Specialist Systems Duty Engineering Manager in London

Be part of this city within a city. Every year, millions of people travel through Heathrow. Joining our Engineering team means being at the heart of a complex operation whose size, scale and reputation for innovation are unique. We make sure the airport is always running smoothly and keep passengers and planes moving. Our team touches all aspects of airport life – from water to energy, rail to roads, baggage systems to runways. The scope and variety of what we do is vast, spanning mechanical, electrical, water, civil, rail and environmental disciplines. Together we are responsible for the performance of 500,000 assets worth £14bn. It means there are always a wide range of interesting development, construction and maintenance projects to get involved with. And a lot of ways to develop your skills, career and reputation. You’ll be part of a close-knit, driven team, taking on work that you can take real pride in and feel passionate about. It’s an exciting place to be, where every day, you’ll discover a world of fresh possibilities and you’ll be mentored by world‑class experts every step of the way.

As a Duty Engineer for our Specialist Systems team, you’ll lead a multiskilled group and oversee contractors to keep Heathrow safe, operational and delivering world‑class service. You’ll supervise and support maintenance activities across the airport, ensuring our vital security and detection systems – including x‑ray machines, screening equipment and detection devices – are performing reliably to protect passengers and colleagues. You’ll drive safety, performance and efficiency, ensuring all work meets company, legislative and environmental standards. By maximising system availability and developing your team, you’ll deliver a responsive, high‑quality engineering service that keeps Heathrow moving and meets KPI and stakeholder expectations. As the key point of contact for operational stakeholders, you’ll maintain a strong customer focus, helping make every journey better.

Please note this is an on‑site role following a 12 hour 4 on 4 off shift pattern.

Your role will involve:

• Leading, mentoring and developing a multiskilled team, ensuring performance reviews, training, resource planning and adherence to all policies, procedures and budgets.
• Managing asset maintenance across the business area, coordinating direct labour and contractors, ensuring statutory inspections, regulatory compliance and best‑practice delivery.
• Driving continuous improvement in asset performance, building standards, welfare facilities and overall presentation through proactive inspections and KPI/SLA management.
• Leading fire, health & safety, quality and environmental responsibilities, including risk assessments, incident management, hazard reporting and safe access control.
• Building strong relationships with stakeholders and unions, providing technical support, ensuring effective handovers, and representing Engineering at operational meetings.
• Overseeing process compliance and continuous improvement, supporting project delivery, managing planned/reactive work to time, quality and cost standards, and providing operational leadership when required.

These Skills Are Essential:

• Proven team leadership capability.
• NVQ Level 3, City & Guilds, ONC/HNC, accredited apprenticeship, or equivalent qualification in a relevant engineering discipline.
• Full UK driving licence and the ability to obtain and maintain all required airside licences and permits.
• Ability to meet all pre‑employment requirements, including CTC security vetting (must have resided in the UK for the past 3 years), referencing, medical assessment, and drugs & alcohol testing.
• Strong, demonstrable knowledge of relevant engineering regulations, standards, and compliance requirements.
• Completion of relevant technical training and skills development aligned to the role.

Ideally, you will also have IOSH Managing Safely (or equivalent) accreditation.

There’s something so special about working at the world’s most iconic airport. Its sights. Its sounds. Its constant air of excitement. Heathrow is an amazing backdrop to a career filled with unique opportunities. Every day, you’ll discover a world full of fresh possibilities and come home buzzing with stories to tell, as you encounter people from all cultures, nationalities and experiences. A world full of pride for what we do and no end of exciting career prospects to explore. It brings out the best in all of us. And inspires everyone to deliver on our ambitious plans. Together, we’re working to welcome millions more passengers while ensuring aviation can continue to be a force for good by leading global efforts in sustainability. Join us on that journey and we’ll help you achieve your ambitions too. Supporting you to learn, encouraging you to be yourself, backing you to achieve more than you might ever have imagined. Because there’s no place like Heathrow.

Our rewards:

• We offer competitive salaries and excellent benefits that will support you now and in the future.
• As well as performance‑based annual bonuses and our longer‑term Share in Success Bonus plans, we also offer generous annual leave allowances and market‑leading pensions.
• With family friendly policies, access to private health insurance and a wide range of wellbeing tools, we’ll support you to be at your best inside and outside work.
• And of course, we’ll provide varied learning and development opportunities too.

Here you’ll find everything you need for a fulfilling career journey that can take you in exciting directions.

This is an airport‑based position. Every day, you will play a critical role in helping us to give our passengers the best airport service in the world.

Heathrow’s Sustainable Travel Guide sets out easy and sustainable travel options that everyone can access.

As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applications from all. We believe that diverse talent makes us stronger – not least because we welcome passengers from all corners of the globe, every single day. Heathrow is an accessible place to work, and through our diversity networks, we champion inclusivity and celebrate individuality.