At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead engineering excellence for the Trent XWB fleet and drive innovation.
- Company: Join Rolls-Royce, a leader in shaping the modern world.
- Benefits: Generous leave, retirement savings, life assurance, and share ownership opportunities.
- Other info: Inclusive culture that values individuality and diverse perspectives.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a high-performing team and shape the future of engineering.
- Qualifications: Bachelor's or master's degree in engineering with relevant experience.
The predicted salary is between 75000 - 90000 € per year.
An exciting opportunity is available for an Interim Chief Engineer – Trent XWB to join the ET&S Civil Team in Derby for an initial 6-month period. As Chief Engineer – Trent XWB fleet, you will be the formal Design Authority for a critical portfolio of Trent XWB in-service products, overseeing technical excellence, innovation and safety. Reporting to the Director – ET&S Civil, this is an opportunity to drive real impact – shaping strategy, leading an organisation of skilled engineers, and delivering mature product solutions to our customers.
You will work closely with senior stakeholders, regulators and customers, ensuring our products are safe, future-ready, and delivered on time and to budget. This is more than a technical role – it is a role to lead transformation and drive engineering performance.
What you will be doing:
- Lead as the formal Design Authority for Trent XWB Fleet, accountable for Product Safety, chairing the Product Safety Review Board, and ensuring full compliance with Product Safety and HSE policies.
- Inspire and manage a high-performing engineering team, aligning capability and resources to deliver technical excellence, while setting clear performance goals and maintaining a structure that supports delivery and development.
- Act as the key technical interface with internal and external customers, translating complex stakeholder requirements into clear engineering priorities that feed into divisional and group-level strategies.
- Drive the successful delivery of engineering programs, ensuring on-time, on-budget, first-time-right outputs while proactively managing technical risks and integrating plans into master schedules.
- Champion innovation and continuous improvement, promoting the adoption of new tools and methods to enhance delivery, improve efficiency and ensure compliance with standards in safety, cybersecurity, and IP.
Preferred qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering and 8+ years of experience, or master’s degree in engineering and 6+ years of experience.
Preferred requirements:
- A successful Chief Engineer will be a professional, safety-focussed engineering leader with a proven track-record of robust technical leadership and engaging people management in high-performing teams.
- The role requires that you are open-minded and enthusiastic about change, will positively embrace challenge and are able to effectively collaborate across business boundaries; you will consistently demonstrate resilience in an ambiguous, in-service product focussed environment and will successfully lead by example.
- Up to date, relevant, engineering expertise.
- Self-starter with an ability to deal with ambiguity.
- Demonstrable engineering leadership of successfully delivered projects/tasks to time, cost, quality.
- Experience of collaboration with diverse teams from different cultures.
- Knowledge of customer and external relations and/or experience of working in a partnership would be beneficial.
Why join Rolls-Royce?
At Rolls-Royce we are proud to be a business that has truly helped to shape the modern world and are committed to always being a force for progress; powering, protecting and connecting people everywhere. By joining Rolls-Royce, you'll have the opportunity to work on world-class solutions, supported by a culture that believes individuality is our greatest strength, and all perspectives, experiences and backgrounds help us innovate and enable our high-performance culture.
Regional benefits:
- Generous Annual Leave.
- Retirement Savings through the Rolls-Royce Retirement Savings Trust.
- Group Life Assurance provides for a lump sum benefit if you die whilst employed by Rolls-Royce.
- Group Income Protection provides an income in the event that you are unable to work due to illness or injury.
- Your Shares: Matched is a simple way to own Rolls-Royce shares and invest in our future, together. Buy one share, get one free!
Our vision is to ensure that the excellence and ingenuity that shaped our history continues into our future. Our multi-year transformation programme aims to turn Rolls-Royce into a high-performing, competitive, resilient and growing company. Join us, and it can be your future vision too.
Rolls-Royce are committed to being a respectful, inclusive, and non-discriminatory workplace where individuality is valued, diverse perspectives fuel innovation, and everyone can thrive.
Please be aware that the priority will be given to employees identified as being at high risk. The professional level and salary of the position will be dependent on the skills and experience of the successful candidate but is anticipated to be Level A. This job is advertised at the grades shown, and this is the desired operating level for this role. We encourage applications from candidates with relevant experience from any grade. It is advised that you inform your current manager of your application for this role.
Closing date: 5th June 2026
Job Category: Group Engineering (Chief Engineer)
Posting Date: 22 May 2026; 00:05
Posting End Date: 05 Jun 2026
Chief Engineer - Trent XWB in Derby employer: Rolls-royce
Rolls-Royce is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Derby where innovation and technical excellence thrive. With a strong commitment to employee growth, generous benefits including annual leave and retirement savings, and a culture that values diversity and individuality, you will have the opportunity to lead a high-performing engineering team while making a significant impact on world-class solutions.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Chief Engineer - Trent XWB in Derby
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the engineering field, especially those who might have insights into the Chief Engineer role. Attend industry events or webinars to meet potential employers and showcase your expertise.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your technical knowledge and leadership skills. Be ready to discuss how you've driven engineering performance and managed teams in the past. We want to see your passion for innovation and safety!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your problem-solving abilities! During interviews, share specific examples of how you've tackled challenges in previous projects. This will demonstrate your resilience and ability to thrive in an ambiguous environment.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in joining our team at Rolls-Royce and contributing to our vision for the future.
We think you need these skills to ace Chief Engineer - Trent XWB in Derby
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Chief Engineer role. Highlight your relevant experience, especially in leading engineering teams and managing projects. We want to see how your skills align with the responsibilities outlined in the job description.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for the role. Share specific examples of your achievements and how they relate to the key responsibilities of the Chief Engineer position. We love a good story!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:As a Chief Engineer, leadership is key. In your application, emphasise your experience in managing high-performing teams and driving engineering performance. We want to know how you've inspired others and delivered results in challenging environments.
Apply Through Our Website:Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows us you’re serious about joining our team at Rolls-Royce. We can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at Rolls-royce
✨Know Your Technical Stuff
As a Chief Engineer, you'll need to demonstrate your deep understanding of engineering principles and the Trent XWB specifically. Brush up on the latest innovations in aerospace engineering and be ready to discuss how you can apply them to enhance product safety and performance.
✨Show Leadership Skills
This role is all about leading a high-performing team. Prepare examples of how you've inspired and managed teams in the past. Think about specific challenges you've faced and how you motivated your team to overcome them while maintaining technical excellence.
✨Understand Stakeholder Needs
You'll be acting as the key technical interface with various stakeholders. Familiarise yourself with the types of stakeholders you might encounter and prepare to discuss how you would translate their complex requirements into clear engineering priorities.
✨Embrace Change and Innovation
The job calls for someone who champions innovation and continuous improvement. Be ready to share your thoughts on new tools and methods that could enhance delivery and efficiency. Highlight any past experiences where you've successfully implemented change in a project.
