Alasdair Cook

Chief Engineer at Airbus Defence and Space

Bavaria, Germany

About

A highly motivated engineer with over 20 years experience in the aerospace industry, specifically in the Systems Engineering (Guidance and Control) and artificial intelligence areas. Employed by BAE SYSTEMS in 2002, I have progressed through the aerodynamics field, autopilot design and unmanned aircraft systems architecture, to my current position with Airbus Defence and Space as a Chief Engineer. My current specialism is in developing artificial intelligence solutions to aerospace problems. I regard myself as a highly experienced, global and engaged engineer.

Experience

  • Airbus Defence and Space (16 yrs 7 mos)
    • Chief Engineer
      Oct 2024 - Present · 1 yr 10 mos

      Chief engineer in the area of Autonomy for Unmanned Aircraft Systems.

    • System Engineer
      Jul 2020 - Jan 2025 · 4 yrs 7 mos

      Artificial Intelligence Research We use knowledge of flight dynamics and air operations to develop artificial intelligence solutions to aerospace problems. Key Tasks: - part of a team which builds reinforcement learning toolsets to train how to control the aircraft to achieve a goal - coding of toolsets in python - understanding the aircraft response by using flight dynamics and flight physics knowledge

    • Project Lead
      Jul 2020 - Oct 2024 · 4 yrs 4 mos

      Project Lead of the multi-partner German project KIEZ Project aim is to develop artificial intelligence solutions to various aerospace problems while building certification concepts to enable realistic deployment of these solutions in airborne systems. I hold full project responsibility and technical lead for the Airbus component of the project.

  • BAE Systems (5 yrs 2 mos)
    • Senior Aerodynamicist
      Jul 2007 - Jan 2010 · 2 yrs 7 mos

      As Systems Engineer role described above (secondment position to Airbus Defence and Space (then EADS)).

    • Aerodynamicist
      Dec 2004 - Jul 2007 · 2 yrs 8 mos

      Main Tasks: - Extensive experience of clearances of the Flight Control System (linear and non-linear) - Running manned simulation assessments of the aircraft’s handling qualities - Creation and maintenance of Flight Dynamics relevant toolsets in MATLAB Key Achievements: - Successfully managed the clearance for pitch and combined manoeuvres for the aircraft Flight Control System - Designed and implemented a new toolset for mass and centre of gravity calculations