:  Required PPE includes, but is not limited to, Safety Shoes, Safety Glasses, Hearing Protection, Respirators/Masks, and/or Protective Gloves as required by site and/or customer site

• Administrative position only PPE required: Steel-toed shoes are required for all shop floor visits, appropriate hearing/eye protection may also be required when visiting the shop floor.

Equal Opportunity:

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or other legally protected status

As a leader in our field, Airbus provides relocation assistance for qualified positions and a comprehensive compensation and benefits package.   

 

As a matter of policy, Airbus does not sponsor visas for US positions unless specified. Only applicants with current work authorization will be considered.

 

Airbus does not offer tenured or guaranteed employment. Employment with Airbus is at will, meaning either the company or the employee can terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause, with or without notice.

 

NOTE:  Airbus reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.  This position description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.

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 Corporation

Employment Type:

US - Direct Hire

Experience Level:

Professional

Remote Type:

On-site

Job Family:

Leadership

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Job Posting End Date: 04.17.2026Airbus provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetics, pregnancy, marital status, veteran status or other legally protected status. In addition to federal law requirements, Airbus complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, demotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, benefits and training. Airbus expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetics, pregnancy, marital status, veteran status or other legally protected status. As a matter of policy, Airbus does not sponsor visas for US positions unless specified. Only applicants with current work authorization will be considered. Airbus does not offer tenured or guaranteed employment. Employment with Airbus is at will, meaning either the company or the employee can terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause, with or without notice. Airbus reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the need arises. This position description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.

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Airbus is committed to achieving workforce diversity and creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome all applications irrespective of social and cultural background, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation or religious belief.

Airbus is, and always has been, committed to equal opportunities for all. As such, we will never ask for any type of monetary exchange in the frame of a recruitment process. Any impersonation of Airbus to do so should be reported to [email protected].