Philipp S.-Management Consultant (freelance)
Check rate
Experience
CTO
SkySails Power GmbH
Responsibility:
- R&D budget €6,7 Mio. p.a.
- 65 employees in the teams: PMO, Software, Mechanics, Electrical & Electronics, Systems Engineering/Testing/Autopilot, Kite Design
- Sole signing authority & member of the management board
Activities:
- Overall technological responsibility for a highly complex mechatronic system (autonomous flight system, ground station, electronics, software)
- Organizational development of R&D from a start-up to a scalable structure
- Introduction of technology/development roadmaps & product development process, alignment of priorities with Product Management/Sales
- Transformation to a fully agile way of working (SCRUM, Flight Levels) with an established feedback culture
- Introduction of a strategy process for the entire company
- Representation of R&D in investor relations and responsibility for IP protection activities (IP)
Achievements:
- TRL progression & product maturity: advanced from TRL 6→7/8; completed CE risk assessment for serial deliveries; responsible for the world's first certified power curve of a high-altitude wind turbine
- Development strategy: reduced cost-intensive field tests in favor of a validated digital end-to-end toolchain (simulation, load calculation, structural design) and lab tests as the primary development path; shortened design cycles by 50–75%
- R&D architecture & organizational transformation: differentiated the development organization into pre-development, product development and series support; transformed the start-up structure into a scalable, agile organization (diverse teams, stronger team engagement); turnover in R&D <4%
- Company-wide AI transformation: introduced/scaled AI tools across all areas – 92% usage rate, 78% demonstrated application competence
- Investor dialogue: represented the company in international investor dialogues
Interim Manager & Strategic Advisor
STT Unternehmensberatung
As an independent Interim Manager and Strategic Advisor, I support scale-ups and technology-focused mid-sized companies during growth and transformation phases — embedded in the leadership team, with technical substance and an organizational perspective.
Focus areas:
- Organizational development and leadership structures during scaling phases
- Building and professionalizing R&D organizations
- Technology strategy and TRL management
- Agile transformation
- Leadership development
- Embedding cross-functional collaboration
- Corporate transformation and change management
Industries: deep tech, renewable energy, aviation/aerospace, industrial mid-sized companies.
Reference assignment:
- Interim Project Lead Technology Development at Enercon GmbH — development of a high-performance converter from development through prototype construction and testing to pre-series production; leadership of a cross-functional team of 20 employees and coordination of Procurement, Manufacturing and Testing.
Achievements:
- On-time initial delivery to plant manufacturing;
- strategic make-or-buy analysis for component manufacturing with a buy recommendation to the Head of Manufacturing.
Vice President Programs Hamburg
Diehl Aviation Hamburg GmbH
- Key account OEM contracts for €110 Mio p.a.
- Managed 3 direct reports and 26 employees
- Restructured the department after headcount reduction
- Ensured contract fulfillment internally and externally
- Led the recovery team of 600 employees and restored delivery capability after SAP implementation, achieving €180 Mio revenue
Vice President Cost Optimization
Diehl Aviation
- Managed cost optimization activities for the entire Cabin-Monument & Systems portfolio
- 3 direct reports, 26 employees, budget €10 Mio p.a.
- Integrated local teams into a division team of 1 400 employees
- Introduced cost-oriented product development and holistic cost optimization
- Conceptualized and approved a business unit restructuring project as part of the core project team
Program Manager Airbus Single Aisle
Diehl Service Modules
- Key account Airbus Single Aisle (€70 Mio p.a.)
- Implemented Scrum in a new development program
- Ensured timely delivery with 1 100 employees
- Successfully executed transfer of work projects, achieving €250 Mio revenue
Interim Head of Engineering
Diehl Service Modules
- Led engineering teams with 6 direct reports, 45 employees, budget €8 Mio p.a.
- Ensured TCQ for customer projects during headcount reduction of 250 employees
- Integrated the department into a sister company
- Achieved €45 Mio revenue
Head of Project Management Office
Diehl Service Modules
- Led the restructuring program
- Successfully executed the merger, including change management, headcount reduction, team integration, and site relocation
- Managed 250 employees and €45 Mio revenue
Head of Airbus A350XWB Program
Diehl Service Modules
- Led the development program for 8 products with a €40 Mio budget and up to 100 staff
- Recovered schedule and project costs
- Reorganized project and project management processes
- Completed product development on schedule
- Established claim & change management
- Oversaw 250 employees and €45 Mio revenue
Consultant
P3 Ingenieurgesellschaft (P3 Group Beratung)
- Advised on project management, product development, and supply chain
- Clients included Airbus, EFW, Lufthansa Technik Gruppe, Liebherr, XI’AN Aero Engine, Aker Yards
- Managed projects with 1 100 employees and €200 Mio revenue
Industry experience
See where this freelancer has spent most of their professional time.
Experienced in Aerospace and Defense, Manufacturing, and Energy.
Business area experience
See which departments and functions this freelancer has contributed to most.
Experienced in Project Management, Product Development, Supply Chain Management, Research and Development, Strategy, and Information Technology.
Summary
23 years of professional experience, including >10 years of leadership responsibility at program, VP and C-level
- Development budgets of up to €20 Mio (program), up to €10 Mio p.a. (line); P&L responsibility of up to €120 Mio p.a.
