At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the assembly and integration of cutting-edge stratospheric aircraft.
- Company: Join AALTO, a pioneering Airbus subsidiary in Stratospace technology.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, private medical insurance, and a personal pension plan.
- Other info: Dynamic work environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Be part of a passionate team creating innovative aerospace solutions.
- Qualifications: Aerospace or Engineering Full Apprenticeship and NVQ Level 3 in Avionics Engineering required.
The predicted salary is between 37800 - 46200 £ per year.
AALTO, a global leader in Stratospace.
Based in Farnborough, AALTO is an Airbus subsidiary that manufactures, operates, and delivers services with its solar-powered, stratospheric platform: Zephyr.
Zephyr’s persistence enables continuous flight for months at a time.
Its current flight-time record of over 67 days in the stratosphere.
From above 60,000+ft, or 20km above ground, AALTO can deliver several applications including direct-to-device connectivity and high-resolution Earth observation.
AALTO operates in a new operational layer between most of air traffic and low-Earth orbit, Stratospace.
This is where high-altitude platforms led by Zephyr deliver services to commercial and government partners.
We can help monitor environments, observe borders, track natural disasters and connect unconnected communities.
Join us as we create a new domain of aerospace: Stratospace.
You’ll be part of a highly-skilled, innovative and passionate group of people – Team AALTO.
Together, we can Unlock Stratospace.
About The Role
As an Assembly & Integration Cell Lead, you will coordinate and execute the daily manufacturing, assembly, integration, installation, and test activities required to deliver Zephyr aircraft.
You’ll work closely with Production Managers, Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain teams to keep builds progressing, resolve issues, drive continuous improvement, and ensure the successful delivery of aircraft production milestones.
Responsibilities to include
- Production Delivery & Build Execution
- Lead daily manufacturing and integration activities in line with the production plan.
- Coordinate day-of-build activities to achieve safety, quality, and delivery targets.
- Monitor build progress and proactively manage schedule, quality, technical, and resource risks.
- Drive workflow management and prioritisation within the production cell.
- Support production recovery plans and minimise disruptions to delivery schedules.
- Ensure effective shift handovers and communication of build status and priorities.
- Hands-On Aircraft Assembly & Integration
- Perform and support aircraft assembly, integration, installation, wiring, and testing activities.
- Install and integrate avionics and mechanical systems on UAV platforms.
- Manufacture and assemble in-house avionics components where required.
- Conduct installation inspections, verification activities, and system integration testing.
- Interpret engineering drawings, technical documentation, work instructions, and test procedures.
- Use calibrated tools and equipment to verify dimensional compliance.
- Support fault diagnosis, troubleshooting, and corrective action implementation.
- Maintain accurate build records and ensure full product traceability.
- Leadership & Team Development
- Provide daily supervision and technical leadership to a team of specialist AIT Technicians.
- Coordinate activities across multiple aircraft builds simultaneously.
- Allocate tasks based on production priorities, technician capability, and business requirements.
- Monitor completion of work packages and drive accountability for delivery.
- Coach, mentor, and develop team members to build technical capability.
- Support onboarding and training of new employees.
- Promote collaboration, engagement, and a positive team culture.
- Quality & Compliance
- Ensure all manufacturing and integration activities comply with approved processes and engineering requirements.
- Champion a right-first-time and zero-defect culture.
- Support investigation of non-conformances and implementation of corrective actions.
• Ensure compliance with
- AS9100 quality standards
- Human Factors requirements
- FOD (Foreign Object Debris) prevention
- Tool Control processes
- COSHH requirements
- ESD-controlled environments
- Product traceability and build documentation
- Maintain audit readiness across the production cell.
- Health, Safety & Operational Excellence
- Lead by example and promote a strong safety culture.
- Ensure compliance with Health & Safety procedures and reporting requirements.
- Support the implementation of shop-floor safety initiatives.
- Safely handle delicate and flexible aircraft structures and assemblies.
- Identify and mitigate operational risks and exercise stop-work authority when required.
- Maintain excellent housekeeping and 6S standards.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives to improve efficiency, productivity, and quality.
Skills and Knowledge Required
- Hands-on experience within aerospace manufacturing, aircraft assembly, integration, or test environments.
- Experience leading, coordinating, or supervising small technical teams.
- Strong knowledge of aircraft assembly, avionics installation, integration, and test processes.
- Ability to interpret engineering drawings, technical documents, and work instructions.
- Experience conducting and recording installation verification and system integration testing.
- Competence using standard test equipment, crimp tooling, and calibrated measurement equipment.
- High-quality soldering capability.
- Knowledge of ESD-controlled manufacturing environments.
- Strong fault-finding and troubleshooting skills.
- Experience maintaining accurate production and build records.
- Ability to prioritise workloads and perform effectively in a fast-paced production environment.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
- Good Microsoft Office and general IT skills.
