Job Title: Senior Manager, DER & STRUCTURE SYSTEMS -USA PRODUCTS Department: Engineering Reports to: Double reporting, LH US VP of Engineering and Head of Structure Systems D&D Location(s): Philadelphia, PA, with less than 10% domestic and international travel Summary of Position: (Brief description of overall responsibilities and function) Perimeter of responsibility is all products where the FAA is the approving authority as well as the required support to Part 21 and Part 145 Engineering activities. (US-based engineering staff of ~ 20 engineers plus future growth). As a structural DER serves as the Subject Mater Expert on aircraft structures and provides FAA approval for the associated certification documents. Be the local extension of the following three (3) Technical Areas within the Airframe and Systems macro area: 1. Structure Systems Design and Development, 2. Interior & Sustaining Engineering 3. M&P & Technology Laboratories having a local portfolio of basic competencies with a strong connection with macro areas for design, more detailed analysis or workload with the following disciplines:
- Airframe Structures (Fuselage, Wing, Empennage, Control Surfaces, Pylon)
- Interiors & Cabin Safety
- Landing Gear
- Fixed Flight Controls
- Baggage Bay Fire Protection
- E3
- Material and Process
Act as part of the managerial chain of the engineering, contributing to plan and organize the activities to achieve overall US Engineering targets, jointly with Head of Structure Systems, Head of Interior & Sustaining Engineering and Head of Labs pursuing the share of common solutions and processes on clusters of programs and use of common approach to development and certification/qualification processes Work together with the Structure Systems, Interior & Sustaining Engineering and Labs Technical Areas in order to guarantee coherent design solutions and methodologies, knowledge sharing and competencies development, contributing to the definition of architecture and requirements within the area of competence. Accountable for FAA certification activities pertaining to Structure Systems, Interiors and Material and Process working closely with FAA representatives and DER's. Ensure multi program management to better leverage on use of available resources and competencies, reinforcing industrial performances oversight for the Airframe Systems Technical Area AWPC perimeter. 2. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: (Specifically describe the essential duties and responsibilities with estimated percentage of time that is spent on each).
|
Duties and Responsibilities: |
% of Time |
1. |
As a DER, serve as the primary point of contact for all certification activities related to the aircraft structures. Oversee structural design, and test programs |
20 |
2. |
Provide FAA approval for aircraft structures certification documents as delegated by FAA/ODA. |
20 |
3. |
Ensure integration, qualification and certification at system level. Support design, testing and analysis necessary to show compliance to certification rules. Serve as manager of integrated system-level activities at AWPC including conforming test articles, dispositioning findings/QN's, resolving FAA issue papers, providing field investigation services to define failure modes, releasing test plans/reports, solving problems, and communicating among the various stakeholders. |
15 |
2. |
Define statements of work (SOW's), develop local technical capabilities and execute specific design activities including but not limited to industrialization, customer modifications, and product improvements in full alignment with Structure Systems Technical Area. |
10 |
3. |
Accountable for technical certification activities for the following three (3) Technical Areas: 1. Structures Systems, 2, Interior & Sustaining Engineering and 3. Material and Process and to show design compliance of the technical solutions to the FAA. Work closely with the FAA and DER in supporting showing compliance to applicable technical, programmatic and certification requirements. |
5 |
4. |
Jointly support, together with LH Heads of Structure, Interiors and Lab Areas, the planning and execution of activities for an efficient demonstration of compliance of the design solutions across the product lines. |
5 |
5. |
Coordinate and be responsible for day to day management of Structures, Structural Systems and Material and Process Technical Leaders. |
5 |
6. |
Together with Technical Area Managers, manage and develop the US Structures Team including performance evaluations, support career growth and learning objectives, and provide the encouragement and guidance to ensure success. Support long term company objectives with skill forecasting and recruiting to establish a strong technical base for the AW609 program and US-based engineering department (20 engineers across development programs (AW609), P21, Sustaining and P145). |
5 |
7. |
Responsible for coordinating with Head of Structures and Systems Macro Area and Heads of Technical Areas, the SOW for the activities to be done by their team every year in order to define, working with Engineering Governance, their budget based on activities. |
5 |
9. |
Responsible for EVMS plans with certification documents and milestones, identifying the certification risks and promoting recovery actions. Responsible for budget development in collaboration with the technical areas and for the performance to budget of the local team, including external off-load |
5 |
10. |
Actively seek and support US business development opportunities including research and development and new aircraft programs and derivatives. Participate in bid and proposal activities. Develop technology and best practices, implement innovative solutions to provide customer value, participate in industry working groups, and serve as an advocate for tiltrotors and AW609. |
5 |
|
TOTAL: |
100% |
- Qualifications for Position:
A. Education
Bachelor's degree in Engineering required; Master's preferred. |
B. Experience
1. Fifteen years of technical experience involved in design, test, and analysis of structural components and/or structural systems (landing gear, controls) for developmental aircraft. 2. Five+ years of experience participating in transport-category certification programs (Part25 or Part29). 3. Five+ years of technical experience and responsibility of teams involved in design, development, test and analysis of structures and/or structural systems. 4. Five years of experience performing Project Management duties. 5. Five years of personnel management experience. |
C. Competencies & Attributes
1. |
Strong understanding of component structural testing to show compliance to static and fatigue strength requirements. Understanding and practical experience in damage/flaw tolerance fatigue methodologies. Strong understanding of composite and metal airframe design and analysis, tiltrotor design, digital product definition using CATIA v5/v6, and fatigue methodology. |
2. |
Practical experience with FAA certification processes. |
3. |
Strong analytical and design skills. Proven experience to create plans, communicate them, and execute them efficiently across a diverse and complex organization. Experience in budget integration and management. EVMS experience preferred. |
4. |
Strong networking, communication and presentation skills, ability to effectively communicate to all levels of the organization, ability to negotiate win-win solutions in the presence of conflict and ambiguity, and ability to be a persuasive advocate to internal and external customers. |
5. |
High integrity and technical expertise as necessary to be a primary interface with certification authorities. |
D. Licensure/Certification
DER Certificate of Designation is a required certification |
Equal Opportunity Employer/Vet/Disability 
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Leonardo Helicopters
Jul 24, 2025