MeetÁngel

How long have you been working at Airbus?

I started working in Airbus in 2006, and joined the excellent team of Ground System Test engineers for the A400M in Seville

Which aircraft/products are you working with?

The C295 military transport aircraft. Its versatility makes it the ideal platform for any type of military or civic operations for the benefit of society, from transport of armed forces and maritime surveillance to search and rescue and bringing supplies to people living in remote locations. For example, we are now developing a new intensive care transport module to perform aeromedical evacuation missions.

Don’t settle and always look forward to new challenges. This industry allows you to constantly learn new things and work in many rewarding projects that have a positive impact on others.

What inspired you to be a part of the aerospace sector?

I am a telecommunications engineer by training and began my career in a microelectronics testing laboratory. I've always loved the lab and 'touching a lot of things', but I felt I needed to turn my desire into a tangible product such as an aircraft, to see more clearly the impact of my work on society.

Concerning the beginning of your career path at Airbus - what was the main drive that led you to apply and be part of this company?

The main reason was to see that Airbus was opening the A400M Final Assembly Line in Seville. I was amazed by this aircraft and this project, and I jumped at the chance to work in the aerospace industry.

What do you enjoy the most about your job?

I would say the privilege of spending a lot of time inside an airplane! This was one of my dreams, and even if I don’t go inside a cockpit as often as when I was working in manufacturing engineering for the A400M, I continue to enjoy these moments. Furthermore, I work on solutions such as an improved intensive care module transport for aeromedical evacuation missions that can help to save lives. It is exciting to contribute to where we want our C295 aircraft to evolve, to define what new things we want it to do and how we want it to do them.

It is a life experience to work side by side with a search and rescue team, get to know their needs and realise that your work will ultimately contribute to their life saving missions.

Tell us about one of the most memorable experiences from your career at Airbus. What made it so special and unforgettable?

The three years I spent at the Comox area base (British Columbia), in Canada, will be marked in my memory forever. There I was standing-up and fine-tuning the in-service support package for the Fixed-Wing Search and Rescue programme, which includes a training center for Royal Canadian Air Force crews flying a fleet of 16 C295s. It is a life experience to work side by side with a search and rescue team, get to know their needs and realise that your work will ultimately contribute to their life saving missions.

What is the most important advice you have been given, and is there any important advice you would like to give?

Don’t settle and always look forward to new challenges. This industry allows you to constantly learn new things and work in many rewarding projects that have a positive impact on others.

What is the most important message  you would like to send out to women considering a career in the aeronautic industry?

This is a great environment to work in. I would tell them about the satisfaction in working with leading-edge technologies, meeting people from all over the world and very different backgrounds. The possibilities and the type of projects where you can develop your career within this industry are endless.

What are the benefits of working at Airbus?

There are quite a number of benefits. The chance for an engineer to work at the forefront of technology or the broad scope of activities we have, from defence and space to helicopters and commercial aircraft. Furthermore, I really love working with people coming from different backgrounds and nationalities. Diversity nurtures creativity.

In what way do the values of Airbus relate to your own?

I relate especially to “respect”, “integrity” and “customer focus”. My time working with the French, German and Malaysian air forces amongst others was such an enriching experience that I decided to delve deeper into working closely with the customer, as I am now as developing the C295 product policy.

Do you have any hobbies? How do you enjoy spending your free time?

In my free time, I love spending time and playing with my wife and children, Isabel, Lucía and Martin. We love outdoors activities, like hiking or biking. And regarding personal hobbies, I enjoy building and making do-it-yourself projects, especially with wood.

Any fun facts you’d like to share?

One piece of advice that a very experienced engineer once told me when I just started conducting troubleshooting in the A400M: “if something does not work properly in the aircraft, the trick is as in everything else, reset it all (power off and then on), and it will work again”. And indeed it worked!