Career Opportunities

Position: Flight Test Engineer and Program Manager

About Me

I am originally from Chicago, IL, but I moved to the South for college. I graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in Aerospace Engineering. While in school I joined Honda Aircraft’s co-op/intern program, which led me to this job once I graduated. Since I had really enjoyed my time interning here, it was an easy choice to make when they offered me a full-time position. The innovation mixed with the opportunity is what sold me.

I am a Flight Test Engineer and Program Manager here. I do a little bit of everything and every day is different, which is what I love about my job. My responsibilities vary with each phase of the program, but initially it involves working with Design Engineers to develop system specifications and test plans. The second phase involves working with pilots and test teams to evaluate the changes (and if I’m lucky fly on the plane). The third and final phase is the data analysis and technical report writing.

It’s tough for me to say what is unique about this company, given that this has been my only job since graduating. Based on others’ descriptions, I would have to say that it is the investment behind us. Global Honda has invested in the latest technologies to help ensure we’re able to develop the world’s most advanced light jet. What is unique about my position ties back to every day being different and to being fortunate enough to work with every group within the company. We work with Supply Chain and Manufacturing to confirm the plane is built to specification. Since we test the aircraft as a whole, each Engineering discipline provides their input to develop test procedures. And once testing is complete, we work with Sales, Marketing, and Customer Service to ensure the best possible customer experience.

What I enjoy the most about working at Honda Aircraft Company is the opportunity to learn and grow. Since Honda Aircraft is a startup company, there’s plenty of space to make a name for yourself and progress in your career. In my time here I have learned that safety is number 1, but within those bounds it’s key to push the envelope and always be willing to try new things. My ultimate goal is to grow into a leadership position. I enjoy the bigger picture, and bringing the different groups together to accomplish our objectives.

Outside of work I enjoy playing board games. I’m a nerd, and I embrace it. It can get a little competitive at times, but in the end we’re all having fun and spending time together. The other bit is triathlons, my wife and I are still at the Sprint level, but training together and finishing those races has been incredible.

My advice to someone beginning their career is to not be afraid to try new things. You’ll never know what could spark an interest and help shape your career.

Position: Stability and Controls Engineer

About Me

I am a Stability and Controls Engineer in the Flight Sciences Department. My job includes aircraft dynamics modeling, flight test support, and flight test data analysis. Most days I am coding, analyzing data, and running simulations. Flight Sciences being a small team, I get to work on many intriguing projects. I also enjoy working with other teams such as Flight Test and Mechanical Systems. I received my undergraduate degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics at the University of Washington and later attended to Stanford to receive my Master’s degree in the same field with a focus on controls. There, I worked on a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) and a self-navigating robot.

At Honda Aircraft Company, I can interact with people from all fields; R&D, design, engineering, flight test, production, marketing, sales, customer service, etc. It is rare for everything to be in one facility and to be able to see through the whole process of aircraft conceptual design to customer delivery, and everything in between.I think the ability to see the large picture of the aircraft manufacturing process is extremely unique.

In my career, I have learned to question data and methods used, even those that are “set in stone.” Just because something has been believed to be accurate by many people in the past, there are occasions where it is in fact inaccurate. I have learned that eliminating those inaccuracies and uncertainties can lead to sound engineering judgments.

My advice to young professionals is don’t get frustrated by confusion. Relax. Often times in “real life” situations, there are no clear correct answers or correct actions to a problem, unlike homework and tests. It is crucial to take a moment and face these uncertainties with patience and persistence until a solution is reached. Frustration will only stress you out and slow you down in reaching the solution.

Position: Senior Counsel

About Me

I received both my undergraduate degree in political science and my law degree from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Prior to attending law school, I participated in the Internal Revenue Service Office of Chief Counsel’s Honors Program for two years as a paralegal. Following my law school graduation in 2013, I practiced corporate law at Nexsen Pruet, LLC for five years where I provided clients with consultation concerning mergers and acquisitions, complex contract matters, corporate governance and entity formation. When one of the firm’s best clients, Honda Aircraft Company, requested onsite support, I jumped at the chance. After a few months of secondment, I was thrilled to be given the opportunity to join Honda Aircraft as an associate.

I practice in-house in Honda Aircraft’s legal department. In this role, I primarily support the contracting activities of our Supply Chain Management and Customer Service organizations. I assist with sourcing initiatives, engaging service providers, resolving disputes with our business partners and protecting the company’s confidential information and intellectual property.

A unique aspect about Honda Aircraft is that it is a startup in the aviation industry but is backed by the resources and expertise of Honda, which provides Honda Aircraft with the means and brand recognition to recruit top talent, build innovative aircraft and attract high net worth customers.

