At a Glance
- Tasks: Assemble and test innovative aircraft seating products, ensuring quality and manufacturability.
- Company: Join Safran, a global leader in aerospace and defence with a commitment to sustainability.
- Benefits: Enjoy 33 days holiday, industry-leading pension, private medical cover, and flexible benefits.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace with excellent career growth and training opportunities.
- Why this job: Be part of a team crafting the future of flight with cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: BTEC Level 3 in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent experience; hands-on assembly skills required.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Safran is an international high-technology group, operating in the aviation, 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 Seats is one of the world's leading manufacturers of aircraft seats, for both crew and passengers. 1 million Safran Seats-manufactured aircraft seats are currently in service with air fleets around the world.
Your Role
As a Build Technician, you will play a key role in the development and industrialisation of new aircraft seating products. Acting as a vital link between engineering and production, you will assemble, test, and refine prototype seats to ensure they are robust, manufacturable, and ready for series production. Working hands-on with cutting-edge aerospace products, you will support New Product Introduction (NPI) projects by identifying design and assembly issues early, proposing improvements, and helping drive continuous improvement throughout the development lifecycle.
Key responsibilities include:
- Building prototype and development seat assemblies from CAD data and engineering instructions
- Checking parts and assemblies against drawings, specifications, and design intent
- Identifying and reporting build issues, and supporting root cause analysis (RCA)
- Proposing practical improvements to enhance product manufacturability and assembly efficiency
- Supporting design reviews with feedback from a build and assembly perspective
- Reworking and modifying parts to test new design solutions
- Developing, validating, and improving process work instructions
- Recording build times to support cycle time calculation and production readiness
- Supporting production teams during product ramp-up and training operators
- Working closely with engineering, quality, and operations teams to meet airworthiness and quality requirements
- Contributing to continuous improvement initiatives (5C, 5S, Lean practices)
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:
- 33 days holiday (including bank holidays)
- Industry leading pension scheme with salary sacrifice employer contributions up to 10%
- Private medical cover (to include Digital GP and rapid access Physio with no excess) with ability to upgrade level of benefit and cover family members
- Access to salary sacrifice benefits scheme including cycle to work
- 4 x Life Assurance
- Interactive benefits platform including wide range of discretionary benefits including technology, retail benefits, income protection
- Enhanced family friendly policies and benefits (enhanced maternity and paternity leave) and employee-assistance programme
- Annual share save schemes
Opportunities for career growth are available. 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. We encourage anybody to apply if you can demonstrate a variety of skills and experience relevant to the requirements of this role.
What You'll Bring
Essential:
- BTEC Level 3 in Mechanical Engineering (or equivalent experience/apprenticeship)
- Experience in aerospace or automotive manufacturing environments
- Ability to read and interpret 2D engineering drawings
- Hands-on assembly experience using mechanical fixings (fasteners, rivets, bonding, etc.)
- Good understanding of materials (metal, composites, etc.)
- Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail
- Good communication skills and ability to work cross-functionally
- Basic IT skills (MS Office) and ability to work with engineering systems
- Ability to work independently and manage priorities under pressure
Desirable:
- Knowledge of machining operations (lathe, milling, CNC)
- Experience with CAD model interrogation (3D software)
- Understanding of composites and additive manufacturing
- Experience in sheet metal work
- Familiarity with MRP/ERP systems (e.g., BaaN)
- Experience creating or improving work instructions and assembly processes
Build Technician employer: Safran
At Safran, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. As a Build Technician, you will benefit from a comprehensive range of flexible benefits, including 33 days of holiday, an industry-leading pension scheme, and opportunities for career growth through training and mobility. Join us in our mission to create a sustainable future in aerospace, where your contributions will be valued and your professional development supported.
