Engineering Support Manager in Helston

Location: RNAS Culdrose | Salary: Competitive salary plus excellent benefits | Schedule: 38 hours per week, 07:30am – 4pm, Mon‑Thurs; 07:30am – 1:30pm Fri

Ready to impact a better future? As an Engineering Support Manager in our Contract Management team, you’ll lead assurance activity and engineering quality outputs that help keep critical aviation operations safe, compliant, and future‑ready. Your work will directly support operational capability across RNAS Culdrose and RNAS Yeovilton, shaping services that make a tangible difference to national defence.

You’ll champion continual improvement, strengthen compliance across engineering activity, and guide colleagues to grow their skills and confidence. Your leadership will help create a culture that supports operational excellence, builds trust, and delivers a positive impact for the communities we serve.

What you’ll do as an Engineering Support Manager

• Oversee the operational delivery of teams across the RN Support portfolio, ensuring governance, compliance, and contractual performance.
• Keep the Chief Engineer and senior stakeholders informed of risks or non‑conformances linked to quality, airworthiness, or contract delivery.
• Deliver and manage a first‑party audit programme, ensuring corrective and preventative actions are tracked, monitored, and completed.
• Act as point of contact for the Voluntary Occurrence Report process to support just‑culture reporting through the ASSURE system.
• Support investigations into maintenance errors, analyse trends, and identify opportunities for service improvement.
• Assure colleagues hold the correct engineering authorisations and competency checks, in line with regulatory requirements.
• Contribute to apprentice development and assessment to meet NVQ Level 3 standards.
• Promote a quality‑driven culture and integrated Quality Management System across the RN Support portfolio.
• Identify service improvements and opportunities for organic business growth.
• Provide inspirational leadership to help colleagues contribute to our strategy and grow in their roles.

Does this sound like you?

You’ll be a great fit for this role if you have:

• At least 10 years’ experience as an Aircraft Engineer in a civil or military aviation environment.
• Knowledge of MAA, CAA and EASA Part 145 regulations and approvals.
• The ability to hold G/H level engineering authorisations and IENG or CENG status.
• Experience in internal or lead auditing for ISO 9001 or ISO 9100.
• Strong leadership skills, capable of influencing, engaging, and inspiring colleagues.
• Excellent communication and relationship‑building skills with stakeholders and partners.
• Proficiency in Microsoft applications and understanding of health and safety responsibilities.

This role requires Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance, which involves verifying your identity, employment history, nationality, and criminal record to meet government security standards. In addition, depending on the nature of the role, you will need to obtain formal Security Clearance (such as CTC or SC), which includes more detailed background checks on employment, criminal record, and financial history to ensure suitability for working in secure environments. Please note that UK residency requirements may apply for certain levels of clearance. You will also complete an Occupational Health Questionnaire so we can identify and provide any support you may need to undertake the role effectively.

Discover all you need to keep growing

We’re one of the top 1% of international employers, so you can have confidence you’ll be part of a highly supportive culture with leaders you can count on to help you achieve your goals. From mentoring and training to our focus on internal progression, we’re proud to offer clear development opportunities – and the support and tools to help you seize them.

What we offer

Holidays: 29 days plus