Head of Engineering - Design Organisation (m/f/d)

As Head of Engineering (m/f/d), you serve as the technical authority of our Design Organisation under EASA / UK CAA Design Approval. The position is subject to CAA authorisation (AD458) and reports directly to the Accountable Manager.

In this key role, you take overall responsibility for establishing and continuously developing our Design Assurance System and for ensuring that all design, development, certification, and flight test activities are executed in full compliance with applicable airworthiness regulations and within the scope of our approved design privileges.

You lead our Engineering, Development, and Certification functions, coordinate external Compliance Verification Engineers, and act as the technical interface to the independent Head of Airworthiness, ensuring robust oversight, clear accountability, and the highest standards of regulatory compliance.

Tasks

Regulatory and Design Assurance Responsibilities

• Establish, maintain, and continuously improve the documented Design Assurance System.
• Ensure that all design work is undertaken in accordance with the Design Assurance System, BCAR A8-21, and other applicable airworthiness regulations.
• Ensure that all design activities remain within the scope of the company’s approved design privileges.
• Ensure that for all design work, compliance with the applicable type certification basis or equivalent is properly demonstrated and verified.
• Ensure that flight testing is carried out in accordance with regulatory requirements.
• Sign Declarations of Compliance after satisfactory verification of compliance with applicable airworthiness requirements.
• Confirm that all design procedures specified in the Design Organisation Exposition have been followed by signing a Declaration of Compliance for each type approval, type certification, design change, or repair design.

Organisational and Management Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Engineering, Development, and Certification functions of the Design Organisation.
• Manage and coordinate external Compliance Verification Engineers.
• Provide technical oversight and interface to the independent Head of Airworthiness function.
• Ensure qualification, competency, and training of engineering and certification personnel.
• Coordinate design, development, certification, and flight test programmes with internal and external stakeholders.
• Provide technical authority for design decisions, certification strategies, and design changes.
• Ensure complete, controlled, and traceable design documentation for certification, production, continued airworthiness, and future investigations.
• Provide technical support to production, quality, customer support, and incident investigations where required.

Requirements

• Degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Electrical Engineering, or a comparable technical qualification.
• Extensive professional experience in a regulated industrial environment; experience gained within a German company as well as senior-level experience from the automotive industry are highly desirable.
• Proven track record in leading engineering teams, driving technical decisions, and taking full accountability for results, timelines, and compliance.
• Strong and practical expertise in complex systems engineering, including electrical and avionics integration.
• Solid experience with regulatory frameworks and compliance environments (e.g. DULV BUT, BCAR Section T, UK CAA, FAA, CAAC).
• Hands-on, execution-focused leadership style with a high level of assertiveness and decision-making authority.
• Ability to challenge existing structures, enforce standards, and drive implementation across interfaces (Engineering, Certification, Production, Quality).
• High level of ownership, resilience, and confidence when operating in complex, regulated, and time-critical environments.
• English and German: mandatory (written and spoken).
• Chinese: desirable.

Benefits

• Dynamic working environment with the global leader in gyroplane manufacturing.
• Comprehensive onboarding and continuous training opportunities.
• Supportive and international team culture.
• Flexible working hours (flexitime) to support work–life balance.
• Corporate fitness programme (Hansefit).
• Capital-forming benefits and above-average employer contributions to the pension scheme.
• Employee discounts via our corporate benefits platform.
• Regular company events that strengthen team spirit.
• Free daily lunch at our headquarter.
• Overtime compensation and additional paid leave for special occasions.
• Unique aviation experience – including a gyrocopter sightseeing flight.

Are you ready for an exciting career in aviation? Then become part of AutoGyro GmbH.

We are the global market leader in the development, production, and sales of gyroplanes, working with partners in more than 40 countries worldwide. Our headquarters and production facility are located at Hildesheim Airport. With state-of-the-art technologies, a high level of in-house manufacturing, and a clear vision for sustainable aviation, we actively shape the future of flight.

Since our founding in 1999, we have grown continuously and today employ an international team of nearly 100 qualified specialists and engineers. With a global sales network, we consistently pursue our mission: to make the fascination of flying, maximum safety, and the versatile applications of gyroplanes accessible worldwide.

Weltmarktführer in der Entwicklung und Produktion von Tragschraubern mit dem Ziel, die Freude am Fliegen grenzenlos umzusetzen.