Technical Expert, Engineering - Chief Architect, Aircraft Systems

About the role

We have an exciting opportunity for an Engineering Technical Expert in the role of Chief Architect, Aircraft Systems for the EcoJet blended wing body (BWB) research project. As a technical leader within the Research & Technology / Aircraft System Architecture Development & Integration team you will have aircraft-level responsibility to define, coordinate and oversee all activities relating to the aircraft systems aspects for this innovative aircraft research project.

The Chief Architect, Aircraft Systems is the primary focal point for systems-centered aircraft-level architecture development, trade studies, and technology integration. This role, working in close collaboration with the Chief Architect Aircraft Configuration, the Chief Architect Aircraft Structure, and with project management, combines systems thinking, technical leadership, integration stewardship, technology developement, and decision leadership. Its mandate is to drive the development of an integrated and optimized aircraft systems architecture, incorporating emerging technologies as needed, that supports the EcoJet objectives for sustainability, passenger safety, performance and operational capability.

What are your contributions to the team?

• Frame and lead the overall development of aircraft-level system architectures, concepts and solutions - and their associated requirements - that best respond to technical and program management needs.
• Apply an interdisciplinary, collaborative, and systems thinking approach to plan, architect, and develop aircraft systems solutions.
• Organize and drive aircraft-level systems-centric trade studies to support the development of aircraft architecture and configurations.
• Ensure that safety and certification considerations influence concept exploration and architecture definition from the earliest stages.
• Establish and govern critical interfaces across systems, disciplines, demonstrators, suppliers, and partner organizations.
• Maintain an authoritative and traceable definition of system architecture baseline and variants across requirements, models, interfaces, decisions, analyses, and demonstration results.
• Communicate aircraft system architecture, its key decisions, and supporting activities clearly to technical teams, project leadership, and research partners.
• Develop, execute, and oversee aircraft systems technology maturity plans, including application of a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) approach, to ensure that technology development closes specific aircraft-level knowledge gaps and meets aircraft configuration needs.
• Influence the technical direction of R&T program activities supporting all systems systems-related BWB activities.
• Maintain alignment between aircraft concept, systems architecture, technology roadmaps and demonstration strategy.
• Lead aircraft-level validation and verification activities from the definition to the execution including the associated documentation.

How to thrive in this role?

• You hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering or a related field. Formal training in Systems Engineering is an asset.
• You have more than 10 years of relevant experience in aircraft system development, aircraft integration, systems architecture development or multi-disciplinary aircraft design.
• You have demonstrated leadership of cross-functional technical decision making and architecture trade studies,  - driving for clarity, ownership and closure.
• You have strong understanding of aircraft-level requirements, safety, interfaces, verification and validation and technical risk.
• You have experience with innovative or immature technologies, integrated demonstrators or early-phase aircraft development.
• Experience in unconventional aircraft configurations, more electric aircraft architectures, distributed systems and novel propulsion concepts is a strong asset.
• You are effective at bringing disciplines together, aligning diverse stakeholders, clarifying responsibilities, structuring complex problems, and ensuring that aircraft-level decisions are properly documented, justified, and verified.
• You combine broad aircraft systems understanding with credible technical depth in one or more relevant areas. You know how to challenge specialists constructively without attempting to replace their expertise.
• You are comfortable balancing innovation with architectural discipline. You encourage exploration while ensuring coherence between different activities
• You are comfortable with technical risks, technological uncertainty and dynamic context.  You can create robust plans that incorporate risk-based decision making and adapt to changing contexts
• You have solid written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to interface effectively with different stakeholders internally and externally.
• You communicate complex technical subjects, project status, and risks in a clear and decision-oriented manner to stakeholders at all organizational levels. You influence through systems thinking and a strong aircraft-level perspective.