Chief Engineer, Communications and Link Assurance

Chief Engineer
- Communications & Link Assurance

Location:
Dubai, UAEEmployment Type: Permanent, Full-TimeSeniority: Senior Engineering LeadershipProgramme: Confidential Greenfield eVTOL Development About the Opportunity Volantes Technical Recruitment is supporting a confidential aerospace organisation in Dubai that is working on a confidential Greenfield eVTOL Development. This is an exciting opportunity to join a aerospace programme, taking technical ownership of the communications and datalink systems that support safe, secure and reliable aircraft operations. We are seeking an experienced Chief Engineer
- Communications & Link Assurance to lead the technical architecture, design assurance, certification and integration of mission-critical communications systems. The successful candidate will act as the technical authority for the communications domain, working closely with senior engineering leadership, specialist engineering teams, regulatory authorities and technology suppliers.

Key Responsibilities

Act as the technical design authority for communications, datalink and link assurance systems. Lead the development and approval of end-to-end communications architectures, including airborne systems, ground infrastructure and carrier networks. Oversee datalink performance, link budgets, spectrum management, carrier diversity and system resilience. Establish technical requirements for secure, reliable communications between aircraft and ground-based systems. Define system behaviour during communication degradation, interference and complete link loss. Lead communications security and resilience strategies, including protection against jamming, spoofing, interception and other threats. Oversee spectrum selection, regulatory licensing and coordination with relevant authorities. Define certification, accreditation and verification strategies for safety-critical communications systems. Provide technical direction to specialist engineering teams across datalink, airborne integration and ground systems. Support ground testing, flight testing, system validation and technical investigations. Evaluate communications technology suppliers, equipment providers and network operators. Ensure technical solutions meet applicable aviation safety, security and regulatory requirements.
Essential Requirements
Extensive professional experience in communications, radio frequency (RF), datalink or telecommunications systems engineering. Strong aerospace, aviation or equivalent safety-critical communications experience, including operationally critical systems. Previous responsibility as a technical authority, design authority or senior engineering lead for complex communications systems. Demonstrated experience designing and validating communications architectures and link budgets. Strong understanding of RF systems, spectrum management, frequency allocation and regulatory licensing. Experience with carrier diversity, communication redundancy, handover and network resilience. Knowledge of safety-critical systems engineering, development assurance and hazard assessment. Experience supporting certification, regulatory approval or accreditation of communications systems. Understanding of communications security, encryption, key management and protection against interference or cyber threats. Experience managing technical relationships with suppliers, telecommunications providers and regulatory stakeholders. Ability to provide technical leadership and make engineering decisions across multidisciplinary teams. Strong hands-on technical understanding, combined with senior-level engineering judgement.
Desirable Experience
Communications or datalink systems used in eVTOL, UAV, UAS or remotely operated aircraft. Aerospace or defence communications programmes. Satellite communications (SATCOM), cellular networks or hybrid communications architectures. Sovereign or nationally controlled communications infrastructure. Ground station architecture, antenna integration and airborne RF systems. Communications systems operating in contested, degraded or high-security environments. UTM, U-space or advanced air mobility communications integration. Experience establishing engineering capabilities within a greenfield aerospace programme. Experience supporting aviation design organisation approvals or equivalent regulatory frameworks.

Location:
Dubai, UAERelocation: International candidates consideredConfidentiality: Further programme and company information will be shared with suitably qualified candidates following the appropriate confidentiality process.