#BECA-AHE AI Strategy Lead - Engineering Transformation

Job Description:

Airbus Helicopters stands as a global leader in the design, manufacture, and support of advanced rotorcraft. With a rich heritage of pioneering vertical flight solutions, we are committed to relentless innovation, uncompromising safety, and pushing the boundaries of aerospace technology. Our vision extends beyond current capabilities, aiming to shape the future of flight through cutting-edge engineering and transformative digital strategies. Join us in defining the next generation of helicopter technology!

The Opportunity: Pioneering AI in Advanced Helicopter Engineering

This position represents a unique opportunity to spearhead the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) into the core engineering processes of a world-class helicopter manufacturer. As the Digital Transformation Lead for AI in Engineering, you will hold a strategically vital role, driving the next wave of advancements in engineering efficiency, product innovation, and operational excellence. The successful candidate will leverage AI not merely as a tool for incremental improvement, but as a transformative engine to enhance safety, optimize designs, revolutionize manufacturing, and enable predictive maintenance, thereby securing our competitive advantage and shaping the future of rotorcraft technology. This role is pivotal in identifying and implementing high-impact AI applications, moving beyond standard practices to fundamentally change how we engineer and maintain complex aerospace systems. You will be instrumental in harnessing AI's potential, estimated to contribute significantly to the aerospace industry's value through improved efficiency and safety.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support on leading AI Strategy & Implementation: Help define, articulate, and execute a comprehensive strategy for AI adoption across the engineering lifecycle. Collaborate leading the end-to-end process of designing, developing, rigorously testing, and deploying bespoke AI/ML models and solutions specifically tailored to address complex helicopter engineering challenges.
• Process Analysis & Optimization: Support in conducting in-depth analyses of existing engineering workflows. Identify critical bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and opportunities where AI/ML can yield substantial improvements in speed, cost-effectiveness, quality, and overall productivity.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration & Change Management: Serve as the primary interface between AI initiatives and diverse engineering teams (e.g., aerodynamics, structures, systems integration, manufacturing engineering, flight test), data scientists, IT infrastructure teams, and senior leadership. Crucially, this role involves championing the adoption of AI across the engineering department, requiring strong change management capabilities to guide teams through technological transitions, address concerns, provide necessary training and mentorship, and cultivate a culture that embraces AI-driven methodologies and continuous improvement.
• Compliance & Validation: Collaborate ensuring that all developed and deployed AI solutions strictly adhere to the demanding standards of the aerospace industry, including safety regulations, certification requirements (e.g., FAA/EASA), and internal quality management protocols.

Essential Qualifications & Skills:

• Education: An advanced degree (Master’s required, PhD strongly preferred) in a relevant quantitative discipline such as Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Statistics, or Operations Management.
• Experience: experience showcasing successful leadership and hands-on implementation of complex AI/ML projects within an engineering, advanced manufacturing, or R&D setting.
• AI/ML Proficiency: Deep theoretical understanding and practical, hands-on experience with a wide range of machine learning algorithms (including supervised learning, unsupervised learning, and reinforcement learning), deep learning architectures (e.g., CNNs, RNNs, Transformers), statistical modeling, natural language processing, and data mining techniques.
• Programming & Tools: Expert-level proficiency in Python is essential, along with strong capabilities in other languages commonly used in AI/ML development such as R, C++, or Java. Extensive experience with major AI/ML frameworks and libraries (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn, Keras) is required. Familiarity with data processing tools, SQL databases, and potentially big data technologies (e.g., Apache Spark, Hadoop) is necessary for handling large engineering datasets.
• Engineering Domain Acumen: A solid grasp of fundamental engineering principles and processes, particularly those pertinent to aerospace or complex mechanical systems. This includes familiarity with concepts related to Computer-Aided Design/Engineering/Manufacturing (CAD/CAE/CAM), Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), systems engineering, aerodynamics, structural analysis, materials science, or MRO practices.
• Leadership & Soft Skills: Proven ability to lead technically complex projects from conception through deployment and sustainment.

This job requires an awareness of any potential compliance risks and a commitment to act with integrity, as the foundation for the Company’s success, reputation and sustainable growth.

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Airbus is, and always has been, committed to equal opportunities for all. As such, we will never ask for any type of monetary exchange in the frame of a recruitment process. Any impersonation of Airbus to do so should be reported to [email protected].

At Airbus, we support you to work, connect and collaborate more easily and flexibly. Wherever possible, we foster flexible working arrangements to stimulate innovative thinking.