Functional Team Lead Design Engineering (Hoogeveen)

The role

For the Defense Engineering & Technology organization in the Netherlands we are looking for an Functional Team Lead Design Engineering. The Functional Team Lead plays a pivotal role in bringing the deliverables for Technology Development and Engineering projects to a great success on time, within budget and to the defined technical requirements. You will be part of a dedicated, multidisciplinary project team within GKN Fokker Aerospace and responsible to lead a Design Engineering team or teams in order to deliver the assigned engineering project or Technology Development objectives on schedule, within budget, and to the defined technical requirements. The Functional Team Lead is reporting into the Head of Engineering & Technology NL.

In this role, you will

•    Lead functional team(s) to deliver the assigned tasks to achieve the programme/project objectives through planning, work tasking, and execution of required engineering activities.
•    Provide technical functional oversight for engineering design solutions, ensuring compliance with all relevant customer, regulatory, and airworthiness requirements, within agreed program, schedule, and manufacturing constraints.
•    Develop and implement methods plans, toolsets and solutions that are appropriate and compliant to achieve the design and programme/project objectives together with the Functional Manager Product Engineering.
•    Provide functional review of generated bids and proposals within assigned programmes/projects.
•    Assess, manage, and mitigate overall technical risk within assigned programmes.
•    Review test specifications/plans and/or alternate means of compliance as required to demonstrate design solution complies with certification requirements.
•    Create engineering designs and verify design compliance to defined requirements including dimensions, materials, parts, process notes, assemblies.
•    Generate, sign, check, or approve all assigned project deliverables, documents, and reports as required within limits of signature authorizations.
•    Provide an independent check for release of technical documentation as required.
•    Implement training and capability strategies to manage training, mentoring, and development of engineers within assigned programmes/projects including technical signatories together with the Functional Manager Product Engineering.
•    Support technical and customer discussions and reviews, including formal gate reviews, the creation and preparation of technical data and presentations.
•    Process and verify concessions and remedial activity and provide technical support by implementing solutions to address non-conforming products and designs, as required.
•    Implement a lean continuous improvement culture and strategy within the programme/project team(s).
•    Establish and implement knowledge management strategies for the programme/project team(s).
•    Support the development and maintenance of functional work instructions, procedures, technical manuals, and guidelines. 
•    Manage the overall performance, engagement, and capability development of the programme/project team through the management of performance development plans, training, mentoring, and other initiatives.
•    Provide key performance indicators for programme activities to drive continuous improvement and provide updates / reports, and standard measures to the senior management team, as required.
•    Create a positive workplace environment within the programme through regular meetings, engagement & coaching.

For this role, you need

You are pro-active, self-starting and entrepreneurial, have good communication skills and you are a team player. You have worked before in a multidisciplinary environment and are familiar with Engineering and Technology Development. You are willing to learn and are able to arrange things. You will bring your passion and expertise/ talent for what you do along with the following skills, experience, qualifications and attributes:
•    Must possess a high level of Design engineering knowledge (typically Technical Excellence Framework level 4 or higher in an appropriate Area of Expertise) and awareness of other disciplines in order to successfully manage/guide the project/programme technical team.
•    Must possess an awareness of business expertise especially in the Aerospace industry and in the product area the project/programme is responsible for (eg. Aerostructures, EWIS, Transparencies etc.).
•    Must possess a high level of leadership ability as the role is accountable for the competing parameters of technical quality (Safety/Airworthiness) as well as project schedule and cost adherence for the technical activities.
•    Must possess a high level of problem solving skills to successfully manage the technical direction of the projects.
•    The role requires a high level of interpersonal skills – see below for details of skills and personal attributes required.
•    Bachelor or Master Degree in (Aerospace) Engineering or equivalent working and thinking Level gained through experience.
•    At least 10+ years of relevant experience gained within an engineering discipline, ideally within an aerospace environment and in multi-disciplinary engineering project teams (Design/CM, EWIS, Analysis, M&P, Manufacturing/ Industrialization).
•    Have a strong technical background and knowledge within the functional discipline.
•    Able to hold (internal) technical approval authority within the function.
•    Experience in dealing with related functions (Operations/Production, Sales/Customer Relationship Management, Supplier Management and Development).
•    Able to manage complex technical work statements; ability to rationalise, assess and evaluate information that may not always be clear or mature.
•    Possess project management, planning and organising skills based on recognised project management methods.
•    Solid approach/understanding to the delivery and tracking of engineering tasks.
•    Able to define challenging objectives and achieve them.
•    Relationship building at various engineering levels.
•    Able to work with other functions as required to achieve engineering objectives.
•    Has excellent judgement in considering when escalation is appropriate.
•    Strong minded, convincing and committed, focussed on delivery, must be able to work under pressure and to tight deadlines.
•    Ability to clearly present data, reports and presentations to facilitate the decision making process at all levels of the business.
•    Ability to mentor and coach Engineers in the Delivery of their specific Task and supporting their professional Growth.

What we offer

A position with a great focus on quality in an innovative and international environment. We work with 'state of the art' technology within an organization with a rich history in the field of aircraft construction. Our organization exudes passion for technology and our employees are proud of what they develop and build. Further, we offer you: 

• Depending on your experience in a similar role, salary will based on the salary scale associated with this position. This is scale L2 - M - N of the CAO metal electro. 
• Besides a good salary, we also have excellent, other benefits, such as 27 days off and 13 ADV days per year, a profit-dependent allowance and we have a good home working arrangement.

More information?

Please contact Stephanie Springer via Stephanie.springer@fokker.com.