Head of Work Preparation & Ground Test / Chef Préparation Manufacturière et Essais Sol

You have experience in Operations, you have worked in aerospace and you want to evolve and develop new skills? This position is for you!

The A220 commercial aircraft program is looking for its A220 Head of Manufacturing Preparation and Ground Test to join our Manufacturing Engineering team based in Mirabel (Quebec, Canada), where you will work in conjunction with the Airbus ME team in Europe (OM) as part of the ME (Manufacturing Engineering) community.

You will be part of the Manufacturing Engineering team responsible for manufacturing co-design which will ensure operational performance through high-quality, harmonized work and test instructions, communicated and implemented flawlessly in the VSM.

The team organization is established in such a way as to promote cross-functional collaboration autonomously, supporting each other and learning collectively.

Your role as Head of Manufacturing Preparation and Ground Test A220 will be to lead the functions of Work Preparation / Standard Operational Instruction (SOI), Manufacturing Assembly Process, Aircraft Configuration and Compliance, Change Management, Ground Test Center and Ergonomics.

Your work environment

The headquarters of the A220 commercial aircraft program is located in Mirabel, in the greater Montreal area, a stone's throw from the dynamic city of Montreal. Renowned for its peaceful and safe environment, the region offers a high quality of life for young or experienced professionals, as well as families, perfectly balancing career opportunities and outdoor activities, making it a truly special place to live.

Your Mission

• You develop the vision and define the strategy for what work preparation/Standard Operational Instruction (SOI) and tomorrow's Ground Tests will be for the A220 and its potential future, for the PreFALs, the FALs and the 2 sites of Mirabel and Mobile.

Your Strategic Challenges

• Vision & Strategy: Define the future of operational instructions (SOI) and ground tests (GTC) in a context of ramp-up and digitalization (DDMS).
• Leadership: Lead and inspire an organization of 120 collaborators (Methods, Configuration, Tests, Ergonomics) spread across multiple sites.
• Product Integrity: Guarantee compliance and airworthiness (POA) by ensuring strict configuration control, from design to delivery.
• Industrial Performance: Optimize production cycles, reduce costs (OPEX/CAPEX) and by collaborating with other internal functions (Engineering, Quality, Procurement).

Your Impact Areas

• Industrialization: Master the assembly sequence and maximize value added (VA/NVA).
• Change Management: Arbitrate technical modifications and secure their introduction online.
• Ground Testing & Ergonomics: Manage the test center (GTC) and integrate human factors for safe and efficient production.
• Innovation: Support the development of future A220 derivatives and R&T projects.

Your Profile

• Minimum 15 years of experience in aerospace with deep mastery of sector Production and Quality standards.
• Solid experience in complex project management. PMI-PMP certification and/or Airbus Bronze PM (or higher) is strongly favored.
• Excellent mastery of P&PM (Project & Program Management) processes, methods and tools specific to the Airbus ecosystem.

Leadership & behavioral skills

• Leader recognized for listening, negotiation and conflict resolution skills in multifunctional environments.
• Confirmed experience in a multicultural environment, able to navigate with ease between the sites of Mirabel, Mobile and Europe.
• Capacity to transmit best practices and promote a culture of project management excellence within your teams.

Training & Languages

• Training: Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing or a related field. A Master's degree is a major asset.
• Languages: Mandatory bilingualism. Excellent command of English and French, orally and in writing.