Programme Chief Engineer

Safran is an international high-technology group, operating in the aviation (propulsion, equipment and interiors), defense and space markets. Its core purpose is to contribute to a safer, more sustainable world, where air transport is more environmentally friendly, comfortable and accessible. Safran has a global presence, with 100,000 employees and sales of 27.3 billion euros in 2024, and holds, alone or in partnership, world or regional leadership positions in its core markets.

Safran Electronics & Defense offers its customers onboard intelligence solutions allowing them to understand the environment, reduce mental load and guarantee a trajectory, even in critical situations, in all environments: on land, at sea, in the sky or space. The company harnesses the expertise of its 13,000 employees towards these three functions: observe, decide and guide, for the civil and military markets.

Looking after the people who make Safran great is our priority. We offer a range of flexible benefits designed to support you both in and out of work, including:

• Competitive salary and annual bonus and pay review
• 25 days' holiday + bank holidays
• Private medical insurance
• Comprehensive health cash plan
• Flexible working options
• Pension (10% employer contribution) and life assurance
• Early finish on Fridays
• Professional development, ongoing training, mentoring
• Onsite amenities: parking, restaurant, bicycle storage, showers
• Family-friendly and accessible workplace policies

At Safran, excellence is a journey - and we’d love you to be a part of it. As a trusted global leader in aerospace, defence, and space, we are proud to be a company where diversity, innovation, and opportunity come together to shape a sustainable future where we can all succeed together through a shared vision.

About Safran Actuation Systems UK: Safran Actuation Systems UK is a world-class centre for the design, manufacture and support of actuation and flight-control solutions used across commercial, military and rotary platforms. With major sites in Wolverhampton and Banbury, our teams play a critical role in delivering innovative, reliable and safe systems that keep aircraft performing at their best.

Our UK Actuation business brings together engineering excellence, advanced manufacturing capability and a proud heritage within the aerospace sector. Whether supporting major global programmes or developing the next generation of actuation technologies, our people are at the heart of everything we do.

As part of Safran's global network, joining Safran Actuation Systems UK means becoming part of a highly skilled, collaborative and forward-thinking team with opportunities to grow, innovate and make a meaningful impact in the future of aerospace.

We are looking for passionate individuals to join our Global Defence Systems team as Programme Chief Engineer at our Wolverhampton site. At Safran, we understand that diversity and inclusion make teams stronger and more effective, and as an organisation, we are committed to fair and equitable employment practices for everyone.

Your Role: The Programme Chief Engineer will act as the technical authority for the Electro-Mechanical Actuation (EMA) product line within the Global Defence Systems value stream. This role leads the engineering effort across the Integrated Project Team, ensuring decisions are made effectively, technical challenges are resolved, and customer expectations are met.

You will work closely with the IPT Lead (programme/system ownership), while owning technical leadership, architecture decisions, customer technical engagement, and engineering governance.

• Provide technical leadership to the IPT, ensuring EMA systems are delivered to regulatory and customer requirements.
• Own the system architecture and ensure compliance across the full lifecycle: proposal, definition, design, verification, manufacturing, sustainment.
• Make informed, timely technical decisions and drive engineering clarity when working with incomplete or uncertain data.
• Lead and coordinate multidisciplinary engineering teams, ensuring alignment and efficient problem-solving.
• Act as the primary technical contact for major customers (e.g., Lockheed Martin).
• Lead customer and supplier technical discussions, reviews, and negotiations.
• Support relationship-building and alignment, especially where challenges currently exist (including the India design centre).
• Collaborate with the IPT Lead to develop schedules, plans, and milestone strategies (e.g., PDR, CDR, qualification).
• Ensure robust requirements management, including use of tools such as DOORS.
• Champion configuration management, quality, and product safety standards.
• Lead product safety assessments and represent the IPT at the Collins Product Safety Board.
• Support Operations, Quality, and Supply Chain with RCCA investigations, cost reduction, and zero-defect initiatives.
• Provide leadership for sustainment, repair, obsolescence, and re-introduction activities.
• Review supplier designs and oversee systems-engineering deliverables.
• Mentor, coach, and support engineers across the IPT.
• Promote a collaborative, innovative, and technically disciplined culture.

What You’ll Bring: Experience in EMA systems (electrical-mechanical actuation), motor drives, power electronics, gearboxes, and control systems. Aerospace or defence background preferred; strong automotive experience considered where relevant. Understanding of electrical, electronic, mechanical, hydraulic, and software/firmware systems. Knowledge of architecture development, system sizing, trade studies, interface control, and compliance analysis. Familiarity with PLM and CAD systems. Proactive decision-maker with strong ownership. Confident leading in ambiguous environments and able to 'work in the grey.' Strong communicator who can influence at all levels, including senior leadership and customers. Able to build global relationships and manage cross-site collaboration. Resilient, composed, and capable of driving alignment across diverse teams.