Editor Office ANNnews
26 June 2025
ANNnews: How many years have you been working at Aernnova? What has your career path been within the company?
Francisco Ortiz Santamaría: I’ve been working at Ann since 2013. I started in Aernnova Engineering Division (AED), in the stress analysis department at the Madrid office, participating in the certification of the A350. Three years later, in 2016, I switched projects and joined the A380 team, taking on new challenges in the structures area.
In 2019, I had the opportunity to move to Switzerland to collaborate with an aircraft prototyping company, working in an international and multidisciplinary environment. The following year, in 2020, I took on the role of project manager in a DOA initiative for the modification of two A330s, also in Switzerland.
In 2021, I returned to Madrid and joined AED’s business development team, focusing my work on DOA clients and the eVTOL sector. Finally, in 2022, I joined Aernnova’s programs department to work on an advanced air mobility project for the client Lilium. Unfortunately, this project was cancelled following the company’s closure.
ANNnews: What do you like most about working here?
Francisco Ortiz Santamaría: One of the aspects I value most about working at Aernnova is the opportunity to have a comprehensive view of the entire life cycle of a project. It’s a company that allows you to be involved at every stage: from product conception, when it only exists on a screen, to its industrialization, where you can see it physically take shape, and to follow through all the way to customer delivery. That global vision, and being able to contribute at different stages of the process, makes it a very enriching environment both technically and professionally.
ANNnews: Have you encountered any difficulties when changing roles within the organization? On a personal level, for example, with family, friends, etc.?
Francisco Ortiz Santamaría: Every change has been enriching, though not without challenges. Professionally, adapting to new responsibilities—such as shifting from a technical role to a management one—required an initial effort to acquire new skills. On a personal level, relocating to Switzerland in 2019 was a major change. Leaving behind family and friends in Madrid was difficult, especially during the pandemic. However, by embracing the challenge and the personal growth it brought, it turned out to be one of the most rewarding experiences of my career.
ANNnews: Do you think the company makes full use of your skills and knowledge?
Francisco Ortiz Santamaría: I believe Aernnova has made great use of my skills, offering me roles that have challenged and expanded my capabilities. I think the company sees me as someone who thrives in dynamic and demanding environments. That said, there’s always room to explore new ways to contribute and to learn from the various areas and sites Aernnova has to offer.
ANNnews: What makes you want to work here?
Francisco Ortiz Santamaría: What motivates me to stay at Aernnova is the trust and opportunity the company provides. Aernnova not only values technical work but also promotes personal and professional growth through mobility and involvement in ambitious projects. Additionally, the sense of belonging to a team driving innovation in the aerospace industry makes me feel that my work has a real impact.
ANNnews: What aspects are important to you for Aernnova to remain your workplace in the coming years?
Francisco Ortiz Santamaría: For Aernnova to remain my workplace in the future, I value its continued offering of real opportunities for growth, mobility, and development of new skills. Stability and recognition of individual effort and contributions are also important to me. I’m especially motivated by the chance to take part in innovative projects that address major industry challenges, such as sustainability or the adoption of new technologies. And of course, working in an environment that fosters collaboration and trust in teams will be key to continuing my professional development here.
ANNnews: What do you value most from all these years?
Francisco Ortiz Santamaría: From these 12 years at Aernnova, what I value most is the constant opportunity to evolve, taking on very different and enriching roles. The trust the company has placed in me has been key to every step I’ve taken—from my beginnings in stress analysis to taking on responsibilities with international clients and teams.
The experience in Switzerland was particularly meaningful: it allowed me to grow in a multicultural environment and face new dynamics that broadened my way of working and thinking. But above all, I value having been part of ambitious and purposeful projects that allowed me to grow both professionally and personally, always feeling that my contribution had an impact.
In my case, starting in stress analysis, taking a first step toward management with a small project, or helping develop a program in the eVTOL sector, has allowed me to build a versatile profile, facing technical, leadership, and cultural challenges. Moreover, I’ve always felt trusted and supported with opportunities that enriched my experience—like the chance to work in Switzerland.
In fact, mobility—whether between projects, departments, or countries—is, in my opinion, a key driver of both professional and personal growth. Changing environments broadens your perspective, fosters adaptability, and helps you develop new skills that truly make a difference.
ANNnews: What’s your opinion on the role of directors in cases of geographic or functional mobility?
Francisco Ortiz Santamaría: The role of directors has been fundamental in my professional development, acting as true enablers of every step I’ve taken within the company. They have known how to identify the right moments to offer me new challenges, even when it meant taking on roles with different responsibilities and limited prior experience—such as managing a project for the first time.
That support has been essential: it gave me the confidence and the resources needed to adapt to new and demanding contexts.
