Manager-Research & Development - Flight Systems

Job Summary

The Manager, Research & Development – Flight Systems is primarily responsible for leading a team of direct reports who work on technically versatile and various scopes of work. The role is responsible for developing complex aircraft systems and utilizes a holistic approach to that development. The role is also responsible for implementing and executing the operational model of the Advanced Design and Development department, as well as managing project and financial aspects of the department in a manner consistent with the company’s overall strategic plan. This position will work with Cirrus leaders, primarily AD&D leadership, and lead direct reports to plan, develop, and drive to department objectives across the lifecycle of Cirrus products.

 Duties and Responsibilities/Essential Functions

• Advocates for the AD&D organization and consistently displays the appropriate values, skills, area contributions, and growth/protection of shareholder value.
• Collaborates with peers across Product Development to advance the goals of various projects.
• Participates in the development of the organization’s vision, strategies, budgets, and plans.
• Participates in the development and nurturing of relationships with relevant strategic partners.
• Collaborates with AD&D leadership to develop long-term plans with scope ranging from individual projects to large initiatives.
• Leads and advocates systems-engineering-based development approach in support of company technology roadmap development.
• Participates in planning of organizational activities (short term plans) and strives for continued improvements.
• Contributes to the development and maintenance of the team skill matrix, including hiring and succession planning
• Leads and grows direct reports and builds organizational cohesion
• Manages relationships and personalities with the ability to collaborate and maintain successful team member relationships.
• Monitors and adjusts to organizational cadence to ensure effective use of resources, in collaboration with AD&D leadership
• Sets and executes operating model for a one-team approach
• Works closely with AD&D leadership on AD&D projects, strategic initiatives, organizational processes, etc.
• Drives implementation of strategies, plans, and tactics for current projects to achieve project and program deliverables, with a focus on the right skill matrix to minimize necessary oversight
• Facilitates project and program decisions.
• Leverages technical, leadership, and business acumen to provide insight on risk, issues, requirements, design, and/or solution to be able to effectively manage projects in program and associated dependencies.
• Takes responsibility for technical integrity of projects and team output.
• Ensures team projects are managed appropriately, e.g. scope, effort required, maturity assessments, risk management, etc.
• Leverages business acumen to develops project criteria, including business cases of applicable AD&D projects with team, and to develop priorities.
• Is a sounding board to all team members – project related and organizational
• Leverages technical depth to guide broader engineering problems and delegates appropriately
• Grows own technical and leadership breadth to increase effectiveness of self and team.
• Collaborates with AD&D leadership the balance internal resources across AD&D priorities.
• Identifies and enables experiential growth of team and self through project opportunities
• Supports development and measurement against business plans, MR&O, and DR&O. May potentially include Business Requirements & Objectives (BR&O) depending on project type.
• Assesses purpose and status of the projects in a program and can use this oversight to support project-level activity in support of program goals
• Communicates and resolves project constraints collaboratively. Escalates as needed.
• Regular, reliable, and predictable attendance.
• Travel requirements estimated at 10%, 25% for remote applicants.

Examples of expected activities and deliverables:

• Collaborates with AD&D leadership to create and foster strategic alliances
• Leads and engages at a team and individual level to foster cohesion and growth
• Leads technical projects to maintain and grow technical depth and breadth
• Leads & conducts technical work to best leverage skills across the team
• Leads onboarding or new members
• Contributes to annual project and budget setting
• Co-develops project planning and integration methods
• Develop and sustain team cadence
• Develop and sustain “busines