Chief Engineer

Draken also believes in fair reward and recognition for our employees. As such, we offer competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package including up to 12% matching pension contributions, bonus incentives, discounted PMI, electric car scheme, tech vouchers, wellbeing programmes and much more.

About the Role

We are recruiting for a Chief Engineer to lead and manage an assigned Maintenance function within our Approved Maintenance Organisation (AMO).

Reporting to the Operations Manager Aircraft Maintenance, this is a senior leadership role responsible for ensuring the safe, compliant and effective delivery of aircraft maintenance activities in accordance with all applicable aviation regulations and international standards.

The Chief Engineer will play a pivotal role in driving operational excellence, regulatory compliance and continuous improvement across the maintenance organisation. You will lead and develop engineering teams, foster a strong safety culture and ensure maintenance operations are delivered safely, efficiently and to the highest professional standards.

This role offers the opportunity to work within a fast-paced aviation environment supporting critical customer operations across the UK and internationally.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the assigned Maintenance function in accordance with UK CAA, UK MAA, EASA and company regulatory requirements.
• Ensure all maintenance activities are performed safely, compliantly and within the scope of organisational approvals.
• Provide professional leadership and management to Engineering Delivery Managers, Crew Chiefs and Team Leaders.
• Drive a strong safety, quality and compliance culture throughout the engineering organisation.
• Ensure sufficient manpower, tooling, equipment and facilities are available to support maintenance operations.
• Oversee maintenance planning activities to ensure safe, effective and timely delivery of aircraft maintenance programmes.
• Ensure accurate recording and certification of maintenance activities and Certificates of Release to Service.
• Support technical investigations, occurrence reporting and root cause analysis activities.
• Lead the closure of audit findings, safety investigations and regulatory actions.
• Ensure compliance with ISO 9001, ISO 1401, ISO 45001 and ISO 27001 management systems.
• Develop and mentor engineering personnel to build capability, resilience and succession within the team.
• Drive performance, accountability and continuous improvement initiatives across the maintenance function.
• Manage customer and stakeholder relationships while balancing operational, regulatory and commercial requirements.
• Support both UK and overseas operations, including occasional travel and deployment requirements.
• Deliver maintenance programmes safely, efficiently and within agreed budgets.

Experience & Skills

• Extensive experience in aircraft maintenance management within a highly regulated aviation environment.
• UK unrestricted CAA Part 66 B1 or B2 Licensed Aircraft Engineer qualification, or equivalent military aircraft engineering experience.
• Strong working knowledge of UK CAA, UK MAA and EASA regulatory requirements.
• Experience managing maintenance operations within an Approved Maintenance Organisation (AMO).
• Practical knowledge of Safety Management Systems (SMS) and aviation compliance frameworks.
• Understanding of ISO 9001, ISO 1401, ISO 45001 and ISO 27001 standards.
• Proven experience leading and developing engineering teams.
• Demonstrable experience driving cultural change and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Excellent leadership, coaching and mentoring skills.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills with the ability to deliver under pressure.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and related business systems.
• Ability to obtain and maintain SC Security Clearance.
• Medically fit to undertake engineering duties and operational travel requirements.
• Previous experience within military aviation or defence aviation environments.
• Experience supporting multiple aircraft fleets and maintenance programmes.
• Experience leading regulatory audits and managing corrective action programmes.
• Eligibility to obtain DV Security Clearance where required.
• Experience operating within international maintenance environments.
• Knowledge of contract delivery and budget management within aviation operations.

Our employee values

Draken is committed to eliminating unlawful and unfair discrimination and we celebrate the differences that a diverse workforce brings. A range of perspective and talent supports our values and drives our success, with a mix of voices generating better discussions, business decisions and outcomes for all.

At all our sites internationally, every member of the Draken team is accountable to ensure that we are all treated fairly and with respect.

We are also an Armed Forces friendly organisation, and as part of our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, welcome applications from veterans and services spouses and partners who met the criteria in our job specifications.

In line with our Disability Confident Commitments, we provide reasonable adjustments to facilitate our interview process, please liaise with us if any reasonable adjustments are required.

About Us

Whether it is adversarial support, electronic attack or customised rotary-wing training, we offer the most accurate and advanced readiness training in the industry. Our vast, differentiated fleet, cutting edge hardware and experienced instructors are engaged to help your mission take off.

Being ready is not only a matter of when. But where. We provide services in the UK, US and across the NATO countries. Making sure that our allies can manoeuvre around defeat and prepare to prevail.

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