Head of Aeronautical Hardware Team (HoD)

At Thales, our employees create solutions that enable two-thirds of planes to take off and land safely. We design in-flight entertainment systems that captivate 50 million travelers every year. We also develop the avionics that equip the world's largest commercial aircraft. Furthermore, our simulators train the next generation of fighter jet, transport, and search and rescue helicopter pilots. Finally, thanks to their close collaboration, the members of our aerospace team make all the difference.

From the depths of the oceans to the confines of space, Thales experts innovate and tirelessly seek to push the boundaries of technology. By joining our Montreal team, you participate in the development of innovations that propel tomorrow's aviation towards a greener and safer world. You evolve with an international clientele at the cutting edge of technology within a team of passionate and stimulating experts who develop critical avionics solutions, notably for the electric urban taxi markets. Being part of Thales means adopting a hybrid, friendly, and dynamic work environment offering a good work-life balance, based on human values dear to our team. You will also have access to a complete program of targeted, diversified training that meets your career development aspirations within the Group established in many countries.

Thales people architect solutions that enable two-thirds of planes to take off and land safely. We create in-flight entertainment systems that engross 50 million fliers every year and we develop the avionics that control the world’s largest commercial aircrafts. Our simulators train the next generation of pilots for fighter jets, transporters and search and rescue helicopters. And, together, each and every member of our aerospace team makes a difference.

The Avionics office in Marie-Curie, Montreal is Thales Group’s Centre of Competence for business and regional jet flight control systems is located at our Montreal – Marie Curie office. The team designs and integrates avionics suites, fly-by-wire flight control systems, SATCOM systems and other innovative concepts for the regional and business aircraft markets.

Head of Aeronautical Hardware Team / Head of Discipline (HoD)

Montreal, QC (Hybrid) Full Time

Job Summary

Thales Canada is recruiting its Head of Aeronautical Hardware Team / Head of Discipline (HoD) for the establishment and long-term management of a Hardware development team. The position is based in Montreal, and is attached to the aeronautics domain. The Head of Aeronautical Hardware Team / Head of Discipline (HoD) will be responsible for building a team capable of executing all activities related to the design, verification, integration, and certification of embedded electronic modules used in aeronautical systems.

He/she will supervise a multidisciplinary team of engineers (hardware, FPGA, signal, test), ensure compliance with standards (DO 254, ARP4754A, and DO 160), manage technical deliverables, and ensure adherence to costs, deadlines, and performance. He/she will guarantee that the hardware is reliable, safe, and compliant with airworthiness requirements.

Essential Functions

Team Management:

• Identifies required skills, skill gaps, required training, assigns responsibilities to individual contributors, and leads these contributors as a team. For the team, he/she plans, coordinates, and monitors the implementation of tasks.
• Manages the work and performance of the hardware development engineering team.
• Leads, sets goals, and facilitates the progress of team members.
• Maintains staffing to ensure levels are sufficient to support cross-functional projects as needed (direct work, subcontracting, and lump sum).
• He/she is responsible for the Make / Team / Buy strategy for his/her discipline.

Offers, Design, and Concepts:

• The HoD is responsible for the organization and allocation of resources for the execution of development projects in compliance with contractual requirements and ensuring customer satisfaction. As such, he/she interfaces with project stakeholders (IPT Leader, HwEM, PDA) for resource assignments, sharing and validating the development plan, as well as encountered changes and difficulties.
• During the bidding phase, the Hardware HoD validates the NRC quotes for his/her discipline for product study, development, or evolution projects.
• During the design and concept phase, the Hardware HoD is responsible for the execution (delivery) of activities and the coordination (and writing) of the new product design process. He/she ensures their feasibility and the achievement of target series costs.

Project Activity Steering:

• Responsible for the completion of a set of engineering tasks within committed cost, schedule, performance, and quality limits. Related tasks may cover all or part of the range of activities concerning customer needs, mission, function, architectural design, and hardware solution lifecycle (requirements and specialized engineering, design, development, integration, and verification).
• Writes technical specifications and documents to ensure the product meets customer, marketing, manufacturing, and HW design requirements.
• Collaborates with Printed Circuit Board (PCB) manufacturers and assemblers (EMS) to ensure manufacturability (DFM).
• Generates project/product estimates and schedules for new projects and proposal activities.

Innovations and Continuous Improvement:

• Designs and plans projects involving the exploration of product and/or process-related problems, the definition and selection of new concepts and approaches for the design or development of new or improved products and processes.
• Initiates processes to improve the performance of workforce, tools, and equipment.

Documentation and Standards:

• Supervision of the design of electronic boards integrating FPGAs, in compliance with aeronautical standards (e.g., DO-254 for hardware).
• Participate in defining hardware architectures to meet redundancy and safety needs.
• Work with the quality team to ensure that quality systems and processes are in place to achieve engineering success.
• Participate in defining hardware architectures to meet redundancy and safety needs.

