Airworthiness Engineer in Reading

Airworthiness Lead

Location: Bristol (Hyrbid)

Salary: £55,000 – £62,000

Please note due to the nature of the work and security regulations, candidates must meet UK residency and security clearance requirements.

A prestigious UK defence aerospace firm is looking for a seasoned Airworthiness Lead to take charge of flight certification and airworthiness assurance for advanced military aircraft programmes. This senior technical role provides an exciting opportunity to lead certification strategies, interact with UK aviation regulators, and shape safety and compliance across multi-platform military aviation projects. If you have a passion for aviation safety, deep aircraft and regulatory knowledge, plus leadership potential, this role offers career progression in a collaborative, innovative environment with flexible hybrid working options.

The role

You will lead initial and continued airworthiness activities with a focus on establishing and managing Certification Programmes, ensuring compliance with UK military and civil regulatory requirements. Your responsibilities will include:

• Defining the Certification Basis and orchestrating certification efforts for military aircraft products
• Reviewing engineering evidence and qualification data to assure compliance with airworthiness and safety standards
• Generating Military Permits to Fly and Release to Service documentation
• Conducting flight safety analysis, fault investigations, and contributing to accident/incident investigations
• Leading a small airworthiness team and collaborating across design engineering, regulators, and MOD stakeholders

What you will bring

• Extensive military aircraft airworthiness and certification expertise, preferably with platforms like Typhoon, Tornado, Hawk, or Protector
• Strong knowledge of UK military/civil regulations (DS05-123, DS00-970, CS VLA/23) and safety standards (MIL-STD-882, DS-056, ARP4761/1309)
• Proven experience at aircraft/system-level certification, beyond subsystem qualification alone
• Familiarity with UK regulatory agencies (CAA, MAA, DE&S) and Defence Procurement processes
• Desirable: UAV/UAS certification experience and safety analysis skills (FTA, FHA, hazard management)
• Security clearance eligibility and willingness to undergo required vetting

What’s in it for you

• Competitive salary reflecting senior-level aerospace expertise
• A hybrid work environment with flexibility across multiple UK aerospace hubs
• Opportunity to work on cutting-edge military aviation platforms impacting national defence
• Access to comprehensive employee benefits, including pension, health, wellbeing schemes, and share plans
• Join a dedicated team committed to aviation safety, certification excellence, and mission success

This role invites experienced airworthiness professionals ready to lead certification programmes and uphold the highest aviation safety standards in a major aerospace defence environment. Don’t miss the chance to advance your career in a role that truly makes a difference in military aviation safety.

Interested in exploring this challenge? Reach out for a confidential discussion about your fit and the flexible location options available.