Manager - Product Innovation

Position: MANAGER - PRODUCT INNOVATION
AeroTEC’s Engineering Department provides comprehensive, full-service aerospace engineering across the full aircraft development lifecycle — design, analysis, integration, test, and certification. Spanning Structures and Flight Sciences, Design and Stress, Mechanical Systems, Aircraft Systems, Systems Engineering and Certification, Test and Evaluation, and Product Innovation, the Department delivers the technical capability behind AeroTEC’s customer programs and its own products, and is central to the company’s mission to pioneer the future of sustainable aerospace.

The Manager, Product Innovation is responsible for leading AeroTEC’s Product Innovation function, driving the development and execution of new product concepts from inception through prototype, test, and delivery. This includes providing technical leadership and ownership across mechanical design, wind tunnel models, structural and systems analysis, and design-for-certification activities required to bring novel aerospace products to market. The Manager is responsible for the development, maintenance, and consistent application of product development processes, for managing a team of Group Leads and Engineers, and for overseeing the cost, schedule, and quality performance of Product Innovation scope across a portfolio of programs.

This role requires the significant exercise of independent discretion and judgment in matters of significance.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (Essential Functions):

Hold formal responsibility for the AeroTEC Mechanical Design and Wind Tunnel Model (WTM) Engineering skill codes, including the planning, resourcing, technical quality, capability development, and overall cost and schedule performance on the portfolio of programs.

Lead AeroTEC’s Product Innovation function across the full product development lifecycle for every program and project, including:

Concept and ideation – driving the ideation and concept-development process and fostering an environment of innovation, creative problem-solving, and lean continuous improvement.

Mechanical design – conceptual and detailed design of products, assemblies, and installations, including CAD/PLM modeling and prototype-ready definition.

Wind tunnel models (WTM) – design, build coordination, and delivery of wind tunnel models and associated test articles.

Analysis and design-for-certification – structural and systems analysis ensuring compliance with relevant customer, regulatory, and airworthiness requirements.

Prototype and delivery – prototyping, testing, and transition of new products through to delivery.

Develop, maintain, and continuously improve AeroTEC’s product development processes, procedures, templates, and toolsets, including PLM systems, CAD standards, and prototype manufacturing workflows; mentor and support other engineering disciplines in their correct application.

Provide functional review of generated bids, proposals, and statements of work within assigned programs/projects; support business development with technical input for new opportunities.

Assess, manage, and mitigate overall technical risk within assigned programs; independently review deliverables and assist Program Managers in managing program technical risk.

Lead cross-functional collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, including:

Systems Engineering & Certification – to ensure product requirements are correctly allocated, verified, and certified.

Design & Stress, Mechanical Systems, and Test & Evaluation – to integrate, analyze, and validate product designs.

Manufacturing – to ensure prototypes and products are producible and delivered on schedule.

Program Management – to integrate Product Innovation scope, deliverables, and risks into program plans and customer reporting.

Customers, suppliers, and certification authorities – representing AeroTEC’s Product Innovation position with technical authority and professionalism.

Manage and support a portfolio of programs from a Product Innovation perspective – own the cost and schedule performance of Product Innovation scope, applying Earned Value Management (EVM) principles to plan, baseline, measure (BCWS, BCWP, ACWP, CV, SV, CPI, SPI),…