Meet Henrik

Define your job title in one sentence

I serve as the strategic link between management and the shop floor, leading the high-tech production teams responsible for building our aircraft.

What’s one thing that makes your job exciting or special?

I create an environment where my team can perform at their best, ensuring we deliver world-class quality aircraft while shaping the future of flight together.

It makes me particularly proud to see my team members and develop their skills. Being able to contribute to their personal and professional journey is what truly drives me in this role.

What inspired you to join Airbus? 

As a child, I often passed the Finkenwerder site in Hamburg with my parents on our way to visit my grandparents. I was always fascinated watching the finished aircraft take off and land, and I remember telling my dad, 'One day, I want to build planes there.'

In 2014, that dream became a reality when I started my apprenticeship as an aircraft electronics technician.

Is there something that surprised you about working for Airbus?

What surprised me most when I first joined Airbus was the scale of the Finkenwerder site. It’s like a city of its own, and seeing the massive hangars and the complexity of aircraft production up close was truly overwhelming. Beyond the impressive infrastructure, I hadn't fully grasped the sheer number of specialised functions involved beyond the "obvious" engineering roles. 

For instance, I’ve met many colleagues who are now thriving in departments entirely different from where they originally started. It showed me that a career here isn't just a straight line. It’s a landscape where you can pivot and develop into roles you might not have even known existed when you first walked through the gates. 

Airbus doesn't just focus on technical skills. It offers a path to grow both, professionally and personally.

Explain what you do in simple terms

A First Line Manager serves as the crucial link between the production operatives on the shopfloor and the management level. 

In this role, we lead and develop teams in manufacturing and support areas, always keeping the human element at the centre of my actions. Similar to a coach  in football, as First Line Managers we communicate the strategy and empower our employees to solve tasks independently or within autonomous teams. 

Our core responsibilities include ensuring compliance with safety, quality, cost, and delivery targets. 

Furthermore, we actively drive cultural change by integrating innovations, digitalisation, and automation directly into daily work routines within a complex industrial network.

How does your role contribute to Airbus’ mission or the success of its products?

I manage resources and competencies to ensure we meet our increasing production rates while maintaining the highest quality standards for our customers.

What made you choose Airbus as the start of your career?

When I was looking for the perfect place to start my career, Airbus stood out because it is a company that truly invests in its people. I chose Airbus because of the incredible opportunities for professional development and the paths available for rising into new positions, such as moving from a technical into a management role.

Beyond the internal career ladder, the fact that Airbus is a global player was a major draw for me. Knowing that I am part of a worldwide network gives me the exciting possibility to gain international experience and collaborate with colleagues from different cultures and locations.

How has Airbus supported your career growth or personal development?

Airbus has been a constant partner in my development by providing a culture that truly puts people first. 

Throughout my journey, I have been fortunate to have excellent managers who challenged and supported me. They gave me the freedom to take on tasks outside my original field, allowing me to acquire a broad range of new skills and perspectives. What I value most is the trust they placed in me, including the space to make mistakes and learn from them. This open error culture has been essential for my growth as a leader.

What’s your most memorable experience at Airbus? Why does it stand out?

If I had to name a standout moment from my time at Airbus, it would be my participation in the "Mobility for Airbus Apprentices" programme. This initiative opened doors to various locations and cultures, but my assignment in Wales (UK) was the absolute highlight.

Technically speaking, working at the site in Broughton gave me completely new insights into our production chain.

I had to quickly adapt to the different local workflows and gained valuable experience in wing production.

However, the most valuable aspect wasn't the work itself, but the people. I got to know a group of colleagues who quickly became close friends. Despite the distance and the time that has passed since the programme ended, we still place great importance on meeting regularly. 

For me, that's the true "Airbus spirit": Building bridges that extend far beyond aviation.

What would you say to someone who doesn’t think they “fit” in aerospace?

If you feel like you don’t "fit" in aerospace because you aren’t an engineer or a technician, you might be surprised to learn how diverse our world actually is. 

At Airbus, building an aircraft is a massive team effort that requires far more than just technical expertise. Aerospace is incredibly multifaceted. 

While the people in blue overalls on the shopfloor are the heart of production, they couldn't do their jobs without a huge network of colleagues in non-technical roles. To successfully deliver a plane to a customer, we need a wide variety of talents like Human Resources, Marketing, Logistics or Finance. 

The truth is, Airbus offers a job for almost every interest group and background.

If you could give one piece of advice, what would it be?

My one piece of advice would be: Embrace the new. Just because we have always done something a certain way doesn't mean it is the best way forward. In an industry that is changing as fast as ours, we need curiosity and courage to question the status quo and try out new ideas. Real growth happens when we step out of our comfort zone and see change not as a risk, but as an opportunity to improve.

Which Airbus value resonates with you, and why?

For me, the value that resonates most is "teamwork". 

In an environment like ours, no one can achieve everything alone, and no one is perfect. We all bring our own unique strengths to the table, which allows us to balance out each others weaknesses and reach our goals together.

What’s one message you’d like to share with the next generation of aerospace professionals?

Together we are shaping the aerospace of tomorrow.

Digital transformation is crucial, as the future of aerospace is built on both innovative technology and a strong, people-centered team culture.