A Munich-based start-up developing an on-demand air taxi service has selected London as its new base for its future software team.
Lilium promises hundreds of high-end software engineering roles will be created in the city over the next five years as the business seeks to make, electric on-demand air taxis a reality by 2025.
Co-founded in 2015 by Daniel Wiegand (CEO), Sebastian Born, Matthias Meiner and Patrick Nathen, the company has attracted more than $100m in funding from world-class investors such as Atomico, Tencent, LGT, Freigeist and Obvious Ventures and now employs more than 300 people.
The full-scale, full-weight prototype is powered by 36 all-electric jet engines that allow it to take-off and land vertically, while achieving remarkably efficient horizontal, or cruise, flight.
The start-up has also confirmed a trio of senior hires, including the appointment of former chief technology officer at Just Eat Carlos Morgado to lead the development of the software engineering team as VP of digital technology.
Anja Maaseen van den Brink has been appointed chief people officer and Luca Benassi will take the role of chief development engineer.
Maassen van den Brink joins the company from Vodafone where she led the integration of the mobile and fixed business into one company. Benassi brings more than 20 years of experience in the aerospace sector, having worked at NASA, Boeing and, most recently, Airbus.
Lilium plans to design, produce and operate the Lilium Jet, and has set a target of being fully operational in several cities around the world by 2025.
Originally from the Netherlands, Maassen van den Brink has more than 25 years of experience across customer-focused companies in the consumer goods, retail and telecommunications sectors.
“When the four co-founders set out to create Lilium we committed to putting the human at the center of absolutely everything we do, so this is a critically important role for us,” said Wiegand.
“By building a world-class people function, we aim to attract the very best talent and enable our employees to thrive, grow and shape the future.”