Paul Harris: Head of Mechanical Design

With more than 25 years in aerospace, Paul Harris brings deep technical expertise and real-world operational insight built through a career of rigorous, certifiable engineering. He has worked across power generation, motor actuation systems and propulsion solutions at industry leaders including Goodrich, Safran and Collins. This breadth gives Paul a holistic understanding of how electrical machines behave across their entire lifecycle, from design through to in-service operation.

Pioneering new technology for the Airbus A380

Paul is not new to innovative, disruptive technology. In the 90s, a defining chapter in Paul’s career was his work on variable frequency generation. In a development that helped shaped the future of power systems, by replacing traditional heavy transmissions with a more efficient electronic power conversion, the system became simpler, lighter, more reliable and reduced fleet maintenance burdens. Paul was part of the joint Goodrich (Thales) team that delivered this technology for the A380, and his components still fly on every A380 in service today.

Experience forged in real-world flight operations

What truly sets Paul apart is his in-service experience. He has:

  • Supported fleets through major reliability investigations

  • Worked with airframers on airworthiness directives

  • Managed recalls, redesigns and requalification programmes

  • Solved operational issues where aircraft behaviour differed to test data

  • Helped maintain fleet availability, safety and regulatory compliance

From A350 thrust reverser motor component redesigns to diagnosing auxiliary power generator issues, Paul has seen first-hand how hardware endures in-service stresses. Paul has also led Supplementary Type Certification activities with the FAA to validate spare and replacement components. This work taught him the importance of rigorous documentation, traceability and unambiguous evidence chains that eliminate uncertainty; principles central to Evolito’s certification strategy.

Bringing aerospace discipline to electric engines

At Evolito, Paul plays a pivotal role in taking our propulsion systems through type certification. He ensures the team makes decisions grounded in evidence, traceability and consistent engineering practice. By driving a unified motor architecture and supporting engineers as they work through complex design choices, Paul helps maintain the level of diligence, documentation and repeatability that aerospace demands.
He sees this as one of the most exciting opportunities of his career: “Evolito has unique technology and we have the chance to shape how electrification enters mainstream aviation. I hope one day to look up, see an aircraft in the sky and know we helped put it there.”

Fun fact

Away from engineering, and like a few here at Evolito, Paul is a lifelong cricket obsessive who still turns out occasionally for his local club where he’s coached junior cricket for more than a decade. He also enjoys camping and hiking with his family including his Springer Spaniel (Timmy) who during Teams calls, you’ll likely find quietly sleeping at his feet.