Minimum Requirements

Skills and Abilities:

• 10 to 15 years of experience in electronic hardware and/or FPGA development that has allowed you to hold a position between multi-year project development and technical, technological, and industrial expertise.
• Strong leadership and ability to influence without authority.
• Led the establishment of an aeronautical hardware development team for critical systems, demonstrating proactivity and dynamism, i.e., being a go-getter.
• Significant hands-on experience in the design of embedded electronic boards and FPGAs in an aeronautical environment.
• Demonstrate good team spirit, excellent interpersonal skills, as well as oral and written communication.
• Ability to communicate technical issues assertively and delicately.
• Ability to interact with a wide range of customer groups, internal and external.
• Several years of experience in team or technical project management.
• Ability to lead several hardware development projects in parallel.
• Experience in aeronautics or regulated fields (medical, military, space).
• Bilingualism (French/English).
• Experience communicating with third-party suppliers.
• Writes verification documents for technical specifications and design tests to ensure the product meets design/system/customer requirements. Prepare materials and make presentations for formal design reviews and technical meetings with customers.
• Experience working closely with other engineering and non-engineering organizations such as: quality, industry, test engineering, software, system engineering, and project manager.

This position requires a good knowledge of English for writing technical documents, to interact, support and/or provide services to international clients, employees and/or partners as well as to foreign governmental authorities who do not speak French.

Desirable Qualification

Skills and Abilities:

• Familiar with DO-254 standards (DAL A-C) and knowledge of aeronautical certification processes.
• Familiar with DO-160 standard for environmental testing.
• Understanding of avionics system aspects (interfacing, ARINC 429 bus, AFDX, CAN, etc.).
• Knowledge of DO-160 tests (vibration, EMI/EMC, temperature).
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills in a multicultural international environment (France, Canada, India, USA).

Education Level:

• Bachelor's/Master's degree.

Specific Position Requirements

Work Schedule: 8 hours per day, must be available between 9:30 AM and 3:30 PM. Must be available for calls at 7:00 AM or 8:00 AM with teams in France.

Physical Environment: Laboratory for assembly and testing of embedded electronic boards.

Travel: Possible travel to France and elsewhere in North America.

This position requires direct or indirect access to hardware, software, or technical information controlled under Canada's Export Controlled Goods and Technology List, the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (EAR), and/or Canada's Industrial Security Program. All candidates must be eligible or able to obtain authorization, including an enhanced reliability Canadian security clearance.

Thales offers an extensive benefits program to all full-time employees working 24 hours or more per week and their eligible dependents, including:

• Company-paid complementary health care, dental care, health spending account, life insurance program, Accidental Death and Dismemberment, short-term disability insurance, travel insurance, employee assistance program, and well-being program.

• Retirement savings plans (RRSP, DCPP, TFSA) with company contribution and match to a DCPP, with no vesting period.

• Company-paid holidays, vacation days, and paid sick leave.

• Discounts on home and auto insurance.

Thales provides an extensive benefits program for all full-time employees working 24 or more hours per week and their eligible dependents, including the following:

• Company paid Extended Health, Dental, HSA, Life, AD&D, Short-term Disability, travel insurance, Employee Assistance Plan and Well-Being program.

• Retirement Savings Plans (RRSP, DCPP, TFSA) with a company contribution and a match to a DCPP, with no vesting period.

• Company paid holidays, vacation days, and paid sick leave.

• Voluntary Life, AD&D, Critical Illness, Long-Term Disability.

• Employee Discounts on insurance (home, and auto).

Thales is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity and inclusivity in the workplace. Thales is committed to providing accommodations throughout the recruitment process. Applicants selected for an interview who require accommodation are asked to advise accordingly upon the invitation for an interview; our team will gladly work with each candidate to meet their particular needs. All accommodation information will be treated confidentially and used solely for the purpose of providing an adapted candidate experience.

This position requires direct or indirect access to hardware, software, or technical information controlled under Canada's Export Controlled Goods and Technology List, the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (EAR), and/or Canada's Industrial Security Program. All candidates must be eligible or able to obtain authorization, including an enhanced reliability Canadian security clearance.

About Thales

In a world that is increasingly fast moving, unpredictable – and full of opportunities, trust is essential for societies to flourish. Trust in our institutions. Trust in our systems. Trust in technology. Trust in each other.

And the people we all rely on to make the world go round, they rely on Thales. They come to us with big ambitions: to make life better, to keep us safer.

From the bottom of the oceans to the depths of space and cyberspace, we help our customers navigate uncertainty with confidence and new frontiers with optimism. Thinking smarter and acting faster - mastering ever greater complexity and every decisive moment along the way.

We collaborate to architect and deliver high technology solutions that are both imaginative and resilient, human-centered and sustainable. So that together we can harness the extraordinary power of technology to build a future we can all trust.