Meet Alessandro

What's the best part about working for a global company like Airbus?

What’s most important is being able to work every day in a genuinely global environment. At Airbus, it’s not just a case of designing next-generation technology, it’s about collaborating with people from so many different worlds, and that diversity always has a tendency to broaden your outlook. What’s inspiring is realizing that software and solutions created here have very real ability to make a global difference, from European skies to missions beyond. And, in truth, there’s a specific sense of pride in realizing that what you do is helping to contribute to something so global and meaningful.

From Italy to Germany: what has been the biggest culture shock (good or bad)?

From a professional point of view, the most substantial change was in the manner of communication: in Germany it is very direct and frank, with no unnecessary circumlocutions. For me, personally, this is a strong point in its favor, as clarity is essential in order to work effectively in a team. I welcomed very much how work–life balance is valued here, it's really part of corporate culture, whereas in Italy it's not such a priority.

The two aspects of everyday life most surprising to me were language, initially, a tiny maze, and daily routines, specifically in terms of meals. Coming from Italy, where a late dinner is not out of place, sitting down to table in early evening was a sort of cultural shock… but sooner or later, you get used to it!

If you could pick one word to describe your job, what would it be?

If I had to pick a lone word, that would have to be impactful. As Head of Software Mission Functions, impact is not solely technological. Indeed, software our teams develop are mission enablers, critical to performance and safety. But impact is about influencing mentality of whom I work for, collaboration, innovation, accountability. For me, that blurring of technical leadership and personal growth is what makes this work so unique.

What's one thing you've worked on at Airbus that you're most proud of?

What I'm most proud of at Airbus is not a specific project, there are innumerable achievements in a variety of missions and systems that I could invoke. But pride, for me, is something else: being a contributor to something deeper: helping Airbus ensure its future and its today by deciding and designing out its next generation of engineers. My work gives me an opportunity to ensure that the people we bring in have potential, ability, and passion to work not only on current projects, but potential projects ahead. The technology will evolve, but people make a lasting difference. That I have an opportunity to contribute to building strong teams, and letting great people grow, gives me a deep sense of fulfillment.

What’s the biggest difference between working in Italy versus Germany?

The most striking contrast I have experienced in doing a job in Germany and in Italy is how work is communicated and organized. In Italy, I liked the dynamic, flexible environment, in which flexibility and creativity most of the time result in solving things. In Germany, procedures, accuracy, and structure are in favor, so as to provide efficiency and clarity. What is most striking is how direct people are in their way of communicating, precise, transparent, and to the point. What I value most is this, as it ensures teams quickly sync in and don’t misinterpret each other. Having seen two worlds, I then try to merge them: flexibility and creativity from Italy and accuracy, structure, and directness from Germany. This blend, in my opinion, is what produces such efficient international teams at Airbus.

What advice would you give to a student who wants to work in aerospace?

My advice would be: stay curious and keep learning. Technical skills are relative, attitude counts. So, they need to be ready to work in teams, to communicate, and to learn from people from different cultures and backgrounds. And, of course, bring passion to work: it will give you in times of difficulties resilience, and in times of change, vigor. If you have a combination of skills, attitude, and passion, you will see that aerospace is not only a career, but a journey which truly inspires. To students, I would have only this message: don’t look to follow aerospace’s future, look to shape it.

How do you stay connected to your Italian roots while working abroad?

Even though I'm currently living in Germany, my Italian roots are never very far away. Having grown up in Sardinia, the sea is in my veins, and I take that enthusiasm to this day, even in my outside work, marine aquariums. Food is a factor, as well: cooking Italian dishes, socializing over pasta dinners with friends, and never starting out a day without a proper espresso (my colleagues know that very well ) are small rituals that keep me feeling at home. But foremost, it’s values that I learned as a youth, warmth, creativity, and a strong communal ethos that stay no matter where I’m in residence. These are things that make me Italian, and these are always there with me.