Senior Design Assurance Engineer

Location: Boscombe Down, Amesbury, Wiltshire

Role Type: Permanent – Full Time, 4 days per week on site

Are you ready to be part of the future? At QinetiQ, we’re not just imagining tomorrow we are creating it. From cutting-edge defence technology to ground-breaking innovations our mission is to empower and protect lives. Join us as a Senior Design Assurance Engineer at our Boscombe Down, Amesbury site, where you will have the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technology in partnership with some of the most brilliant minds.

QinetiQ's Aviation Engineering Centre (AEC) located on our Boscombe Down site is an industry leader in aircraft modification through our accredited Design and Production Organisations and internal network of specialists. An increasing portfolio of orders across our military and civil businesses are driving growth in our capability and the recruitment in specialist areas. As such, we are looking for a professional, enthusiastic and motivated individual to work in our Part 21J & DAOS Design Organisation as a Senior Initial Airworthiness Design Assurance Engineer.

Role Purpose:

Working within the Aviation Engineering Centre at Boscombe Down, the Senior Design Assurance Engineer will be responsible for determining the route to certification for modifications to military and civil aircraft. They will compile the certification document set and call on Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) for compliance statements for all aspects of the design. They will then act as an independent technical reviewer, providing support to all engineering activities, reviews and test programmes - verifying compliance to the processes outlined in the certification plan, whilst providing guidance to all stakeholders and contributors. They will make submissions for formal aircraft changes to the regulator (CAA or MAA) to ensure smooth and timely approval and provide continued lifecycle consultation with regulatory bodies to coordinate Level of Involvement (LOI) for certification programmes.

Key Accountabilities:

• Liaison between the design organisation, CAA and MoD with respect to all aspects of Type Investigation.
• Issuing of guidelines for documenting compliance against the relevant Certification Specifications or Defence Standards or other appropriate design specifications.
• Advising all departments of the design organisation in all questions regarding airworthiness, environmental protection approvals and certification.
• Able to work in a Hazard Based assessment methodology to achieve a cost and time efficient route to compliant flight test for new technology.
• Preparation of the Type Investigation programme and co-ordination of all tasks related to Type Investigation in concurrence with the CAA and MoD.
• Regular reporting to the CAA and MAA about Type Investigation progress and announcement of scheduled tests in due time.
• Able to manage and trade the aspirations of multiple stakeholders to ensure mutually beneficial and compliant delivery.
• Ensuring co-operation in preparing test programmes needed for demonstration of compliance.
• Establishing the compliance checklist and updating for changes.
• Checking that all compliance documents are prepared as necessary to show compliance with all CS and environmental protection requirements, as well as for completeness.
• Ensuring the initiation of activities as a response to failure (accident/incident/in-service experience) evaluation and complaints from the operator.
• Providing of information to the CAA and MAA in case of airworthiness impairment (continuing airworthiness).
• Represent QinetiQ as Project Certification Technical Lead.
• Other reasonable requirements as stipulated by the Design Assurance Manager.

Key Capabilities / Knowledge:

• A good working knowledge of an aircraft engineering discipline.
• Understanding of aircraft systems.
• Computer literate and proficient in Microsoft 365 applications mainly Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Ability to read and understand engineering drawings.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Accurate and attentive to detail.
• Able to work both independently and as a member of a team.

Experience and Qualifications:

• Must have demonstrable experience of delivering to Safety, Quality, Time and Cost targets within a Part 21J or DAOS approval.
• Full appreciation of dealing with Military and Civil aircraft maintenance organisations during survey, installation, ground and flight test phases.
• HNC/HND/Degree in Aeronautical, Electrical, Electronic or Mechanical Engineering (or equivalent experience).
• Aircraft Engineering experience including design, maintenance and operational requirements.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Aircraft Engineering Apprenticeship or Military equivalent.
• Experience as CVE in a Pt21J organisation highly desirable.
• Chartered Engineer or IPD / CPD towards Chartership.

Why Join QinetiQ?

As we continue to grow into new markets around the world, there’s never been a more exciting time to join QinetiQ. The formula for success is our appetite for innovation and having the courage to take on a wide variety of complex challenges. As a QinetiQ employee, you’ll experience a unique working environment where teams from different backgrounds, disciplines and experiences enjoy collaborating widely and openly as we undertake this exciting and rewarding journey. Through effective teamwork, and pulling together, you’ll get to experience what happens when we all share different perspectives, blend disciplines, and link technologies; constantly discovering new ways of solving complex problems in a diverse and inclusive environment where you can be authentic, feel valued and realise your full potential. Visit our website to read more about our diverse and inclusive workplace culture.

Our Benefits:

• Matched contribution pension scheme, with life assurance.
• Competitive holiday allowance, with the option to purchase additional days.
• Options to join Health Cash Plan, Private Medical Insurance and Dental Insurance.
• Employee discount portal: Personal Accident Insurance, Travel Insurance, Restaurants, Cinema Tickets and much more.
• We are proud to support the Armed Forces community by honouring the Armed Forces Covenant and maintaining our Gold Award standard in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.
• Volunteering Opportunities - helping charities and local community.

Our Recruitment Process:

We want to make sure that our recruitment process is as inclusive as possible and we aspire to bring out the best in our candidates by creating an environment where everyone feels valued, heard and supported. If you have a disability or health condition that may affect your performance in certain assessment types, please speak to your Recruiter about potential reasonable adjustments. Many roles in QinetiQ are subject to national security vetting being completed, applicants who already hold the appropriate level of vetting may be able to transfer it upon appointment. A number of roles are also subject to additional restrictions, which means factors such as nationality or previous nationalities may affect the roles that you can be employed in.