India tops Boeing’s global headcount in engineering and tech; more hiring ahead, says HR chief

While tech-led disruptions are transforming industries and are creating new and different kinds of opportunities, the HR leader said the aviation sector, by its very nature, attracts talent from the full spectrum of technologies.

India leads globally in terms of Boeing’s engineering and technology headcount outside of the US and plans to grow more, Ajay Sharma, executive director of HR at Boeing India and South Asia, told Moneycontrol. The company currently has more than 5,500 engineers and technologists, of its 6,000 employees in India.

Though Sharma did not reveal numbers, he said the hiring here will continue to grow, which aligns with the Government of India’s vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.

“Our workforce here includes personnel that work to support clients from a diverse set of segments like civil aviation and defence, and on creating a robust local supply chain ecosystem that is already an integral part of Boeing’s global supply chain,” Sharma said.

Boeing plans on hiring across its verticals, however, the focus in the future will be on Boeing India Engineering & Technology Center (BIETC) in Bengaluru and Chennai, which undertakes complex advanced aerospace work and supports Boeing’s global engineering growth.

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In January, Boeing India inaugurated a 43-acre complex located at Aerospace Park in Devanahalli, near Kempegowda International Airport. Built with a Rs 1,600 crore investment, this is the largest site for Boeing outside the United States.

Boeing said it is by far the largest foreign original equipment manufacturer (OEM) in terms of sourcing from India, with over $1.25 billion annually through its large and growing network of over 300 supplier partners and 25 percent of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), that are an "integral part" of its global supply base.

While tech-led disruptions are transforming industries and are creating new and different kinds of opportunities, Sharma said the aviation sector, by its very nature, attracts talent from the full spectrum of technologies.

“There has been no change in our talent acquisition strategy, and we continue to seek individuals with a diverse set of experiences and expertise in digital technologies, aerospace engineering, manufacturing, research and development, and supply chain management,” he said.

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At the Boeing India Engineering & Technology Center, he added that engineers and technologists continue to perform cutting-edge R&D in both traditional and emerging areas, including next-generation aeroplane health management, environment-friendly coatings, advanced networks, and secured communications that are critical for the advancement of the aerospace and defence sectors.

Focus on diversity

Sharma said fostering gender diversity and inclusion, particularly in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) fields, is a priority for Boeing India and added that more than a quarter of the Boeing India workforce is women.

“This is greater than the average percentage of women representation in the industry. Our focus is to not merely to increase the number of women in our workforce and leadership positions but also to make it more inclusive for all,” he said.

In January 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Boeing Sukanya Program which will provide opportunities for girls and women from across India to learn critical skills in the STEM fields and train for jobs in the aviation sector.

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For young girls, the programme will create STEM Labs at 150 planned locations to help spark interest in STEM careers. The programme will also provide scholarships to women who are training to be pilots.

“Boeing has also initiated its return-to-work programme named ‘Return Flight’, which provides career opportunities to individuals being on a hiatus for a variety of reasons. This is a gender-agnostic, holistic, paid workforce re-entry and support programme that offers the potential for full-time employment through tailored onboarding, foundational upskilling, personal coaching sessions, and leadership skills development,” Sharma said.