I enjoy working in a fast-paced environment where you are challenged to think on your toes and problem-solve to meet the needs of a growing business and international customer base.

Prior to my employment at Honda Aircraft, my colleagues were limited to those in the legal profession. Working at a large corporation has provided me with the opportunity to work with experts in a variety of fields, which has expanded my ability to work as part of a team consisting of diverse backgrounds and new perspectives.

After spending the first part of my career as an attorney assisting many wonderful clients across a broad range of industries, I felt I had the experience required to dedicate my services to one client that I could continue to grow and evolve with over time. While I was working onsite during my secondment at Honda Aircraft, I found it motivating to work in such a dynamic environment with a high level of sophistication amongst the associates. Because Honda Aircraft is a relatively new company, I felt my contributions could have a real impact in shaping the business, which enabled me to envision a long and fulfilling career here.

My advice to all professionals is to treat others the way you want to be treated. Earning the respect of your colleagues and maintaining your integrity is essential to your professional and personal satisfaction and success.

My husband and I welcomed a baby girl recently, so my hobbies are currently centered around strolling through the neighborhood, playing in the park and introducing our daughter to all of the people and places we love.

Position: Project Engineer

About Me

As a project engineer on the New Product Introduction (NPI) team, my position at Honda Aircraft Company is unique. I’m lucky to get to work with and learn from the managers on the team.  I support sourcing activities for our new products, mainly by managing the master sourcing schedule for every major component of the project. I also help organize the influx of proposals we receive from potential suppliers. In addition, I occasionally create cost models and presentations comparing potential suppliers. Since I started, I’ve been able to sharpen my technical and soft skills in numerous ways. My work environment is a combination of independent and collaborative work. I interface with the engineering department to maintain consistent schedules across Engineering and Supply Chain.

I grew up in Connecticut and was a competitive swimmer in middle and high school. I went to Duke for both my bachelors and masters degrees in mechanical engineering. My work experience consists of an engineering internship, a consulting internship, and working as a teaching assistant in college. I was also a swim instructor and lifeguard in high school and college.

Above all, I love the people at Honda Aircraft. There are so many kind, interesting and brilliant people here I have the pleasure of interacting with and learning from. I’ve wanted to work in aviation for a long time. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to start my career in engineering or project management; I was split about 50/50. An opportunity presented itself in project management at Honda Aircraft and I recognized it as a chance I couldn’t pass up.

I like to bake, read, and play tennis. I’m a member of the Honda Aircraft tennis club. My husband and I enjoy biking and hiking.

My advice to young professionals is to seize every opportunity that comes your way. Take every chance to grow and work hard.

Position: Aerodynamics Design Engineer

Aerodynamics Design Engineer

Prior to joining Honda Aircraft Company, I held a postdoctoral fellowship at Brown University, where I earned my doctorate in Fluid Mechanics and master’s degree in Applied Mathematics. My doctoral research encompassed an array of topics, ranging from unsteady aerodynamics of flapping flight to aeroelastic bifurcation theory and energy harvesting. I pursued my undergraduate studies at the University of Southern California, where I majored in Aerospace Engineering. For me, pursuing engineering and research was a natural progression as I’ve always been interested in understanding how things work.

My primary role as an aerodynamics design engineer is to understand and characterize flow physics with the aim of determining an aerodynamically-optimized “surface” that defines our next-generation airplane. I take on this challenge by leveraging various tools and methodologies, including computational fluid dynamics (CFD), wind tunnel experiments, flight tests and, of course, analytical hand calculations.

Working at a company like Honda Aircraft presents a myriad of opportunities, as well as challenges, to help me grow and achieve more in life—both at professional and personal levels. There’s clearly a high degree of expectation from our leadership in terms of competence, expertise and performance, but you will be rewarded by delivering these things successfully. In addition, our company places a strong emphasis on nurturing collaboration and sharing of knowledge and ideas, which in turn drives the kind of creativity and innovation that sets Honda Aircraft Company apart from others. My colleagues are all very busy, but if you ask them for time, they are always willing to sit down and share their knowledge and expertise. Since I started working here, I’ve found a great amount of happiness and satisfaction, which is largely attributable to my great colleagues and mentors who helped me get acclimated and up to speed as I made the transition from academia to a corporate setting.

Towards the end of my doctoral study, I came to realization that my career interest does not exactly lie in academia, where it can take years, if not decades, to achieve tangible results. I started to gravitate towards a more fast-paced, collaborative environment where I can still continue to exploit my fluid mechanics background and problem-solving skills, and I felt HAC was a perfect fit for me.

