Head of Engineering – Design Organisation (m/f/d)
AutoGyro GmbH
We are a young, dynamic company making progress every day. Our challenges are as multifaceted and individual as our opportunities. Would like to take off with us? Then get aboard. We are looking forward to your application to our job ad. Please note that these ads are currently in. English and German as these language skills are necessary for our general communication within the team.
Head of Engineering – Design Organisation (m/f/d)
Shaping the Future of Aviation Engineering
We are looking for an entrepreneurial, all-round engineering expert and strong leader with a deep understanding of aircraft systems, strong project management skills, and the instincts of a true systems integrator — a hands-on problem solver who commands the technical detail and drives complex challenges to resolution.
As Head of Engineering (m/f/d), you serve as the technical authority of our Design Organisation under EASA / UK CAA Design Approval. The position is subject to CAA authorisation (AD458) and reports directly to the Accountable Manager.
In this key role, you take overall responsibility for establishing and continuously developing our Design Assurance System and for ensuring that all design, development, certification, and flight test activities are executed in full compliance with applicable airworthiness regulations and within the scope of our approved design privileges. You don’t just oversee compliance – you actively get your hands dirty solving the technical problems that stand between an idea and a certified aircraft.
You lead our Engineering, Development, and Certification functions, coordinate external Compliance Verification Engineers, and act as the technical interface to the independent Head of Airworthiness, ensuring robust oversight, clear accountability, and the highest standards of regulatory compliance. You act like an entrepreneur: you take ownership of problems end-to-end, cut through complexity, and drive pragmatic solutions rather than waiting for someone else to decide.
Application
- Via our online portal: https://join.com/companies/auto-gyro
- By email: [email protected]
Regulatory and Design Assurance Responsibilities
- Establish, maintain, and continuously improve the documented Design Assurance System — hands-on, not just on paper.
- Ensure that all design work is undertaken in accordance with the Design Assurance System, BCAR A8-21, and other applicable airworthiness regulations.
- Ensure that all design activities remain within the scope of the company’s approved design privileges.
- Ensure that for all design work, compliance with the applicable type certification basis or equivalent is properly demonstrated and verified.
- Ensure that flight testing is carried out in accordance with regulatory requirements.
- Sign Declarations of Compliance after satisfactory verification of compliance with applicable airworthiness requirements.
- Confirm that all design procedures specified in the Design Organisation Exposition have been followed by signing a Declaration of Compliance for each type approval, type certification, design change, or repair design.
- Lead and manage the Engineering, Development, and Certification functions of the Design Organisation, staying close to the technical detail rather than managing from a distance.
- Manage and coordinate external Compliance Verification Engineers.
- Provide technical oversight and interface to the independent Head of Airworthiness function.
- Ensure qualification, competency, and training of engineering and certification personnel.
- Coordinate and manage design, development, certification, and flight test programmes with internal and external stakeholders.
- Provide strong project management across design, development, certification, and flight test programmes — planning, scheduling, and managing resources with internal and external stakeholders to keep programmes on time and on budget.
- Provide technical authority for design decisions, certification strategies, and design changes, personally stepping in when problems get stuck between departments.
- Ensure complete, controlled, and traceable design documentation for certification, production, continued airworthiness, and future investigations.
- Provide technical support to production, quality, customer support, and incident investigations where required.
- Actively identify inefficiencies and gaps in existing processes and drive their resolution with an entrepreneurial, get-it-done mindset.
- Degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Electrical Engineering, or a comparable technical qualification.
- Extensive professional experience in a regulated industrial environment; experience gained within a German company as well as senior-level experience from the automotive industry are highly desirable.
- Proven track record in leading engineering teams, driving technical decisions, and taking full accountability for results, timelines, and compliance.
- Strong and practical expertise in complex systems engineering, including electrical and avionics integration.
- Solid experience with regulatory frameworks and compliance environments (e.g. DULV BUT, BCAR Section T, UK CAA, FAA, CAAC).
- A true problem solver: someone energized rather than deterred by open, unresolved technical challenges, who finds pragmatic paths forward instead of waiting for perfect conditions.
- Hands-on, execution-focused leadership style with a high level of assertiveness and decision-making authority — someone who rolls up their sleeves rather than delegating every difficult problem.
- Ability to challenge existing structures, enforce standards, and drive implementation across interfaces (Engineering, Certification, Production, Quality).
- High level of ownership, resilience, and confidence when operating in complex, regulated, and time-critical environments.
- An intrapreneurial mindset: you treat the Design Organisation as if it were your own venture, take initiative beyond the formal job description, and are comfortable building and improving processes rather than just following them.
- English, German & Chinese: mandatory (written and spoken).
- Dynamic working environment with the global leader in gyroplane manufacturing.
- Comprehensive onboarding and continuous training opportunities.
- Supportive and international team culture.
- Flexible working hours (flexitime) to support work–life balance.
- Corporate fitness programme (Hansefit).
- Employer contributions to the pension scheme.
- Employee discounts via our corporate benefits platform.
- Regular company events that strengthen team spirit.
- Free daily lunch at our headquarter.
- Overtime compensation and additional paid leave for special occasions.
- Unique aviation experience – including a gyrocopter sightseeing flight.
If we have managed to excite you about the new task, please send us your application via email to the address provided below, and we will get back to you as soon as possible. For the application, we require::
- Resume
- Testimonials and recommendations from previous employers
- Training certificates and diplomas
Human Resources Department
[email protected]
+49 5121 880 56 252
Please note that sending documents by email without additional security measures is not completely secure. To protect your documents as much as possible, we recommend sending them as a password-protected PDF and providing the password separately, either by email or over the phone. This method of sending documents is optional. Alternatively, you are of course free to submit your application by mail.
Take off with AutoGyro!
AutoGyro is the world market leader in the development, production and distribution of gyrocopters. Since its foundation, the specialist for aerial sports equipment has been growing steadily and today already counts a nearly 100-strong international team of highly qualified specialists and engineers.
With sales partners in over 40 countries around the globe, AutoGyro GmbH serves a worldwide network with the goal of realizing the joy of flying, the safety and the versatility of the gyro without limits.
Become a high-flyer and come on board! We offer you great perspectives, exciting fields of activity and a medium-sized company culture in an international environment.
AutoGyro is awarded!
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