Christopher Thomson

Experience

• 

  Royal New Zealand Airforce

  Jan 2000 - Aug 2002

  Aircraft Technician

  Aircraft technician trade training.Line and operational maintenance of C130 and B727 aircraft.

• 

  Civil Aviation Authority New Zealand

  Feb 2006 - Feb 2009

  Airworthiness Engineer

  - Review and verify aircraft modification design data.- Audit aircraft design organisations.- Audit aircraft manufacturing organisation.- Aircraft airworthness inspections.- Develop certification guidance and processes.

• 

  Vestas

  Feb 2009 - Jul 2010

  Composite Structures Engineer

  - Design Lead on wind turbine blade R&D projects.- Wind turbine blade composite structural design.- Structural testing, analysis, and failure mode analysis

• 

  Altitude Aerospace Interiors Ltd

  Sept 2010 - Sept 2012

  Engineering Lead

  Engineering Lead on 737 Boeing Business Jet interior completion projects.- Multi-discipline engineering team management- Project management- Customer and supplier liaison- Check and release aircraft design data- Check and release aircraft certification data

• 

  Callaghan Innovation

  Oct 2012 - Jul 2021

  Leading NZ's foremost experts in advanced engineering, robotics, automation, 3D printing, manufacturing technologies AND world-leading precision optics for astronomy! Leading NZ's foremost experts in advanced engineering, robotics, automation, and manufacturing technology. Delivering R&D projects to help NZ businesses succeed (http://www.callaghaninnovation.govt.nz/technology-and-product-development). Helping New Zealand companies achieve greater commercial success from technology and innovation in the energy and aviation sectors. - connecting firms with science, engineering, and technology experts.- providing intelligence on market and technology trends.- managing collaborative industry R&D projects (e.g. shared facilities, IP partnerships). - leadership and advocacy for innovation in energy and aviation manufacturing and services. Helping firms in the aviation sector deliver more innovative products faster:- connecting firms with science, engineering, and technology experts.- providing market intelligence (including links to NZTE's global network). - managing collaborative industry projects (e.g. shared research facilities).- leadership and advocacy for innovation in aviation manufacturing and services. Technical needs assessment, search and brokering research and technical expertise, project scoping, project management, funding and research support for innovative high tech manufacturing companies.

  • Group Manager - Advanced Manufacturing & KiwiStar Optics

    Jul 2020 - Jul 2021

  • Group Manager - Advanced Manufacturing

    Mar 2017 - Jul 2020

  • Energy & Aviation Sector Manager

    Jun 2015 - Mar 2017

  • Aviation Programme Manager

    Jul 2014 - May 2015

  • Project Engineer

    Oct 2012 - Jul 2014
• 

  Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI)

  Jul 2021 - Jan 2023

  Sector Acceleration Manager
• 

  Hot Lime Labs

  Jan 2023 - Jul 2024

  Group Manager - Technology
• 

  Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand

  Jul 2024 - now

  Certification Engineer