About the role
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).
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.
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 • 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
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.
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