Domain Unit Manager

Critical FlyTech is an engineering company operating within the Airbus ecosystem, delivering safety-critical avionics and systems engineering solutions under aerospace certification standards such as DO-178C.  We work closely with Airbus across different engineering domains, combining strong delivery capabilities with an in-depth understanding of its evolving business and operational needs. 

The Domain Unit Manager will be accountable for the overall performance of a set of projects within a specific domain, leading its team members, overseeing resource allocation, planning activities, defining and collecting metrics, and ensuring continuous improvement. The role also involves anticipating Airbus’ current and future needs within the domain and translating them into clear priorities, opportunities, and capabilities for Critical FlyTech. 

This is a senior leadership role focused on business performance, delivery, quality, strategic domain development, customer partnership and the leadership of the team. 

The Domain Unit Manager will ensure that the Domain Unit delivers against its current commitments while continuously looking ahead, anticipating Airbus' evolving needs, identifying opportunities for growth and improvement, and ensuring that Critical FlyTech develops the capabilities and capacity required to respond to them. 

Reporting to the Chief Operations Officer, and working side by side with a Principal Engineer as key advisor and advocate, the Domain Unit Manager acts as a key counterpart to Airbus within the domain, connecting program’ needs, business strategy, people, capacity and delivery.

Responsibilities

• Define and drive the Domain Unit strategy, in alignment with Critical FlyTech’s overall business priorities and Airbus’ evolving needs, translating those needs into strategic priorities, capability requirements and growth opportunities.
• Establish and maintain senior-level relationships with relevant Airbus stakeholders and other key partners, acting as the primary counterpart for strategic and operational matters concerning the Domain Unit.
• Lead and develop the Domain Unit team, including Project and Programme Managers, ensuring clear accountability, effective collaboration and alignment across projects and programmes.
• Be accountable for the successful delivery of the Domain Unit’s projects and programmes, ensuring effective coordination of priorities, dependencies, risks and escalations, and [TR1] intervening directly when additional leadership or project management support is required.
• Be accountable for the overall performance of the Domain Unit, ensuring business, delivery, quality and customer objectives are achieved and that services comply with applicable statutory, regulatory and quality requirements.
• Define and monitor Domain Unit objectives, KPIs and performance indicators, using them to support decision-making, manage risks, identify improvement opportunities and drive continuous improvement in delivery, efficiency and customer value.
• Ensure effective capacity, resource and capability planning across the Domain Unit, balancing current delivery requirements with future business needs and working with the COO and relevant functions on recruitment, development, succession and allocation.
• Ensure effective people management and development within the Domain Unit, including onboarding, performance management, engagement, compensation, training and offboarding, while balancing individual development aspirations with organizational needs.
• Work closely with the Principal Engineer and other relevant technical leaders to ensure alignment between business, delivery and technical priorities, while maintaining clear accountability for the strategic and operational leadership of the Domain Unit.

Requirements

• MSc or equivalent professional experience in Engineering, Management, Business Administration, Project Management, or a related discipline.
• Proven experience in programme, portfolio, domain or business unit management, ideally within engineering-intensive or complex B2B environments. 
• Demonstrated experience leading sizable teams, including Project Managers or comparable senior delivery roles, with people management responsibilities such as performance management, development and mentoring. 
• Proven ability to translate business needs into strategy, priorities and actionable plans. 
• Strong understanding of project and programme management, including planning, performance, risk, resource and financial management. 
• Experience managing or contributing to business planning, capacity planning and resource allocation across multiple projects or programmes. 
• Experience working within a Quality Management System in a regulated or quality-driven environment, including nonconformity and corrective action management; familiarity with aerospace standards such as DO-178C is an advantage. 
• Excellent leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence across different organizational levels. 
• Ability to operate autonomously and effectively in a complex environment, solving problems, making decisions and setting direction in situations where priorities or information may evolve. 
• Understanding of the relevant engineering environment to connect business, customer and delivery considerations, without requiring the role to act as the Domain Unit’s technical authority. 

Benefits

• Work that challenges you technically and helps you grow.
• A team that values collaboration, learning, and high-quality engineering.
• A culture where safety, excellence, and innovation guide everything we do.
• Competitive salary with performance-based recognition.
• Continuous training, mentoring, and career development.
• Modern offices designed to foster teamwork, creativity, and well-being.

Perks with purpose :

• Private Health Insurance – Your health and peace of mind matter.
• Employee Assistance Programme – Confidential support for you and your household.
• Extra Holidays – Additional paid days as your tenure grows.
• Extra Parental Leave – Fully paid extended leave for both parents.
• Flex-Time – Work when it makes sense, aligned with your team and goals.