Chief Programme Engineer – Fixed Wing
// Role Summary
Boeing Defence UK is seeking a Chief Programme Engineer to lead strategy and growth programmes within the Fixed Wing Business Unit, focusing on aircraft design, qualification, certification, and in-service support.
// Key Responsibilities
- Lead engineering programmes for strategic and growth objectives in the Fixed Wing domain.
- Provide technical leadership and coordination for multi-disciplined engineering teams.
- Develop technical strategies and provide oversight for future technical proposals.
- Collaborate with customers, global business units, and stakeholders.
- Ensure engineering functional excellence in people, processes, and practices.
- Must be able to obtain a UK security clearance (Security Check).
// Role Specification
About the Role
Boeing Defence United Kingdom (BDUK) is recruiting for a Chief Programme Engineer for the UK Fixed Wing Business Unit Strategy and Growth programmes. Reporting to the BDUK Fixed Wing Chief Engineer, this role holds significant accountabilities and responsibilities across the product/service lifecycle for strategic and growth programmes in the Fixed Wing domain, with delegations from the Engineering Director and Fixed Wing Chief Engineer.
Key Responsibilities
- Support the UK Fixed Wing Chief Engineer in defining and governing the Fixed Wing Engineering strategy.
- Hold responsibility for engineering programmes of work related to strategic/growth objectives, including those in the early gates of the Enterprise Standard Gated Process (e.g., P-8, E-7, T-7 product and services).
- Participate in the U.K. investment fund allocation and governance process, creating business cases to secure funding where relevant.
- Provide technical leadership and coordination of engineering and integration activities to achieve programme objectives.
- Develop and execute project and process plans, implement policies and procedures, and establish operational goals.
- Execute solution engineering and integration through effective resource allocation and leadership.
- Chair engineering reviews, including those relating to requirements, design, safety, and programme readiness.
- Coordinate with engineering departments to establish resource demand and availability.
- Support the technical management of suppliers and provide overarching governance.
- Develop and maintain relationships with customers, worldwide business groups, and other key stakeholders.
- Support the management of technical scope against budget and report progress.
- Participate in solution development for new business and provide governance for proposal development.
- Ensure and assure all delivered Products and Services from the BDUK Fixed Wing Strategy and Growth portfolio.
- Drive engineering functional excellence across the portfolio, facilitating productivity improvements and best practice sharing.
- Support and champion a culture focused on Product and Service safety and first-time quality.
- Assist the UK Fixed Wing Chief Engineer, including deputising when necessary, in support of business unit and engineering functional reporting.
Essential Qualifications
- Degree from an accredited course of study in aerospace or safety critical engineering, computer science, mathematics, physics, or chemistry.
- Extensive experience managing or leading teams in multi-disciplined matrix organisations, ideally with a global aspect.
- Extensive experience working in a highly regulated safety critical engineering environment.
- Demonstrable experience in interacting and leading multi-disciplined engineering teams, driving safety, technical excellence, and collaboration across business units.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience of in-service support of military aircraft or the civil Boeing 737 is preferred.
- Broad knowledge of UK military aircraft Type and Continuing Airworthiness.
- Broad knowledge of the certification of UK military aircraft, their design changes, and modifications.
- Demonstrated capability to develop business cases, influence stakeholders, establish teams, and execute programmes to quality, budget, and schedule.
- Broad knowledge of the UK Defence Aviation Environment and its processes and policies.
- Proven record in delivering complex engineering change programs in military aircraft.
- Evidential experience of through-life aircraft sustainment and post design services.
- Experience in interacting and guiding cross-functional engineering teams.
- Good analytical, planning, and problem-solving skills.
- Comfortable in a dynamic, matrixed environment.
- Ability to bridge customers, programmes, and engineering departments.
- Excellent communication, presentation, interpersonal, and leadership skills.
- Chartership from a relevant Institute is preferred.
- Excellent organizational and time management skills.
- Practical experience in managing complex project or bid budgets.
Work Authorisation & Security
This is a locally hired position in the UK. Candidates must have current legal authorisation to work immediately in the United Kingdom. Boeing will not provide immigration and labour sponsorship.
This position requires the ability to obtain a UK Security Check (SC) clearance, for which the Government requires UK Citizenship.
Location and Travel
This role can be based at BDUK sites in the south of England, offering hybrid working subject to programme requirements. Regular travel to multiple BDUK and Customer sites is expected, with periodic international travel.
Additional Information
This position does not offer relocation assistance.
Equal Opportunity Employer: Boeing is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity and inclusion. They are committed to fostering an environment that is welcoming, respectful, and inclusive. They are a Disability Confident Committed employer and welcome applications from candidates with disabilities. Accommodations during the recruitment process can be requested.