- CTO with sole signing authority; Interim Head of Engineering; VP Programs, VP Cost Optimization
- Development organizations of up to ~65 employees, development programs with up to ~100 employees
Aviation/Aerospace (Airbus Tier-1), MRO; mechanical engineering; renewable energy, deep tech
Responsibility for units with revenue of €11 to 900 Mio: start-up, mid-sized GmbHs, family-owned group
International collaboration & team management: India, USA, Hungary, Taiwan, China & France
Product development through to series production: brought a high-altitude wind system from TRL 6 to 7/8; shortened development cycles by 50–75% through a validated digital end-to-end toolchain (including simulation with CFD, load calculation, structural design); delivered the world's first certified power curve & CE risk assessment as the basis for series production.
Transformation of the development organization: transformed a start-up R&D organization with 65 employees into a scalable, agile organization (SCRUM, role models, stage-gate process, structured strategy process); reduced turnover in R&D to below 4%.
Roadmaps & portfolio management: introduced company-wide technology and development roadmaps & aligned them with market requirements together with the Head of Product Management; established prioritization, effort estimates and market launch dates as management control instruments.
Modularization & variant management: implemented a modularization and variant structure for customizing A350 cabin monuments (Configure-/Customize-to-Order); extended standardization to other composite structural components, reducing manufacturing costs by 30–80% & shortening lead times.
Design-to-Cost: achieved annual savings of over €10 Mio through redesign, standardization & supplier negotiations.
Digitalization & knowledge management: implemented company-wide AI transformation with a 92% usage rate & launched initial RAG pilots to unlock development knowledge; responsible for transferring know-how from the A350 program in Hamburg to a new development team in Laupheim.
Skills
- Technology & Development Roadmaps, Portfolio Management, Program & Project Management
- Modularization, Variant Management, Product Platform Strategy, Design-To-Cost
- Product Development, Validation & Certification (Cs-25, Easa Part 21, Ce)
- Agile Product Development (Scrum, Flight Levels), Scaling, Organizational Development & Leadership Culture
- Digital Transformation & Ai, Knowledge Management, Post-Merger Integration
Erp: Sap R/3, Proalpha
Collaboration & Project Management: Jira, Confluence, Ms Project, Sharepoint
Office: Excel, Word, Powerpoint, Onenote, Mindmap, Chatgpt, Claude
Languages
Education
Hochschule Bremen, Lufthansa Flight Training
Diplom-Ingenieur (FH) & frozen ATPL · Aviation Systems Engineering & Management (ILST) · Bremen, Germany · 1,8
Hans-Furler Gymnasium
Abitur · STEM · Oberkirch, Germany · 2,2
Certifications & licenses
Mental Health First Aid – MHFA Ersthelfer
New Work Masterskills — Executive Programm
Diehl Leadership Program
Statistics
Experience
Global experience
Expertise
Qualifications
Frequently asked questions
Have questions? Find more information here.
Philipp is based in Hamburg, Germany and can operate in on-site, hybrid, and remote work models.
Philipp speaks the following languages: German (Native), English (Advanced), French (Elementary).
Philipp has at least 23 years of experience. During this time, Philipp has worked in at least 9 different roles and for 6 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 3 years and 6 months. Note that Philipp may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.
Based on recent experience, Philipp would be well-suited for roles such as: CTO, Interim Manager & Strategic Advisor, Vice President Programs Hamburg.
Philipp's most recent position is CTO at SkySails Power GmbH.
In recent years, Philipp has worked for SkySails Power GmbH, STT Unternehmensberatung, and Diehl Aviation Hamburg GmbH.
Philipp is most experienced in industries like Aerospace and Defense, Manufacturing, and Energy.
Philipp is most experienced in business areas like Project Management, Product Development, and Supply Chain Management. Philipp also has some experience in Research and Development, Strategy, and Information Technology.
Philipp has recently worked in industries like Energy, Aerospace and Defense, and Manufacturing.
Philipp has recently worked in business areas like Project Management, Product Development, and Research and Development.
Philipp holds a Master in Aviation Systems Engineering & Management (ILST) from Hochschule Bremen, Lufthansa Flight Training.
Philipp has 5 certificates. Among them, these include: Mental Health First Aid – MHFA Ersthelfer, New Work Masterskills — Executive Programm, and Project Management Professional nach PMI (2009) & IAPM (2022).
Philipp is immediately available part-time for suitable projects.
Daily rate distribution
The rates shown represent the typical market range for freelancers in this position based on recent contracts on our platform.
Average rates for similar positions
Rates are based on recent contracts and do not include FRATCH margin.
The average daily rate is the mean of all daily rates from recent contracts of comparable freelancers on our platform.
The median daily rate is the middle value of all daily rates — half of comparable freelancers charge less, half charge more. Unlike the average, it is barely affected by outliers.
Calculated based on our freelancers’ daily rates as of 26 Oct 2026. Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.
Similar freelancers
Discover other experts with similar qualifications and experience
Rüdiger S.
Markus R.
Christoph H.
Boris H.
Julian H.
Marc R.
Daniel O.
Normann G.
Albert V.
Chris W.
Experts recently working on similar projects
Freelancers with hands-on experience in comparable project as a CTO
Sebastián Z.
Andreas D.
Martin W.
Wulf S.
Sami D.
Folke V.
Max Z.
Sven K.
Andreas W.
Felix B.
Nearby freelancers
Professionals working in or nearby Hamburg, Germany
Patrick M.
Oliver V.
Antonia G.
Jens L.
Michael S.
Serkant T.
Mahmoud Q.
Yashar S.
Volkmar S.
Tungi D.
