Senior Manager & Chief Engineer, Interiors in Frimley

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The Senior Manager & Chief Engineer, Interiors is responsible for the execution of all interior modification programmes across the Commercial Modifications Europe (CME) portfolio. This is a delivery‑focused leadership role operating within a matrix organisation. The role does not own engineering resource directly; instead, it drives programme performance by working in close partnership with functional leadership to ensure interior projects are staffed with the right combination of capabilities and capacities at the right point in the programme lifecycle.

Reporting to the Engineering Integration Leader, the role leads the Interior Engineering IPT, owns technical risk and opportunity management, and holds single‑point responsibility for on‑time and on‑budget delivery of interior modification programmes from contract award through to certification and entry into service.

Key Responsibilities

• Programme Execution: Own on‑time and on‑budget delivery of all interior modification programmes across the CME portfolio. Lead the Interior Engineering IPT, setting pace and direction across all active and pipeline projects. Apply a maturity‑gated, hybrid agile/waterfall execution strategy; ensure engineering flow is driven by technical readiness, not task lists, and that full kit is available before downstream disciplines are engaged. Monitor and own the Tier 2 and Tier 3 performance metrics for interior programmes, including Design Maturity and Certification Maturity milestone achievement and freeze sequence compliance. Own the engineering baseline for all interiors projects, maintaining configuration integrity from concept through to certification.
• Capability and Capacity Management in a Matrix: Work closely with functional senior managers to ensure interior programmes have access to the right engineering capabilities at the right time. Identify resource requirements early in the programme lifecycle, translate them into clear demand signals, and elevate gaps before they become schedule threats. Influence functional workforce planning by providing forward‑looking visibility of interior programme demand across disciplines. Where capability gaps cannot be resolved internally, work with functional leadership and the Engineering Integration Leader to identify and action solutions, whether through upskilling, reallocation, or external resource. Hold functional teams accountable for delivery commitments once resource is allocated, escalating performance issues through the appropriate leadership channel.
• Technical Risk and Opportunity Management: Own the technical risk and issue register for all interior programmes, maintaining an accurate, current, and prioritised view of the RIO landscape. Lead structured root cause analysis and corrective action for technical issues affecting schedule, budget, or airworthiness compliance. Identify technical opportunities to improve delivery performance, reduce rework, or increase engineering maturity at key milestones, and drive them to resolution. Escalate risks to the Engineering Integration Leader with clear impact assessment and recommended mitigation, not just problem statements. Ensure that technical decisions are traceable, documented, and aligned to the applicable airworthiness requirements under EASA Part 21J.
• Airworthiness and Certification: Ensure all interior modification programmes are planned and executed in compliance with EASA Part 21J design organisation requirements and applicable certification basis. Work closely with the Airworthiness Manager to ensure compliance reports, ICA deliverables, and certification documentation are produced on schedule and to the required standard. Support or lead customer and authority interactions at key certification milestones, acting as the technical voice of the interior IPT. Maintain awareness of evolving airworthiness requirements and ensure their implications for interior programmes are understood and addressed early.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Act as the primary engineering interface for interior programmes with customers, suppliers, and regulatory authorities. Build and maintain strong working relationships with CME functional leads, the Airworthiness function, Proposals, and the broader Integration leadership team. Provide clear, concise programme performance reporting to the Engineering Integration Leader, including honest assessment of schedule, cost, risk, and corrective action status. Represent CME engineering credibly in internal and external forums, including programme reviews, customer sessions, and authority interactions.
• Team Leadership: Lead a direct team of Project Engineers and Manufacturing Engineers embedded within the Interior IPT, providing line management, development, and performance oversight. Use Project Engineers as the primary programme execution agents: each assigned project must have clear ownership, a maintained schedule, and an accurate RIO register driven by a named Project Engineer accountable to this role. Build the team's capability deliberately: identify development needs early, create stretch opportunities, and ensure each team member has a clear picture of what good performance looks like and how they are tracking against it. Set clear expectations, provide regular and candid feedback, and address performance issues directly and fairly, without delay. Role‑model the CME leadership standard: own the outcome, not just the task; communicate with clarity; and hold the line on quality and airworthiness.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering, Engineering Technology (including Manufacturing Technology), Computer Science, Data Science, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry or non‑US equivalent qualifications directly related to the work statement.
• Significant experience in aerospace engineering, with a substantial portion in commercial aircraft modification, MRO, or OEM environments.
• Demonstrated experience leading a team of Project Engineers and/or Manufacturing Engineers in an IPT or programme context, with direct accountability for schedule and budget performance.
• 5+ years of leadership experience.
• Proven ability to work across functional boundaries to secure resource, resolve gaps, and drive cross‑functional delivery commitments.
• Strong working knowledge of EASA Part 21J design organisation requirements and airworthiness processes.
• Experience managing technical risk in a complex, multi‑discipline programme environment, with structured use of RIO registers and corrective action processes.
• Degree‑level qualification in an aerospace, mechanical, or related engineering discipline.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Hands‑on experience across interior modification disciplines including cabin structures, cabin safety, and cabin systems.
• Familiarity with lean programme execution and maturity‑gated engineering frameworks, including freeze sequence management.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary and annual incentive plans.
• Continuous learning – develop the approach and skills to navigate whatever comes next.
• Success as defined by you – tools and flexibility to make a meaningful impact your way.
• An inclusive culture – embrace who you are and empower your voice.
• Excellent adoption and parental leave options.
• 23 days plus UK public holidays and a Winter Break between Christmas and New Year.
• Pension plan with up to 10% employer contribution.
• Company‑paid BUPA medical plan.
• Short‑term sickness: 100% pay for the first 26 weeks.
• Long‑term sickness: 66.67% of annual salary from 27th week.
• 6x annual salary life insurance.
• Learning Together Programme to support ongoing personal and career development.
• Access to Boeing’s wellbeing programmes, tools and incentives.

Location & Relocation: This is a fully onsite role based in Frimley, UK. This position may offer visa sponsorship and relocation.

We are an equal‑opportunity employer. We do not accept unlawful discrimination in our recruitment or employment practices on any grounds including but not limited to race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military and veteran status, or other characteristics covered by applicable law. We welcome applications from candidates with disabilities and encourage applicants to share any accommodations required during the recruitment process. Applications will be accepted until Jun. 12, 2026.