Director, Engineering Operations

Airbus is committed to providing reasonable accommodations as an Equal Opportunity Employer to applicants with disabilities. If you require assistance or an accommodation to complete your application, please contact us at USCareers@airbus.com

• Notice: Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal
• Notice: Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination  (English)
• Aviso: Transparencia en el Pago No Discriminación (Spanish)

Job Description:

Aerovel (The Airbus Helicopters Flexrotor Program) is looking for a Director of Engineering Operations to join our Engineering department based in Bingen, WA.

In this role, you will play a pivotal role in the engineering organization, overseeing its operations and administrative processes. You will also ensure the efficient and effective functioning of the engineering department by managing personnel, resources, processes, and administrative functions. Other dimensions include:

• Responsible for an OPEX budget of $2,000,000 annually

• Responsible for managing departmental budget to include CAPEX identification/justification

• Responsible for ensuring team operates within company procedures for safety, quality and on-time delivery

Meet the Team:

The Airbus Helicopters Flexrotor Program offers one of the most advanced 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 stunning 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 Pacific 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. 

• Individual Development: Upskilling and development opportunities through our global Leadership University, including unlimited access to 10,000+ e-learning courses focusing on ways to develop your employability, certifications, career path as well as the opportunity to participate in accelerated development programmes and both national and international mobility.

Your Challenges:

Leadership/Operations/Project Management: 65%

• Builds and sustains a skilled engineering team across managerial and administrative roles to effectively support business goals.  

• Assigns engineering responsibilities and delegates management and administrative decision-making to suitably competent staff.  

• In collaboration with Chief Engineer, the engineering organization delivers the scope of work, deliverables, and schedule for operational and administrative functions and supervises the execution.  

• Strategic Alignment: Working in tandem with the Chief Engineer to align all operational activities with the overarching engineering strategy and objectives.

• Project Execution and Delivery: Collaborating closely with a team of project managers to ensure that all engineering projects are executed on time and on budget.

• Identifies and ensures adequate engineering facility, tools, capital resources, and software tools to perform the engineering scope of work and manage engineering data/documentation.  

• Coaches and develops engineering organizations, focusing on employee growth, development, and succession planning.  

• Ensures accountability of team safety, quality, and work output.  

• Works collectively with other organizations to make work plan decisions for workload leveling.  

• Provides strategic and tactical recommendations for engineering operations to engineering leadership and executive management.  

Administration: 35%

• Financial and Schedule Oversight: Diligently tracking the engineering budget and schedule to maintain financial discipline and project timelines.

• Establishes and manages engineering administrative processes and procedures.  

• Manages human resources activities for the engineering organization, including recruitment, onboarding, performance management, and employee relations. 

• Talent Management: Focusing on the detection and nurturing of talents within the engineering team, fostering professional growth and development.

• Oversees engineering documentation and data management systems.  

• Ensures compliance with company policies, procedures, and regulations.  

Your Boarding Pass:

• Possess a BS in Mechanical, Electrical, or Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent relevant experience

• Ten (10) + years of progressively increasing responsibility for the workmanship and deliverables of an engineering organization.

• Strong working knowledge of aircraft performance trade-offs associated with weight, drag, power, climb, and aircraft range

• Strong working knowledge of manufacturing and quality control techniques and principles

• Demonstrated ability to work across teams within a complex matrix organization

• Demonstrated ability to lead design to manufacture and installation engineering teams

• Engineering Software design and modeling software

• 10% Domestic and International travel availability

• Ability to work in the US without current, or future, need for visa sponsorship/work authorization is required for this opportunity.

Preferred Education/Skills:

• MS in Mechanical, Electrical, or Aerospace Engineering

• Five (5) years of engineering technical management in Aerospace or Automotive.

• Five (5) years people management

• Expertise in the design, manufacture, operation, and maintenance of both fixed wing and rotorcraft

• Strong working knowledge of AS9102

• Private pilot’s license

• MSProject/Solidworks/Catia

Physical Requirements:

• Onsite or remote:  90% 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 daily. 

• 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 daily.

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

• Squatting / Kneeling:  able to squat or kneel to retrieve or replace items stored on low shelving several times a month.

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

• Travel:  able to travel independently and at short notice several times a month.

• 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.

Salary range:  Based on the required profile: -$166,000 - $240,000 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.

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:

Chief Engineering & Architecture <JF-EN-EA>

------

Job Posting End Date: 08.30.2025Airbus 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.

By submitting your CV or application you are consenting to Airbus using and storing information about you for monitoring purposes relating to your application or future employment. This information will only be used by Airbus.
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 emsom@airbus.com.