Mechanical / Optical Group Leader

ADB Safegate leads the world in smart solutions that help airports handle more aircraft, safely and efficiently, from approach to departure. Our products and services can lift any airport’s performance from approach, runway and taxiway lighting; to tower-based traffic control systems; to intelligent gate and docking automation.

With people working from more than 26 countries and close to 50 different nationalities that make up the ADB SAFEGATE family, we bring a well-rounded perspective to some of the world’s toughest yet fascinating aviation projects.

We are looking for talented and enthusiastic people with the passion to support our vision and help to change the future of aviation. We are now offering a position as a Mechanical / Optical Group Leader.

The mechanical-optical group leader plans, organizes, leads and controls the R&D mechanical-optical group for technical and operational matters. They report directly to the R&D Director and direct the activities of the mechanical-optical group with their partners in the other departments of the organization, ranging from sales, technical marketing, purchasing, logistics, quality, production.

Your new role

• Manage the people in the group: provide the necessary coaching and steering, take care of competence and training, create a good cooperation within the group and with the interface partners, take care of all person-related issues and administration
• Manage, organize and balance the workload of the group, taking into account the aspects such as quality, time-schedules and cost.
• Participate and organize participation in the different development projects to cover the aspects of mechanical/optical design for these products in accordance with the respective standards (FAA, ICAO,…) and with the CE/EMC/IEC requirements.
• For external relations, the group leader manages the technical relation with innovative suppliers, subcontractors, universities, external laboratories and other business fields.
• Drive the realization of new concepts, research on product/process improvements and knowledge management with special focus to simulation capabilities and incorporation of external know-how (e.g. bionic structures)
• Participate in steering R&D together with the other group leaders, the R&D Director and the R&D financial controller.
• Coordinate and drive the securing of intellectual work through the generation of invention disclosures and patents.
• Adhere to all relevant administrative requirements, policies and procedures and respect confidentiality of data and compliance rules.
• Product Maintenance of existing products during product life cycle.

Your skills & qualifications

• A Master’s degree in an Engineering field or equivalent by experience
• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience
• Willing to travel and stay abroad for short periods as needed
• You speak English fluently and ideally also have a good mastery of other languages like French or Dutch.
• Ideally, you have knowledge of products and systems related to airports or some previous experience in the Aviation industry.
• You have some experience in Project Management and related tools
• You have previous exposure to people management, including competence, career management, communication techniques,...
• You have experience in IPR management, innovation management
• You know how to work with a Windows office environment, Sharepoint applications, and different configuration environments like PDM works, SVN,..

You have great knowledge of:

• Design Tools (LightTools, AutoCAD, Solidworks,...) and simulation tools
• Modern production processes related to our products (light sources, reflector techniques, filter techniques, optical layer techniques, casting, plate work, injection, fastening,...)
• Electro-optical theory incl. Colorimetric
• Mechanical theory
• Material properties
• Mechanical / Thermal / Optical test tools and machines
• Relevant international and national standards (FAA, ICAO,...)

Your personal competences

• You have an ability for creative, out-of-the-box thinking.
• You thrive in a multicultural, diverse and inclusive environment
• You have great communication skills and can adapt to all layers of the organisation
• You like coaching and mentoring your team, supporting them to be the best they can be
• Problem solving is no problem for you: you analyze the information you have and can make the correct decisions accordingly
• You are result and quality oriented by nature

You will get

We offer an exciting, fast-paced working environment, where you can make a tangible impact and hone your skills. Of course, this is accompanied by an attractive salary package with fringe benefits and an amazing team of colleagues!

Our people are the core pillar of our success. ADB Safegate offers a family friendly environment with opportunities to learn and grow. ADB Safegate is an Equal opportunity Employer, supporting a diverse and inclusive culture.

How to apply

If you believe, you got what we are looking for, we would like to hear from you. Please click APPLY and follow the prompts accordingly.

You will be in contact if you are shortlisted. Thank you for considering ADB Safegate as your next employer.

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