Job Description
About the Company Draken provides adversarial support, electronic attack and customised rotary-wing training, offering readiness training with a large, differentiated fleet, cutting-edge hardware and experienced instructors. It delivers services in the UK, the US and across NATO countries. Role Overview This role leads and manages an assigned maintenance function within Draken's Approved Maintenance Organisation (AMO). Reporting to the Operations Manager Aircraft Maintenance, it 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 drives operational excellence, regulatory compliance and continuous improvement across the maintenance organisation, leads and develops engineering teams, fosters a strong safety culture, and works in 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 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 Lead the closure of audit findings, safety investigations and regulatory actions Ensure compliance with ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 and ISO 27001 management systems Develop and mentor engineering personnel to build capability, resilience and succession Drive performance, accountability and continuous improvement across the maintenance function Manage customer and stakeholder relationships while balancing operational, regulatory and commercial requirements Support UK and overseas operations, including occasional travel and deployment requirements Deliver maintenance programmes safely, efficiently and within agreed budgets Licences & Qualifications Essential: UK unrestricted CAA Part-66 B1 or B2 Licensed Aircraft Engineer qualification, or equivalent military aircraft engineering experience Ability to obtain and maintain SC security clearance Desirable: eligibility to obtain DV security clearance where required Medically fit to undertake engineering duties and operational travel requirements Experience Essential: extensive experience in aircraft maintenance management within a highly regulated aviation environment Strong working knowledge of UK CAA, UK MAA and EASA regulatory requirements Experience managing maintenance operations within an Approved Maintenance Organisation Practical knowledge of Safety Management Systems (SMS) and aviation compliance frameworks Understanding of ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 and ISO 27001 standards Proven experience leading and developing engineering teams, and driving cultural change and continuous improvement Excellent leadership, coaching and mentoring skills, plus strong communication and stakeholder management Excellent organisational and time management skills with the ability to deliver under pressure Proficiency in Microsoft Office and related business systems Desirable: military or defence aviation experience; supporting multiple aircraft fleets and maintenance programmes; leading regulatory audits and corrective action programmes; managing significant organisational change programmes; operating within international maintenance environments; knowledge of contract delivery and budget management within aviation operations Additional Information Vacancy reference (Draken Eploy VacancyID): 672. Position and function: Engineering. Vacancy type: permanent. Draken is committed to eliminating unlawful and unfair discrimination and celebrates the differences a diverse workforce brings. It is an Armed Forces friendly organisation and, as part of its commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, welcomes applications from veterans and service spouses and partners who meet the criteria. In line with its Disability Confident commitments, reasonable adjustments to the interview process are provided on request.
Requirements
- 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 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
- Lead the closure of audit findings, safety investigations and regulatory actions
- Ensure compliance with ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 and ISO 27001 management systems
- Develop and mentor engineering personnel to build capability, resilience and succession
- Drive performance, accountability and continuous improvement across the maintenance function
- Manage customer and stakeholder relationships while balancing operational, regulatory and commercial requirements
- Support UK and overseas operations, including occasional travel and deployment requirements
- Deliver maintenance programmes safely, efficiently and within agreed budgets
- Essential: UK unrestricted CAA Part-66 B1 or B2 Licensed Aircraft Engineer qualification, or equivalent military aircraft engineering experience
- Ability to obtain and maintain SC security clearance
- Desirable: eligibility to obtain DV security clearance where required
- Medically fit to undertake engineering duties and operational travel requirements
- Essential: extensive experience in aircraft maintenance management within a highly regulated aviation environment
- Strong working knowledge of UK CAA, UK MAA and EASA regulatory requirements
- Experience managing maintenance operations within an Approved Maintenance Organisation
- Practical knowledge of Safety Management Systems (SMS) and aviation compliance frameworks
- Understanding of ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 and ISO 27001 standards
- Proven experience leading and developing engineering teams, and driving cultural change and continuous improvement