I believe strong analytical grounding, good command of mathematics and keen physical intuition are must-haves. In order to excel as an engineer or scientist, one must be able to identify and diagnose a problem, formulate a model to analyze it, and then interpret and summarize the results.  In this job, one is constantly challenged by real-world problems (not some “textbook” problems with known, predictable answers), and one has to be able to meet those challenges by thinking analytically. Being able to think analytically and out of the box is very important to conquer real-world problems.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my friends and family, and pursuing hobbies and interests, including golfing, playing the piano and reading.

Position: Division Director, Human Resources

About Me

There are many things that are unique about Honda Aircraft Company. We’re not just another aviation manufacturing company. Our goal is to be a technology company that creates new products and new industry. We value research, endeavor and critical thinking skills. Our culture is extremely data driven and measured. We want to make sure we’re making the best decision possible for our associates, our company and the Honda brand.

I have a bachelor’s degree from the Ohio State University and about 13 years of experience in the Human Resources field. After graduating college, I worked in Talent Acquisition at Piper Aircraft before coming to Honda Aircraft Company 7 years ago. I started my career at Honda Aircraft Company in Associate Relations and eventually took on leadership of that function. As the Associate Engagement Manager, I’m now responsible for the Associate Relations and Talent Development Teams.

I’m responsible for providing tools and services that engage and motivate associates and help them work more effectively each day. My Associate Relations team acts as a liaison between associates and leadership receiving and resolving associate concerns and conflicts and advising leadership on employment best practices. The goal of my Talent Development group is to create training and development activities that motivate and help associates and leadership perform at their best and achieve company objectives. My work environment is very dynamic and collaborative. I regularly work on a wide range of projects with my own team, other Honda Aircraft divisions, as well as subject matter experts from other Honda companies in the US.

There are so many things I love about working at Honda Aircraft Company.  I love the innovative product we build and the fact that we get to see the manufacturing process from start to finish.   I love that every day brings new and exciting challenges and constant opportunities to learn and grow. I love that my team supports all business units which helps give us a very broad perspective of the company and the amazing associates within each. Most of all I love that in my role I am able to make a difference and a positive impact.

My goal, simply put, is to bring the best out in people. I want to help the associates and leadership achieve their goals and dreams which will ultimately lead to the success of the company. I joined Honda Aircraft Company because I love the aviation industry and I saw an opportunity to make a difference with an evolving company.

My advice to people beginning their career is to figure out what excites you, get your foot in the door in that area, and then separate yourself from the competition by doing the following: Share your ideas and be relentless with your interests. Be smart, tactful and respectful but keep asking for the things that you want to work on Work hard, be positive and strive to be better every single day. Be a leader whether you’re in that role or not. This means being a good team member and helping others to be their best and looking out for the good of the company.

Position: Senior Manager, Flight Sciences

About Me

I received my undergraduate degree in engineering from Cambridge University and did an exchange program with MIT for aerospace engineering before finishing my masters at Cambridge. I went to Stanford University to receive my PhD in aerospace engineering. At Stanford, my research was focused on aerodynamics and my professors excelled in that area. Aerospace was attractive to me because it is a combination of math, science and art. I believe there is an elegance in this field.

I had the opportunity to meet Honda Aircraft Company founding president Michimasa Fujino when he came to speak at Stanford. I learned more about the HondaJet during this time and it seemed like a very exciting place to work. My professors at Stanford were impressed that a new aircraft company was created from scratch as it was the only organization to do so in the past 50 years. I was attracted to the level of innovation and unconventional ideas. I understand this took a lot of courage and am grateful to work for a company that has the culture to undertake challenges and add new value to the aviation industry. Looking at the industry as a whole, not many companies have as much promise as Honda Aircraft Company when it comes to aircraft design. I believe this is the best opportunity for a young person embarking on their career. I considered several opportunities before graduating and Honda Aircraft was an easy choice for me.

Currently, I serve as the flight sciences manager for the company. In this role, I am in charge of aerodynamic projects, stability control design and flutter, among other projects. I was also in charge of the aircraft’s performance for the HondaJet Elite project. To me, the HondaJet is a symbol of new ideas, opportunity and promise. I’ve been at Honda Aircraft Company for about six years now and feel privileged to be in my position. I have the support here to make decisions based on my understanding and analysis of the design of the aircraft. As an aircraft designer, the best you can hope for is having the company’s trust while you make major decisions.

My advice to young professionals is to follow your passion and you will lead a fulfilling, challenging career. My advice for aspiring engineers is to focus on the fundamental principles and basics. You’ll deal with a lot of challenging problems and each time you get in one of those situations, it is important to return to the basics and from there increase your analysis.

