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Here, we craft excellence together. If you're ready to take your career to new heights and be part of a company that's crafting the future of flight, apply today. [Employer hidden] is a global aerospace, defence & space business with over 100,000 Colleagues, across 300 sites in 30 countries. We offer inclusive environment, innovation, mobility & training opportunities, and a culture of excellence.

Role Description

The Programme Chief Engineer will act as the technical authority for the Electro‑Mechanical Actuation (EMA) product line within the Global Defence Systems value stream. This role leads the engineering effort across the Integrated Project Team, ensuring decisions are made effectively, technical challenges are resolved, and customer expectations are met. You will work closely with the IPT Lead (programme/system ownership), while owning technical leadership, architecture decisions, customer technical engagement, and engineering governance.

• Provide technical leadership to the IPT, ensuring EMA systems are delivered to regulatory and customer requirements.
• Own the system architecture and ensure compliance across the full lifecycle: proposal, definition, design, verification, manufacturing, sustainment.
• Make informed, timely technical decisions and drive engineering clarity when working with incomplete or uncertain data.
• Lead and coordinate multidisciplinary engineering teams, ensuring alignment and efficient problem-solving.
• Act as the primary technical contact for major customers (e.g., Lockheed Martin).
• Lead customer and supplier technical discussions, reviews, and negotiations.
• Support relationship-building and alignment, especially where challenges currently exist (including the India design centre).
• Collaborate with the IPT Lead to develop schedules, plans, and milestone strategies (e.g., PDR, CDR, qualification).
• Ensure robust requirements management, including use of tools such as DOORS.
• Champion configuration management, quality, and product safety standards.
• Lead product safety assessments and represent the IPT at the Collins Product Safety Board.
• Support Operations, Quality, and Supply Chain with RCCA investigations, cost reduction, and zero‑defect initiatives.
• Provide leadership for sustainment, repair, obsolescence, and re‑introduction activities.
• Review supplier designs and oversee systems‑engineering deliverables.
• Mentor, coach, and support engineers across the IPT.
• Promote a collaborative, innovative, and technically disciplined culture.

What You'll Bring

• Experience in EMA systems (electrical-mechanical actuation), motor drives, power electronics, gearboxes, and control systems.
• Aerospace or defence background preferred; strong automotive experience considered where relevant.
• Understanding of electrical, electronic, mechanical, hydraulic, and software/firmware systems.
• Knowledge of architecture development, system sizing, trade studies, interface control, and compliance analysis.
• Familiarity with PLM and CAD systems.
• Proactive decision‑maker with strong ownership.
• Confident leading in ambiguous environments and able to 'work in the grey.'
• Strong communicator who can influence at all levels, including senior leadership and customers.
• Able to build global relationships and manage cross‑site collaboration.
• Resilient, composed, and capable of driving alignment across diverse teams.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and annual bonus and pay review
• 25 days' holiday + bank holidays
• Private medical insurance
• Comprehensive health cash plan
• Flexible working options
• Pension (10% employer contribution) and life assurance
• Early finish on Fridays
• Professional development, ongoing training, mentoring
• Onsite amenities: parking, restaurant, bicycle storage, showers
• Family-friendly and accessible workplace policies

[Employer hidden] - Here, we craft excellence together.