Head of Data & Simulation (m/f/d) – AI-based Autonomy Hub

Job Description:

Airbus pioneers sustainable aerospace for a safe and united world. The company is constantly innovating to provide efficient and technologically advanced solutions in aerospace, defense, and connected services. In the commercial aircraft sector, Airbus offers the most modern and fuel-efficient aircraft families. Airbus is also a European leader in defense and security and one of the world’s largest space companies. As such, we are actively shaping the technological future to strengthen the security and sovereignty of Europe.

Your New Environment:

To shape the future of autonomous systems, Airbus is pooling its strengths in artificial intelligence and autonomy. For this purpose, we are establishing a new, agile Competence and Development Center at the traditional technology site of Tesat in Backnang. In this environment, which combines decades of expertise in space technology with the dynamism of a startup, we are developing the next generation of AI-powered defense and dual-use applications.

Your Role: You lead the discipline that supplies our models with data.

As Team Lead Data & Simulation, you lead one of the four engineering units of our center and own both sources of the data our AI learns from and is validated against: the data we generate ourselves - flight dynamics, sensor and environment models, synthetic scenes - and the data we acquire from real flight campaigns, from fleets and from partners. Everything data-related in our center is brought together in your unit: simulation and synthetic data on the one side, data products on the other. Machine Learning and Full Stack are your internal customers, and your team is measured by the value its data create for them. You report to the Head of Engineering, lead your team with full personnel responsibility and, as is the rule in our center, you continue to work technically alongside it.

Your Tasks:

• Data Acquisition: Open up new data sources inside and outside of Airbus - identify the owners, negotiate access, and see it through until the data actually arrive and can be used.
• Simulation as a Service: Develop today’s individual simulation environments into one reproducible and deterministic framework that serves both synthetic data generation and validation together with our DroneOps & Flight Test team.
• Learned Environment Models: Train models of your own - environment and world models that complement classical simulation or replace parts of it - and use real recordings to recalibrate them, so that what we generate synthetically matches what our systems encounter in reality.
• Data Products & Governance: Own ingest, pipelines, labeling, data catalog and data lifecycle, together with the access and confidentiality rules that apply in a defense context.
• Team Leadership: Build and lead an interdisciplinary team of simulation and data engineers. Fill the open positions, and align priorities closely with Machine Learning, Full Stack and Platform & DevOps.

Your Profile:

• A completed degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, or a related field.
• Several years of experience leading a technical team, ideally including leadership through a team lead of your own, combined with a strong background in data-intensive development, simulation, or the interface between the two.
• A proven track record of obtaining data: opening up sources, negotiating access, and building the pipelines that turn raw recordings into usable datasets.
• Enough understanding of simulation and of learned models to set direction and define quality gates for both, along with hands-on engineering skills - coding remains part of the role in leadership positions as well.
• Fluent in German and English.
• Hybrid working model: Strong on-site presence during onboarding, transitioning to a flexible structure with at least 60% on-site and up to 40% mobile work.

What We Offer:

• The unique opportunity to shape the future of autonomous systems at a world-leading aerospace company.
• An inspiring work environment that combines the innovative power of a startup with the expertise of an established technology site.
• A team of brilliant minds working together on a grand vision for Europe’s technological sovereignty.
• An attractive salary, flexible working hours, and excellent professional development opportunities within the Airbus group.

Interested?

Then become part of our mission and apply now with your complete application documents. We look forward to meeting you!

This job requires an awareness of any potential compliance risks and a commitment to act with integrity, as the foundation for the Company’s success, reputation and sustainable growth.

Company:

Airbus Defence and Space GmbH

Employment Type:

Permanent

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Experience Level:

Professional

Job Family:

Leadership

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At Airbus, we support you to work, connect and collaborate more easily and flexibly. Wherever possible, we foster flexible working arrangements to stimulate innovative thinking.