Lead Project Engineer (Mechanical Innovation) in Cwmbran, Wales

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 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.

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. We are looking for passionate individuals to join our Research & Technology Department as a Lead Project Engineer for Mechanical Innovation in Cwmbran. Safran Seats is a premium designer and manufacturer of First and Business Class seating and technology. Our passenger experience prides itself on innovation, customization, quality and industrial design. At Safran Seats we interface with both the world's biggest airlines and airframers alike, with the largest seats portfolio of all seats suppliers. One day you could be liaising with one of the world's largest airframers, and the next, some of the biggest airline brands around the world!

In this new role you will lead and deliver a pipeline of mechanical innovation projects that add value to our products, through a balanced focus on leadership and hands-on engineering. Working across premium seat subsystems, you will drive improvements in lightweighting, reliability and robustness, mechanism simplification, safety, passenger comfort/experience, cost and design for manufacture and assembly (DFMA). You will scope and secure external funding for innovation projects, lead a small team of engineers and trainees, and be accountable for the mechanical design, creation and maintenance of our showcase technology demonstrators.

You will be responsible for defining and delivering mechanical innovations that differentiate our products and support future customer needs. Reporting to the Head of R&T, you will lead a small team, setting technical direction and providing day-to-day guidance. Your team will also manage departmental prototyping and workshop facilities and ensure effective use of wider company prototype/test services.

• Deliver a portfolio of mechanical innovation projects that improve weight, reliability, safety, passenger comfort and cost.
• Provide line management for a small team of engineers and trainees, including objective setting, performance reviews, and day-to-day coaching.
• Secure financial support through proposals and engagement with funding bodies.
• Provide hands-on technical leadership: perform and review mechanical design work, using analysis tools (e.g. FEA, tolerance and kinematics analysis) to de-risk designs.

Why work at Safran:

• Be part of a global aerospace, defence & space business with over 100,000 colleagues, across 300 sites in 30 countries.
• We celebrate our differences and believe they make us stronger. We know that a fulfilling work environment is a key driver for innovative ideas and team success.
• Join our mission to decarbonise aerospace and make the world a safer place. Your ambitions can take us further.
• We can support your ambitions with training, development, a personalised career plan and mobility opportunities.
• Join a team that values collaboration, integrity, and continuous improvement. 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 and Octopus EV Scheme.
• 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.

What you'll bring:

• Degree (or equivalent experience) in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline, with significant experience (typically 5 years) delivering mechanical systems from concept through detailed design.
• High proficiency in 3D CAD, with experience using structural analysis (e.g. FEA) and tolerance/kinematic analysis to support design decisions.
• Experience with PLM and configuration management tools and processes.
• Practical, hands-on prototyping and workshop skills (e.g. mock-up build, basic fabrication, assembly and debugging of mechanical systems).

Competencies, Behaviours and Skills:

• Technical Leader - able to set clear direction, prioritise work and provide day-to-day guidance, coaching and support to an engineering team. You collaborate effectively beyond departmental boundaries.
• Communicative - can explain complex topics clearly to non-experts, influence stakeholders and share learning verbally and in writing. Careful documentation of your work is second nature.
• Practical - hands-on, comfortable engaging with prototypes and hardware, and applies a structured approach to diagnosing issues, generating options and converging on robust, practical solutions.