Airbus Reviews

Pros

- Interesting job field
- Opportunities to make decisions and see the consequences

Cons

- Tends to be too market oriented, with more and more pressure for engineers to deliver on TCQ

Pros

Mobility
Salary
Opportunities to grow and learn (Airbus Academy)
International experience
Recognized company

Cons

Political
Country lobbies make difficult transversal project management

Pros

Lots of opportunites wih solid pay. Excellent chances for training and professional development. Lots of global locations which allow travel and work postions in different countries. Compnay is proactive in pursuing attempts at becoming more efficienct and competitive.

Cons

Some inefficiencies and beauracracy which can be frustrating at times. Less competitive than other engineering companies particularly within the manufacturing aspect.

Advice to Senior Management

Continue to pursue attempts to become more competitive. Possibly by implementing techniques from other successful manufacturing companies such as Toyota cars.

Pros

It is close to my native country

Cons

Knowing french is a must

Pros

Cutting edge company, great to be part of the design phase

Cons

short contracts, hard to move up the line

Advice to Senior Management

Listen to lower grades. There experience should not be over looked

Pros

You get well paid und it is fun to work there.

Cons

It is verry hard work.

Pros

You get to work on big and highly complex aircraft. You can do this in VERY few companies around the world, and they are hard to get into.
There is a very international flavour. You will get to work with people from many different cultures, countries, languages, religions, etc. That makes life very interesting.
There are veried opportunities for travel. Some travel hardly ever, others are on the road every week. It all depends on your role and project.
You will have some opportunity to cross-train in different departments and skill sets, or hunker down and concentrate on just one specialism - it's your choice.
The vast, vast, vast majority of engineers in all departments, in all cities, are honest, hard-working, competent engineers, who can be trusted.

Cons

Airbus is a very political company, in many ways. To get almost anything done requires you to play political games. If you are a techie, who just wants to get the job done, this will be very frustrating.
A LOT of managers find their way into the position because they are naturally manipulative, or not technically competent, or VERY technically competent but can't get a better salary unless they go for a manager's position (where they are not so competent). The Peter Principle.
The general salary and career progression system encourages mediocrity. They certainly don't want stupid engineers, but they also don't want you to be too bright and ambitious either, because then you are harder to control and manage. They want nice, average, dependable, unassuming engineers who don't rock the boat. Ever. So if you arrive on the scene full of ideas and enthusiam, they will smile and pat you on the back . . . . . and then slowly beat it out of you. At least that's how it feels. Everntually you will be so disillusioned that you will look for the exit, but by then you might be too attached yo your pension, so you stay.

Advice to Senior Management

Read Ricardo Semler's "Maverick" and "The Seven-Day Weekend". Change the culture at Airbus accordingly.

Pros

Because developing commercial aircraft is the only thing you want to do in life. And you absolutely want to work in Europe, nowhere else. Then Airbus is certainly your best bet. Indeed, there aren't many other bets.

Cons

If you are an engineer, you will most suffer low morale. This may seem odd in an industry built on the back of engineering creativity. Indeed, you will hear Airbus senior management and recruiters bemoan the fact that they can't recruit enough suitable engineers. But the reality is, They want mediocre engineers, prepared to produce mediocre work, and satisfied with mediocre reward. They will SAY they highly value engineers. But their actions bely their words.

There are bright spots. Some local departments are very well led and managed. But even excellent managers cannot protect you from the stifling bureaucracy. A few people do seem to thrive in the environment, and have meteoric career paths. But they are not the norm.

Advice to Senior Management

Practise what you preach. Exude a passion for producing great aircraft. Live and lead as if nothing else matters. Forget your petty personal or national agendas. Europe, France, Germany, wherever, are not important. Making great aircraft is.