Chief Engineer Manager – Aircraft Integration

The Chief Engineer Manager 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).

What You’ll Do

1. Whole-Aircraft Synthesis & Technical Governance

• 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.

2. Cross-Disciplinary Integration & Technical Loop Convergence

• 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).

3. Systems Engineering & Interface Architecture (ARP4754B)

• 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.

4. Safety Synthesis & Type Certification Support

• 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.

5. Team Leadership & Engineering Culture

• 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.
  
  

What We’re Looking For

Required Qualifications

• 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• 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.

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Type of Employment

• Permanent Employee or Contract Employee
• Probationary period: 6 month

Place of Employment

• Nagoya Airport Office: Nagoya Airport Terminal Building 2nd floor, Toyoba, Toyoyama-Cho, Nishikasugai, Aichi Prefecture
  • Measures to Prevent Secondhand Smoke: Smoking Room Provided
• Scope of Change: Places determined by the Company (including places where telework is performed)

Working Hours

• Discretionary labor system or Supervisor
  • Discretionary Labor System: Deemed working hours per day: 10 hours
  • Supervisor: As per Japan's Labor Standards Act, regulations concerning working hours, breaks, and holidays do not apply.
• Basic working hours: Start 9:00　End 18:00（Including 1hour break time）
  • Overtime Work: Available

Holidays

• 115 days off per year（Saturday / Sundays / Newyear holidays（12/29～1/3） / Company designated holidays）
• Annual paid leave
• Refresh leave (Granted after 1, 3, 4, 5 years of service)

Salary

• • Annual salary paid in 12 monthly installments (including fixed overtime allowance)
  • To be determined based on skills, experience, and abilities

Expenses

• Commuting allowance, business trip allowance, moving allowance, etc.
• Relocation Packages
  *There are some conditions.

Social Insurance

• Health insurance
• Employee pension (according to Japan standards)
• Employment insurance
• Worker’s accident compensation insurance

Scope of Work Change

• Reassignment may occur to any other work.