Florida

Aerospace and Defense

What are the Key Roles?

Here are some examples of the diverse range of senior roles within the industry: 

System Engineer

  • System Design: Skilled in developing system specifications, requirements, architecture, and defining interfaces.
  • Project Management: Experienced in leading teams, managing project timelines, and aligning deliverables with customer needs.
  • Technical Oversight: Proficient in overseeing complex systems involving hardware, software, and electrical integration.
  • Verification and Validation: Expertise in testing and validation to ensure systems meet requirements.
  • Technical Documentation: Competent in creating clear technical reports and documentation.
  • Programming Skills: Proficient in languages like C#, Python, and Java.

Sales Director

  • Business Development: Proven ability to identify and nurture relationships with key decision-makers in the industry.
  • Sales Strategy Development: Expertise in developing and implementing effective sales strategies for market penetration and revenue growth.
  • Market Research and Analysis: Proficiency in conducting research to spot new business opportunities and assess competition and industry trends.
  • Complex Negotiation and Closing: Strong skills in handling complex negotiations and closing deals with clients in aviation and defence.
  • Industry Knowledge: In-depth understanding of the aerospace and defence industries.
  • Client Relationship Management: Proven ability to build and maintain strong client relationships.

Project Director

  • Program Strategy Development: Ability to develop and execute long-term program strategies that align with organizational objectives.
  • Cross-Functional Team Management: Expertise in managing cross-functional teams, including project managers, engineers, and technical staff.
  • Project Budgeting and Scheduling: Skills in monitoring project budgets and schedules to ensure adherence to financial forecasts and deadlines.
  • Risk Management: Proficiency in actively engaging in risk management to identify and mitigate potential project risks.
  • Stakeholder Management: Strong skills in managing stakeholder communication and relationships to ensure project alignment with expectations.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Understanding of and adherence to relevant regulatory and compliance requirements in aerospace and defense.

Rachael Toon - Global Talent Expert

"The key challenge in the aerospace and defence industry is that many emerging technologies, like battery development or electric propulsion systems for aircraft, are relatively new. As a result, finding candidates with extensive direct experience is rare. This makes a range of transferable skills, such as engineering expertise, sales, and computer science, essential for success in these roles."

What are the Recruitment Challenges?

While the industry is booming, recruitment challenges remain within the sector. Here are some key examples: 

  • Recruitment Challenges - The industry faces significant challenges in sourcing candidates with experience in electric powertrain systems and aircraft battery development. Aircraft electrification and UAV technology demand niche skills, and recruitment is further constrained by specific expertise requirements, particularly in safety and regulatory standards like those mandated by the FAA.
  • Skills Gaps - There's a skills gap in areas like open-source coding for autopilot systems and specialised knowledge of aircraft electrification. While recruitment often reaches into related fields, such as robotics for smaller aircraft and drones, aerospace-specific expertise remains critical at senior levels.
  • Funding and Growth - Companies across various funding stages—from seed rounds to post-IPO—are navigating an evolving funding environment with tighter budgets than in previous years. To secure continued investment, businesses must hit project milestones and headcount targets aligned with specific growth objectives.

Transferable Skills

Business leaders and talent acquisition teams must also be open to bringing in senior talent from different industries. Here are some key examples of transferable skills which can be brought over to the A&D industry:

Mechanical Engineering

This includes skills such as: 

  • Structural analysis
  • Thermodynamics
  • Materials Science
  • Computer-aided design (CAD)

Talent with these skills could be transferred from industries such as:

  • Manufacturing
  • Civil engineering
  • Automotive

Computer Science and Software Engineering

This includes skills such as: 

  • Cyber Security 
  • Data Analysis 
  • Programming Languages
  • AI and Machine Learning

Talent with these skills could be transferred from industries such as:

  • Technology 
  • Fintech 
  • Cybersecurity

Electrical Engineering

This includes skills such as: 

  • Control Systems 
  • Circuit Design 
  • Power Systems 
  • Circuit Design 

Talent with these skills could be transferred from industries such as:

  • Renewable Energy 
  • Telecommunications 
  • Electronics

Sales

This includes skills such as: 

  • Product knowledge and expertise 
  • Technical Communication 
  • Relationship Building
  • Regulatory Compliance

Talent with these skills could be transferred from industries such as:

  • Chemicals 
  • Life Sciences 
  • Automotive

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