Specialist - Engineering - Load Control

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The Specialist – Engineering – Load Control acts as a subject matter expert and technical authority for all of Air Canada regarding aircraft mass and balance engineering. The person in this position leads the development, governance, and continuous improvement of standards, methodologies, data, systems, and operational procedures related to aircraft loading, in accordance with manufacturer data, Transport Canada requirements, and applicable industry standards. They thus ensure operational safety and compliance for the Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge fleets, while offering specialized decision support for fleet entry into service, aircraft modifications, operational performance, and digital transformation initiatives.

Responsibilities:

Technical Authority and Governance

• Act as the company's technical authority regarding standards, methodologies, and data relating to aircraft Load Control engineering, ensuring their uniform application across all fleets and within supported operational activities.
• Establish, govern, and execute continuous improvement of load control policies, technical standards, and operational requirements applicable to aircraft operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, and supported assisted carriers.
• Interpret and apply manufacturer weight and balance manuals, Transport Canada requirements, IATA aircraft type ground operations manual standards, and other applicable regulatory and industry directives.

New Fleet Introduction and Configuration Management

• Lead the development and validation of aircraft mass and balance data sets to facilitate the entry into service of new aircraft types, introduction of new fleets, and major operational changes.
• Evaluate aircraft modifications, cabin reconfigurations, and technical changes to determine their impact on operating empty mass, center of gravity, loading characteristics, and operational capacity.
• Define aircraft weighing requirements, provide technical guidance to Air Canada Maintenance, and validate resulting aircraft weight and balance reports and logs.
• Develop operating empty mass estimates for proposed aircraft configurations and provide reliable data to support payload and range analysis, aircraft performance, and network decision-making.

Technical Standards and Operational Support

• Lead the development and implementation of load planning procedures that are fully harmonized with the company's mass and balance systems, as well as its operational processes.
• Perform and approve complex technical analyses, including mass and moment calculations, center of gravity reduction, and special loading assessments.
• Establish and maintain standardized passenger, baggage, and operational material weights in accordance with approved statistical methods, as well as relevant regulatory and IATA requirements.
• Lead the development, technical validation, and management of aircraft-specific load planning manuals, loading instructions, cargo compartment restrictions, and supporting technical documentation.
• Provide expert technical advice and approve special loading instructions in complex, non-standard, or urgent operational situations.

Digital Solutions and Operational Efficiency

• Manage aircraft configuration and loading data within enterprise mass and balance platforms, establishing controls that ensure accuracy, traceability, configuration integrity, and timely integration of approved modifications.
• Identify and implement opportunities to improve payload capacity, aircraft utilization rate, fuel efficiency, and operational performance through the optimization of mass and balance calculation methods and aircraft mass data.
• As the subject matter expert in Load Control engineering, lead the design, implementation, testing, and continuous improvement of digital mass and balance applications, technical databases, and automated calculation tools used by technical flight crews, load agents, and other operational stakeholders.

Risk Management, Collaboration, and Continuous Improvement

• Identify, evaluate, and mitigate safety, compliance, and operational risks arising from aspects of Load Control related to mass and balance data, loading procedures, system modifications, and related information flows.
• Provide cross-functional technical leadership and advisory services to Flight Operations, Air Canada Maintenance, Airports, Air Canada Cargo, Network Planning, Digital Solutions, Aircraft Programs, and Safety teams, as well as external suppliers and regulatory agencies.
• Provide technical guidance and ensure knowledge transfer to members of the Aircraft Performance team; represent Air Canada on relevant industry working groups and contribute to the development of load control standards and practices.
• Lead continuous improvement and process optimization initiatives aimed at simplifying work, enhancing data quality, improving system reliability, and increasing operational efficiency; assume the responsibilities of the designated representative of the Mass and Balance team and the process improvement manager, as described in the Aircraft Performance Procedures Manual (APPM).

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical, aerospace, or aeronautical engineering, or a technical diploma in a closely related discipline; a combination of equivalent training and experience in the field is also considered.

Experience

• At least five years of experience with increasing responsibilities in aircraft mass and balance engineering, airline load control, aircraft performance, or a closely related operational engineering function.
• Experience in supporting aircraft entry into service, cabin reconfiguration, aircraft modification, or other complex fleet-related programs, including the development and validation of controlled technical data.

Knowledge and Technical Skills

• Deep knowledge of commercial aircraft load planning and mass and balance principles, aircraft certification data, manufacturer weight and balance manuals, Transport Canada requirements, and IATA aircraft type ground operations manual standards.
• Strong digital capabilities and analytical aptitude, including advanced mastery of Microsoft Excel and experience with engineering databases, automated calculation tools, or programming; knowledge of VBA, AutoCAD, and Smart4Aviation's SmartLOAD is an asset.

Leadership, Judgment, and Communication

• Proven technical judgment, systems thinking, and ability to solve complex technical problems while demonstrating an unwavering commitment to operational safety, data integrity, and technical excellence.
• Proven ability to lead through influence, establish effective governance, and collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders, suppliers, manufacturers, and regulators without direct authority.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English, and the ability to translate complex technical issues into clear operational directives and recommendations for senior management; fluency in French is an asset.

Employment Conditions:

Candidates must be eligible to work in the country concerned at the time a job offer is presented and are responsible for obtaining work permits, visas, or other necessary authorizations. Proof of eligibility must be provided prior to the start date.

Language Requirements

Equal qualifications considered, preference will be given to bilingual candidates.

Diversity and Inclusion

Air Canada is strongly committed to diversity and inclusion and aims to create a healthy, accessible, and rewarding work environment that showcases the unique contribution of our employees to our company's success.

As an equal opportunity employer, we encourage diverse applications so that we can build a workforce that is varied and representative of our customers and the communities where we live and offer our services.

Air Canada thanks all applicants for their interest, but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.