Chief, Engineering Production Support - Final Assembly And Pre-flight

Job Summary

De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited is currently bringing the legendary CL-415 water bomber back into production as the DHC Canadair 515 aircraft with production based in Calgary Alberta.  This program is currently looking to fill a permanent position in Calgary. We are looking for a candidate to lead all aspects of Water Bomber Engineering Production Support in the final assembly line and Pre-flight, ensuring successful entry-into-service of the Canadair 515.

This is a Line-Side Engineering Management position leading a team of engineers and technicians providing real-time production support to final assembly, preflight, and detailed parts fabrication operations. This role ensures seamless integration between engineering design intent and manufacturing execution — maintaining production flow, resolving technical issues rapidly, and upholding the highest standards of safety, airworthiness, and quality.

Aircraft final assembly is a high-pressure working environment requiring an individual to be fast yet thorough and willing to take on numerous challenges with a professional and effective approach.

Direct Accountabilities

• Ensure the team is visible and working directly and very closely with Operations.
• Promote a safe and efficient response to all technical issues arising in any of the production lines.
• Ensure the consumers of Engineering are satisfied with support levels. Those teams include:
  • Production
  • Methods
  • Supply Chain/Procurement
  • AMO/Pre-flight
• Lead the troubleshooting and problem solving of complex technical issues.
• Build a high-performing and highly engaged team with the overarching objective to ensure Operations customer satisfaction with Engineering Production support. The manager is expected to over-deliver on commitments.
• Manage priorities and ensure effective governance of the status of Engineering resolutions.
• Manage performance through holding highly effective performance reviews regularly.
• Support in service aircraft by creating and reviewing engineering modification packages based on customer change requests.  Support Service Bulletin development.  Support in service aircraft fleet investigation by addressing in Service Difficultly Reports.
• Technically supervise / coordinate the work and the mentoring of less experienced Engineers in the department.

Education Required

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related discipline.

Experience, skills, and attitude

• You have a minimum of 10 years of relevant Aviation Production or Engineering experience with a strong working knowledge of troubleshooting complex systems
• You have extensive working experience with system design, test and certification requirements of aircraft
• You are knowledgeable with civil airworthiness FAR Part 25 avionics regulations and industry advisory material including RTCA and APR documents for applicable TCCA, EASA and FAA avionics certification requirements. 
• You have strong system technical integration skills.
• You have superior organizational, communication and planning skills, you are able to set priorities in order to achieve important milestones. Fluent in English a must.
• You have strong customer orientation and perseverance
• You must be able to work effectively within a team environment.
• Knowledge of De Havilland aircrafts including the CL-215 and CL-415 water bomber aircraft and the De Havilland engineering and business processes considered a strong asset.
• You are familiar with Microsoft Office software tools.
• The position may require travel to flight test, vendor or operator sites.