Head of R&D for AAM

SkyGrid, a Boeing SparkCognition Company, exists to open the sky for autonomous flight. Based in Austin, Texas, SkyGrid builds high-assurance third-party services to enable the safe operations and airspace integration of autonomous aircraft. SkyGrid also acts as a key operational nexus for advanced air mobility, integrating and managing data, infrastructure, access, and traffic to support seamless and efficient air traffic services. 

The SkyGrid team is looking to fill a critical role in the organization, who will be responsible for the definition, and the realization of the autonomy strategy in support of the current and future product lines. As Head of R&D for AAM, you will have people management and technical leadership responsibility for the planning, execution, and tracking of the SkyGrid autonomy roadmap. The Head of R&D for AAM will help SkyGrid shape the future of flight by demonstrating a strong, recognized impact on the UAM/AAM industry. 

The Head of R&D for AAM coordinates R&D activities with the IPTs and reports to the Chief Engineer.  

• Produce and distribute performance goals for the team in alignment with company KPIs  
• Review performance goals progress at year-end with the team and support career growth.
• Finalize the Tech Maturation Plan and calendar through 2028. 
• Oversee and own the delivery of the Technological Maturation Report for the 2026 product line.  
• Streamline the R&D processes across Airspace Integration, Design, and Qualification IPTs. 

• Nurture and grow the Autonomy division within SkyGrid. 
• Mentor the career growth of team members to enable top performance. 
• Build out the autonomy team and hire additional autonomy engineers in accordance with program needs. 
• Coordinate with third-party entities including contractors, activities with partners, and universities. 
•  Provide subject matter expertise and define autonomy processes and tools for the organization. 

• Define the Technological plan and maturation roadmap for  SkyGrid functions and own the process and calendar via the Technological Maturation Plan (TMP). 
• Lead and track functional development and validation through the TRL approach as defined within the TMP. Follow the maturation of the functions throughout the process as they are allocated across multiple disciplines and teams from conceptual definition to deployment in real environment. 
• Ensure correctness, consistency, and timing of the R&D deliverables (conceptual definition, algorithm definition, design, implementation, testing, deployment). 
• Responsible for, collaboration with other divisions (Airspace Integration, SEIT, SW, HW) the definition, implementation, and validation of the simulation (SW/HW in-the-loop) strategy.  
• Provide executive status reports to leadership as required during weekly status checks and monthly PMRs, elevate risks and opportunities. 

• Minimum 10 years of hands-on experience developing complex functions, preferably in a real-time simulation environment.  
• Minimum 7 years as a team leader or equivalent leadership position.  
• Master’s degree in aerospace engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science or similar.  
• Experience with software development, preferably using C/C++, Python, Matlab/Simulink.   
• Strong understanding of the AAM needs and use cases, proven industrial leadership and results.  
• Proven experience of conceptual (ConOps and use cases) validation of functions in simulated AAM environment, deep understanding of aerospace modeling components. 
• Familiarity with air operations and/or UAM/AAM operations and concepts, including but not limited to: 
• Optimization and resource allocation.  
• Flight planning.  
• Conflict detection and resolution.  
• Excellent communication and public speaking skills. 

• Previous experience in academic, industry, or government organizations in leading research and development efforts in airspace traffic management, transportation logistics, or related fields.  
• Experience in strategic and tactical deconfliction in transportation networks. 
• Familiarity with Cloud technologies (GCP, AWS, Azure) and web services/applications.  
• Preference is to have this person located with our leadership team in Austin, TX

• Comprehensive Health Coverage from Day One: Enjoy immediate access to medical, dental, and vision insurance, including HSA and FSA options.
• Generous Retirement Contributions: Benefit from an automatic company 401k contribution program, with no match required, plus an additional company matching program to boost your retirement savings.
• Headspace Annual Membership: Prioritize your mental health with complimentary access to mindfulness and meditation resources.
• Discounted ClassPass Membership: Stay active and healthy with access to thousands of fitness studios and gyms nationwide.
• Investment in Your Growth: Receive an annual stipend for learning and development to support your continuous education and skill development
• Engaging Team Activities: Participate in quarterly team-building events and celebrations organized by our dedicated culture committee.
• Fully Stocked Kitchen: Enjoy a variety of snacks and beverages to keep you fueled throughout the day.