- Technical Knowledge
- Aircraft manufacturing and maintenance processes.
- Human Factors principles.
- FOD prevention and Tool Control.
- Health & Safety and COSHH compliance.
- Dimensional inspection and verification methods.
- Production scheduling and workflow execution.
- 6S workplace organisation.
- EWIS awareness and interface requirements.
Qualifications
Essential
- Aerospace or Engineering Full Apprenticeship.
- NVQ Level 3 in Avionics Engineering or equivalent engineering discipline.
In addition to an attractive market-aligned salary, we offer
- Rewarding Excellence: Benefit from our short-term incentive plan that rewards your hard work and dedication.
- Enjoy Your Time Off: Benefit from 25 days of holiday to relax and recharge.
- Stay Healthy: We’ve got your health covered with private medical insurance, along with dental and optical cash back.
- Secure Your Future: Take advantage of our personal pension plan to ensure a comfortable retirement.
- Peace of Mind: Our income protection and life assurance schemes are there to support you when you need it most.
- Getting around: Drive the latest vehicles with our discounted salary sacrifice scheme.
- We Care About You: Our employee assistance programme is always available to provide the support you need.
- Perks Galore: Enjoy a range of employee discounts via Perkbox, from household goods to travel!
- #J-18808-Ljbffr
Assembly & Integration Cell Lead employer: AALTO
AALTO HAPS Ltd. is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and innovative work environment where employees can thrive in their careers. With a strong focus on professional growth, competitive benefits including a flexible work schedule and a pension plan, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion, AALTO fosters a culture of collaboration and excellence. Located at the forefront of aerospace technology, employees have the unique opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking projects that redefine connectivity in the stratosphere.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Assembly & Integration Cell Lead
✨Join Aerospace Forums and Groups
Get involved in aerospace engineering forums and online communities, like the AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics). It's a great way to meet industry peers and stay updated on job openings and trends in the field.
✨Attend Industry Conferences
Keep an eye on upcoming aerospace conferences and events where you can network with professionals and showcase your interest. Events like the Farnborough International Airshow are not just about flying machines; they're a goldmine for connections and potential job leads.
✨Spotlight Your Projects
Make sure to highlight any hands-on experience or projects on your portfolio that showcase your skills in aerospace engineering. Employers love seeing practical applications of theoretical knowledge. Show us what you've got!
✨Apply Directly on Company Websites
When you find companies you want to work for, head straight to their careers page to apply for full-time roles, like the one with AALTO for a Assembly & Integration Cell Lead. This often puts your application in front of the right people faster than just waiting for job boards!
We think you need these skills to ace Assembly & Integration Cell Lead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Technical Skills:When applying for the aerospace engineering role at AALTO, make sure to highlight your technical expertise. Include specific software skills, like CAD tools or simulation software, and any relevant engineering projects you’ve worked on. This is your chance to really shine and showcase your engineering toolkit!
Don't Skip Your Projects!:Include a section in your CV dedicated to projects that demonstrate your problem-solving abilities in aerospace engineering. Whether it's a university project, an internship, or personal work, we love seeing how you’ve applied your skills in real-world scenarios. Make it clear what your role was and the impact of the project.
Show Your Passion in Your Cover Letter:At AALTO, we're not just looking for skills – we want to know why you’re passionate about aerospace engineering. Use your cover letter to express what excites you about aviation technology and your career goals. Share any relevant experiences or inspirations that have led you to apply for this full-time position.
Tailor Your CV for Aerospace:Make sure your CV is specifically tailored to aerospace engineering. Focus on your education, any certifications, and your work experience, ensuring you highlight aspects that relate directly to the role. Don’t forget to mention any internships or apprenticeships that have given you hands-on experience.
How to prepare for a job interview at AALTO
✨Brush Up on Your Technical Knowledge
Aerospace engineering is all about technical precision, so make sure you’re comfortable with key concepts like aerodynamics, propulsion, and materials science. We recommend going through any relevant coursework or projects you’ve worked on – these real-world examples can illustrate your understanding during the interview with AALTO.
✨Showcase Your Projects with Confidence
Make sure to have a portfolio ready that details any significant projects you've worked on, whether it’s a group assignment or a personal endeavour. Be prepared to discuss the challenges you faced, the tools you used, like CAD software, and what you learned from the experience, as this will show your problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Technical Interviews
Expect some technical questions or even problem-solving exercises during your interview with AALTO. Get familiar with design challenges or theoretical problems related to aerospace; this can range from calculating lift and drag forces to materials selection under stress. Practising these can help you feel more at ease when faced with tricky questions.
✨Emphasise Your Passion and Teamwork Skills
As a full-time candidate, it’s crucial to convey your passion for aerospace engineering and your ability to work in teams. Highlight any group projects or internships you've done, focusing on how you collaborated with others to achieve a goal. Companies like AALTO love seeing candidates who not only have technical skills but also fit well within their team culture.
