Gürsu Karateke

Highly motivated Aerospace Engineer with over 20 years of comprehensive expertise in aircraft systems, engine operations, certification processes, quality assurance, and strategic project leadership. Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, ensuring compliance with rigorous quality standards and timely delivery of critical projects, notably in the A400M program. Recognized for effectively managing complex situations, reducing risks, improving processes, and significantly enhancing operational safety and performance.

Recipient of multiple organizational recognition awards for outstanding contributions and exceptional performance.

Production and Program Quality Officer (A4) at OCCAR-EA (2023-09 – Present)

• Coordinate and monitor aircraft production, achieving 100% compliance with contractual specifications and delivery timelines
• Provide dedicated support for risk management, quality assurance, and schedule adherence, proactively identifying and mitigating potential issues
• Validate aircraft configuration, successfully ensuring accurate delivery status for all aircraft delivered
• Lead the A400M Quality Process, significantly improving production process and reducing schedule delays and associated costs by streamlining quality inspections
• Lead and coordinate Government Quality Assurance (GQA) activities in accordance with NATO AQAP standards, liaising with National Quality Assurance Authorities to define their involvement and ensure seamless interfaces with contractors across production, retrofit, maintenance, repair, overhaul (MRO), and specific program tasks such as future capability improvements
• Manage a portfolio of parallel quality workstreams (production, retrofit, MRO, capability improvement) and engage directly with National Customer Delegations, balancing differing national requirements and reporting expectations; provide input to administrative cost forecasting and staffing/expertise requirements for associated quality and audit activities
• Participate as a standing member of the Airworthiness Review process, acting as quality point of contact for non-conformity findings that feed into safety investigations
• Act as Program Quality Focal Point for the A400M Program Directorate, reviewing and advising on contractual quality clauses, amendments, quality plans, and contributing technical input to Statements of Work (SOWs) and technical specifications for retrofit, MRO, and capability-improvement contracts, and ensuring effective GQA support
• Conduct comprehensive audits to verify compliance with established quality standards and continuously improve quality processes

Aircraft Acceptance Officer (A4) at OCCAR-EA (2018-04 – 2023-08)

• Monitor aircraft status at Final Assembly Line (FAL), tracking technical and quality issues prior to Acceptance and Delivery phase
• Ensure contractual prerequisites are met as per DPP agreement
• Verify Government-Furnished Equipment (GFE) configuration and contractual fulfillment during aircraft acceptance, liaising with GFE officers to confirm logistics compliance against contract requirements
• Coordinate and lead technical discussions with Buyer Delivery Team (OCCAR and Nation) and industry representatives
• Participate in visual (CIG) and functional (CAM) checks during ground and flight acceptance activities (50+ flights, 150+ flight hours)
• Manage daily non-conformity identification and concession management (approximately 400–500 findings during acceptance checks), coordinating root cause analysis and corrective action with contractors and national authorities
• Provide technical input during commercial and contractual meetings
• Lead 'As Per Design' forums to address design-related issues identified during acceptance
• Member of Retrofit Project team, responsible for scope definition, configuration management, and functional checks (ISATM) prior to Step 2 campaigns, including quality assurance input to end-of-life retrofit and decommissioning decisions for superseded configurations
• Active contributor to engine retrofit activities, leveraging prior engine expertise
• Participate in Airworthiness forums, providing feedback from FAL findings
• Support In-Service technical matters, issue tracking, and quality improvements for aircraft acceptance

TP400 Flight Test Engineer at EuroProp International (2011-02 – 2018-03)

• Supported flight and ground test campaigns for engine and aircraft certification: briefings, debriefings, ground checks, and in-flight testing (80+ flight hours)
• Provided telemetry support under high-pressure scenarios (e.g., commanded/uncommanded In-Flight Shut Down events)
• Conducted post-flight analysis, maintenance reporting, and troubleshooting coordination
• Led external test campaigns, managing engine support teams for off-site operations
• Focal point for CMS snags, failure isolation, and aircrew communication procedures
• Provided FADEC software traceability support using DOORS, baseline, and soft trim processes
• Issued Maintenance Instructions, deviation reports (AADDR), and fault reports
• Specialized in troubleshooting power gearbox, oil and fuel systems, cockpit warnings, and aircrew procedures
• Supported engine integration and acceptance during A400M Final Assembly
• Contributed to Entry-Into-Service activities, documentation reviews, and fault isolation procedures
• Provided In-Service support for Turkish and Spanish Air Forces, tracking engine configurations and troubleshooting IFSD events

Embedded System Engineer at ITP, SA (2008-12 – 2011-01)

• Senior team member for engine and control system integration with testbeds
• Troubleshot immature software/systems and conducted operability testing
• Supported development milestones and failure event analysis for TP400, EJ200, MTR-390E/D engines
• Participated in Acceptance Test Procedures (ATP) for EJ200 engine MRO activities

Embedded System Engineer at Gate Elektronik (2004-01 – 2008-11)

• Developed real-time interface unit (FTIU) between test bench systems and TP400-D6 engine control system (FADEC)
• Implemented drivers, board support packages, and HMI for avionics buses (AFDX, ARINC 429) and analog/digital interfaces
• System successfully deployed for TP400-D6 development and certification tests across multiple facilities

Electronics Engineer at Orsis (2002-03 – 2003-12)

• Designed embedded applications with microcontrollers (PIC, ATMEL) and PLCs for industrial automation
• Performed digital and analog circuit design

M.Sc. in Electronics Engineering – Middle East Technical University (2022-09 – 2023-11)

B.Sc. in Electronics Engineering – Middle East Technical University (1997-09 – 2002-02)