Active Control Functions & AI Leader (m/f)

About the role

Airbus UpNext is launching a high‑stakes R&T demonstrator to pioneer advanced flight‑physics technologies. As the Active Control Functions & Artificial Intelligence leader, you will own the end‑to‑end deployment of active control and AI capabilities on a heavily instrumented sub‑sonic demonstrator, working closely with Overall Aircraft Design, Flight Control Systems and data‑science teams.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the end‑to‑end roadmap for Active Control Functions, including system architecture, aircraft‑level trade‑offs and functional requirement definition for the XWing configuration.
• Define top‑level system requirements and arbitrate functional specifications across multidisciplinary teams.
• Deploy disruptive AI capabilities on the demonstrator and ensure alignment with Airbus AI initiatives.
• Report progress, present flight‑test results and communicate the AI strategy to executive stakeholders and Airbus‑level AI leaders.

Required profile

• Master’s degree or PhD in Aerospace Engineering, Automatic Control, Flight Physics or Computational Sciences with strong background in Overall Aircraft Design, Flight Dynamics, Aeroelasticity or Flight Control Systems.
• Hands‑on experience applying machine learning to physical systems (surrogate modelling, CFD/loads neural networks, real‑time data fusion).
• Proven ability to derive multi‑disciplinary system requirements and experience with flight‑test operations, telemetry exploitation or hardware‑in‑the‑loop validation.
• High autonomy, strategic vision and cross‑functional leadership; ability to influence without direct authority.
• Fluent English with strong presentation skills for executive audiences.

Required skills

• Machine learning for physical systems
• Surrogate modelling and CFD
• Neural networks for loads prediction
• Real‑time data fusion
• Flight‑test operations and telemetry exploitation
• Hardware‑in‑the‑loop validation