AD&D Idea Incubator Principal Sr

Job Category: Engineering

Requisition Number: ADDID013188

Location: 4514 Taylor Cir, Duluth, MN 55811, USA

Employment Type: Full-Time, On-site

Job Summary

The AD&D Idea Incubator, Senior Principal serves as a high-impact individual contributor responsible for defining, supporting, and executing the ideation process within the Advanced Design & Development (AD&D) organization. This role acts as an early-stage catalyst for identifying, evaluating, and maturing new product ideas, technologies, partnerships, and business plans to shape the future of personal aviation. The position blends engineering expertise with business acumen, data analytics, and structured innovation processes to funnel and filter ideas through the earliest phases of development.

Duties and Responsibilities

Define, manage, and drive the AD&D Ideation Process, including idea generation, concept maturation, evaluation, and business case development.
Lead the front-end innovation pipeline to transform early concepts into structured opportunities with clear risk and benefit assessments aligned with business strategy.
Support engineering teams in shaping raw ideas into actionable value propositions.
Facilitate workshops, brainstorming sessions, and structured concept development.
Conduct detailed market research, benchmarking, competitive analyses, and financial evaluations.
Build business plans, including market sizing, financial projections, and risk assessments.
Provide strategic recommendations to leadership regarding the advancement of concepts into development.
Identify and evaluate suppliers, startups, and external partners while managing early-stage relationships.
Develop financial and analytical models to assess viability and determine commercial feasibility.
Contribute to the development of market and design requirements to ensure alignment with business plan objectives.
Collaborate across business units to ensure technical and business feasibility.
Foster a culture of curiosity, open innovation, and strategic experimentation.
Prepare and deliver presentations to communicate findings to diverse audiences, including executive leadership.
Maintain high standards of performance regarding project timelines and budget constraints.
Travel: Up to 25% may be required.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Aerospace, Mechanical, Systems, or related discipline).
Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree required.
12+ years of experience in ideation, concept development, innovation process facilitation, or product strategy.
Familiarity with aircraft markets and aerospace technology trends.
Strong analytical skills, including market sizing and financial modeling.
Proven ability to synthesize complex information into actionable insights.
Ability to work cross-functionally and influence stakeholders without direct authority.
Comfort operating in ambiguous environments and refining ill-defined concepts.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills; fluency in English.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools.

Preferred Qualifications

Working knowledge of advanced technologies.
Experience with financial modeling, data analytics, and visualization tools (e.g., Excel, Python, Power BI).
Background in business development, entrepreneurship, startup environments, or early-stage business creation.
Experience in creating business plans, market entry strategies, or commercialization models.
Experience collaborating with suppliers, universities, or external partners during concept exploration.
Personal aviation experience; a pilot’s license (private or higher) is a plus.
Familiarity with non-aviation high-technology industries.

Core Competencies

Strategic Thinking & Decision Making
Innovation & Concept Generation
Business & Financial Acumen
Stakeholder Engagement & Communication
Cross-Functional Influence
Analytical & Critical Thinking
Resiliency & Adaptability

Note: This job description is not designed to cover a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities. Duties and responsibilities may change at any time. Work beyond 40 hours per week may be required.