The Deputy Chief Engineer for Aircraft Integration is a premier technical leadership role responsible for whole-aircraft convergence across SkyDrive’s commercial eVTOL platform. Reporting directly to the Head of Vehicle Development, you will serve as the primary engineering authority ensuring that all complex sub-systems—composite airframes, high-voltage battery architecture, distributed electric propulsion (DEP), fly-by-wire flight controls, and avionics—synthesize into an ultra-lightweight, safe, and certifiable aircraft.
Unlike siloed discipline leads, your mission is whole-aircraft synthesis. You will lead the cross-functional resolution of critical aerospace trade-offs: balancing payload and range against thermal limits, acoustics, aeroelastic loads, weight margins, and system safety. You will establish aircraft-level engineering governance, own the vehicle technical baseline, and guide the platform from detailed design through full-scale flight testing and Type Certification (TC).
Own the integrated aircraft-level technical baseline across all program gates—from preliminary design to full-scale prototype build, flight test, and commercial Type Certification (TC).
Establish aircraft-level engineering governance, technical risk registers, and decision-making frameworks for baseline design changes and configuration control.
Drive multidisciplinary trade studies (e.g., hover/cruise power efficiency vs. thermal dissipation vs. acoustic footprint vs. battery mass) to maximize commercial payload and range performance.
Direct cross-functional alignment across all core vehicle physics and system domains:
Flight Physics & Handling Qualities: Aerodynamics, stability and control, handling qualities in hover/transition/wing-borne flight, and flight control law integration.
Loads & Dynamics: Convergence of static/dynamic load loops, aeroelasticity, rotor-induced vibration, and dynamic landing loads.
Mass Properties: Enforce strict aircraft empty weight, CG envelope tracking, and growth allowance management.
Electric Powertrain & Thermal Integration: High-voltage DC distribution, thermal management systems, battery packaging, and motor/inverter interface synthesis.
Acoustics & Environmental: Low-noise rotor signature optimization and environmental qualification (DO-160).
Lead top-level requirements allocation, validation, and verification in strict accordance with SAE ARP4754B guidelines.
Define and maintain Interface Control Documents (ICDs) across internal work packages and external Tier-1 aerospace suppliers.
Lead cross-functional problem-solving initiatives to resolve mechanical, electrical, and software interface conflicts before hardware integration.
Collaborate with System Safety and Certification leads to ensure full vehicle compliance with civil airworthiness frameworks (JCAB, FAA, EASA—e.g., SC-VTOL, Part 23/27/29 equivalents).
Oversee the synthesis of Functional Hazard Assessments (FHA), Aircraft System Safety Assessments (ASA), and failure-state propagation analysis (ARP4761).
Review and approve aircraft-level technical deliverables, flight clearance documentation, and Means of Compliance (MoC) dossiers.
Build, mentor, and direct a world-class team of Systems Integration Engineers and Aircraft Architects.
Cultivate an open, agile, and rigorous engineering culture that emphasizes rapid problem resolution, cross-silo transparency, and psychological safety.
Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace, Aeronautical, Systems, or Mechanical Engineering.
10–12+ Years of Aircraft OEM Experience: Proven track record in whole-aircraft integration, systems architecture, or flight physics leadership within commercial/business aviation OEMs, rotary-wing OEMs, or leading Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) developers.
Full Lifecycle Integration Experience: Hands-on experience leading multi-work-package integration through major aircraft development gates (from conceptual sizing through prototype build, ground integration test, or flight test).
Broad Aerospace Fundamentals: Strong technical foundation spanning flight dynamics, structural loads, electrical propulsion/power distribution, and flight control systems.
Systems Engineering Mastery: Practical experience applying SAE ARP4754 / ARP4754B and ARP4761 processes on a certified or prototype aircraft development program.
Effective Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional engineering teams, resolve technical impasses between disciplines, and communicate trade-offs clearly to executive leadership.
Experience with electric or hybrid-electric propulsion, high-voltage battery systems, or fly-by-wire (FBW) flight control integration.
Familiarity with multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) tools, aircraft sizing models, or hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) integration rigs.
Direct experience participating in civil aviation certification reviews or flight safety clearance approvals.
Place of Employment
Estimated Annual Salary: JPY 13,000,000 – JPY 20,000,000
(To be determined based on skills, experience, and specialized aerospace integration background.)
Monthly Salary Breakdown:
Gross Monthly Salary: JPY 1,083,333 – JPY 1,666,667