Meet Valentina

...at Airbus we thrive on diverse skills and perspectives. You might be surprised by how many backgrounds and talents are essential to our success.

Why Airbus?

What inspired you to join Airbus?

My inspiration to join Airbus began in childhood, deeply influenced by my father, who was a maintenance engineer at Naples airport. Our walks through the hangars sparked a curiosity in me, especially wanting to understand how such massive aircraft could be so graceful and 'light' in the sky. Airbus felt like the ultimate place to explore that lifelong fascination and contribute to the marvel of flight.

Is there something that surprised you about working for Airbus?

What surprised me is the power of diversity here at Airbus. I've been truly impressed by how individuals from so many different cultural backgrounds, countries, genders, and religions, work together across the globe. The way this diversity fosters mutual enrichment and enables us to create something as spectacular and precisely engineered as our aircraft is truly inspiring.

Role Overview

Explain what you do in simple terms.

I am an engineering leader at Airbus. I make sure that different parts of an aircraft, like the fuel systems and the landing gear, are designed, tested, and assembled to work correctly and safely. I manage teams and projects to solve complex problems, and ensure that new aircraft developments - or any changes we make to existing ones - follow all the necessary rules, meet requirements and performance standards, including for new technologies like Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). In my role, I focus on technical and programme management for the whole aircraft, defining product strategy for developments including SAF readiness, managing integrations, and leading stakeholder interactions for critical systems.

How does your role contribute to the Airbus mission?

My role directly contributes to the Airbus mission of decarbonising aviation. We're essentially future-proofing our fleet by determining the necessary modifications and implications for our legacy aircraft to utilise SAF, while also identifying the technologies for our next-generation aircraft to fully leverage sustainable fuels. This is fundamental to ensuring Airbus leads the transition to more sustainable flight.

How does Airbus support leadership development and innovation?

In my experience, Airbus strongly supports leadership development by offering diverse opportunities for internal mobility. I've seen firsthand how moving between different divisions and roles allows individuals to significantly enrich both their technical expertise and leadership capabilities. When it comes to innovation, Airbus fosters it in multiple ways – from ambitious projects aimed at redefining the future of sustainable aerospace, to encouraging simpler rapid prototyping.

Challenges and Growth

How has Airbus supported your career growth or personal development?

Airbus has significantly supported my career growth primarily through empowering managers and mentors. I've had leaders who genuinely believed in my potential, consistently providing me with opportunities and stretching me beyond my comfort zone. Their guidance in navigating challenging situations has been invaluable to my personal and professional development journey here.

How has your career evolved since you joined Airbus?

Since joining Airbus as a Stress Engineer on the A380 programme in Germany, my career has steadily progressed through increasingly senior technical and leadership roles across key aircraft programmes like the A320 family and the A400M, primarily in the UK. This journey has taken me from specialised engineering, certification, and gaining signatory authority to my current position as an A320 Aircraft Architect.

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned as a leader?

The biggest lesson I've learned as a leader at Airbus is the profound impact of building trust-based relationships to unlock the collective intelligence and potential of diverse, cross-functional teams. My journey through various programmes and leadership roles has consistently shown that when you create an environment where people are valued and empowered - especially when solving complex problems - you can achieve optimal solutions and drive meaningful innovation.

Memorable Moments

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

The culmination of the A320 Sharklet project remains my most memorable experience. Our team gathered at the delivery centre in Toulouse where we could see that first Sharklet-equipped aircraft make its way towards us was incredibly profound, it was especially rewarding to experience that with the Mise au Point (MAP) and Final Assembly Line (FAL) teams. It symbolised our collective dedication. This moment stands out not just as a moment of personal pride, but because the Sharklet project was pivotal, heralding a new era for Airbus in developing aircraft derivatives. I truly felt I had contributed to that significant step forward.

Advice and Inspiration

What advice would you give to someone starting a career in aerospace?

My advice is to consciously focus on the incredible feeling of accomplishment that awaits when you see these efforts materialise. Hold onto the thought of that future satisfaction and the pride in contributing to something truly magnificent and impactful. Even during the toughest climbs, keep that end destination in mind, because the sense of achievement and making a difference in aerospace is profoundly worth the effort.

What advice would you give to someone considering a career at Airbus?

Be proactive and passionate! Actively engage with your work and be passionate about taking on challenges, developing yourself & others, and embracing new technologies.

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

It's completely understandable to wonder if you "fit" in a field as specialised as aerospace, but at Airbus we thrive on diverse skills and perspectives. You might be surprised by how many backgrounds and talents are essential to our success. While engineering is core to what we do, we also need people with expertise in business, project management, supply chains, customer support, and finance. 

Someone with a business degree could be vital in managing multi-million euro budgets or developing customer-centric strategies. We need people with digital skills - this doesn't mean you need to be a coder, it means people who are eager to learn and apply a digital-first approach to their work. We are in a period of transformation, and that includes embracing new ways of working across all of our teams, from design and manufacturing to in-service support. 

If you're unsure, please don't count yourself out. Your unique background could bring fresh insights. Airbus is a place where various experiences are valued, and there are many paths to success. We're focused on innovation and solving complex challenges, and that requires a team with the broadest possible range of talents and a willingness to grow.

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

If I could give one piece of advice, it would be to embrace my favourite quote from Tony Gaskins 

"Know who you are. Know what you want. Know what you deserve. And don't settle for less."

This principle has been fundamental throughout my career. It encourages self-awareness to understand your strengths, the clarity to define your ambitions, the self-respect to recognise your value, and the determination to pursue your goals. I believe this mindset is crucial for forging a fulfilling and impactful career, especially in such a dynamic and innovative field.