Position: Project Manager, Engineering Management

About Me

I grew up in Houston, Texas and determined early in my high school education that I wanted to pursue automotive engineering as a career. During my college search, I met the people who designed the Cornell Racing Formula SAE (FSAE) car, and had my sights set on joining the team from that point. I attended Cornell University, studying Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and joined Cornell Racing FSAE within my first few weeks on campus. I tailored my internship experience towards automotive and aerospace engineering as well. My first internship was with an automotive sensors company, and the following summer saw me join SpaceX as a Vehicle Engineering intern. This cemented my passion for vehicular design, be it airborne or land-bound.

At Honda Aircraft Company, I began my tenure as a hydraulic systems engineer. The role exposed me not only to the hydraulic system, but to the landing gear and brake systems too. One element of this role was the design and analysis of the aircraft steering system and its impact on ground handling. Once the aircraft touches down, its dynamics are quite similar to those of an automobile; the systems and structures, too, all have their parallels in race car design – I would say my collegiate interests segued nicely into this role.

During my time as an engineer, I found myself involved in several projects outside of pure system design tasks. These tasks allowed me to broaden my perspective about the engineering department, and about Honda Aircraft Company as a whole – I developed skills that would lay the foundation for a Project role. I transitioned to Project Management at the start of my fourth year at the company, focusing on new product development. I work closely with the technical leadership and integrated project teams to coordinate project decision-making, plan design reviews, create and manage schedules, and collaborate with the Supply Chain organization for management of project costs. Ultimately, my goal is to support and align the efforts of the various contributing teams to ensure the success of the project. I have also maintained a level of involvement in technical work from a supplier integration standpoint. In this capacity, I define technical requirements for a component, and manage the supplier’s execution throughout their development process.

Honda Aircraft Company is unique because of the scope of interaction one has with those throughout the company. I don’t spend much time at my desk, as I am often interacting with other groups and departments. The people I work with are interesting individuals with tremendous experience. The breadth and depth of knowledge my mentors here have is incredible. Consequently, the mentorship opportunities have been outstanding.

It’s impossible not to learn something here. I’ve had the opportunity to learn several new systems and tools here, and it has transformed my way of viewing the engineering discipline. I would love to evolve as a professional here and use my technical knowledge and interpersonal skills to advance my career and have a positive impact on the organization and our customers.

Outside of work, I enjoy performance driving and am a member of the BMW Car Club of America and the National Auto Sport Association, and hope to soon become an instructor-caliber driver. I also enjoy learning new languages, experimenting with new recipes, swimming laps, bowling, and the occasional jog.

My advice to young professionals is to be very proactive. The timing of recruiting and hiring is only getting faster, and happening sooner in one’s career. If you’re interested in starting your career on the right foot, stay on top of your application deadlines, take note of any available career and recruiting events, and always seek out networking opportunities.

Position: Manager, Corporate Communications

About Me

I am from Japan and was raised in China. The environment I grew up has shaped me into a “language geek”, where I speak Japanese at home, Chinese in public, and English at school. After my high school, I moved to New York to study Linguistics and Education. I like acquiring new languages because it not only allows me to be exposed to different culture, but also allows me to access more resources during my thought process, ultimately providing unique solutions in everyday life.

I was looking for an opportunity to apply the skill sets and knowledge I gained with my multicultural background. I was also interested in working for an advanced technology company. While looking for a job during college, Honda came to mind; unconsciously I have been surrounded by Honda products since I was young. During my search, I was amazed by the product and the program, and I knew I wanted to join the company. I felt a strong desire to promote this brand and product around the globe. This desire has led me to who I am now.

Given my linguistics background, I was first hired as a translator/interpreter. I soon realized there were many opportunities to pursue at Honda Aircraft Company and was approached about a potential marketing & corporate communication role. I took on the new role and have thoroughly enjoyed it. I support the company’s communication, explore and create new ways to promote the brand through media coverage, events, merchandise collaborations and partnership projects. In addition to my corporate communications role, I am also a member of the CEO’s office. In this position, I support our CEO’s events and manage inquiries he receives.

My favorite part working at Honda Aircraft Company is building relationships with people. I have the opportunity to work with people from around the globe, including our dealers and customers, as well as other Honda divisions and external organizations. I am proud to work alongside people who are proud to be part of this exciting journey. We are thrilled to create innovation in the business aviation industry.

Advice to a candidate – if you see opportunity, take it. If the company sees potential in you, they push you harder with challenges often. And you push back harder. Do not be afraid to go after something you would really like to do. Honda Aircraft Company is a place with many opportunities for you to grow as a professional.

Outside of work, I love culinary arts. In my spare time, I like exploring many great restaurants in the Triad area. I also enjoy how close Greensboro is to the mountains and beach. There are many good choices for a weekend getaway whenever you need a refresh.