Head of New Product Development - Chief Engineer in Crawley

At Unum Aircraft Seating, we’re redefining business class with smart, adaptable seating designed for comfort, reliability, and on‑time delivery. Culture matters to us. We’re looking for thoughtful, respectful team players who lead with integrity, collaborate openly, and help create a positive environment for everyone. As Unum enters an exciting phase of growth, we are seeking a Head of New Product Development to shape and drive the creation of innovative aircraft seating solutions. This role will play a pivotal part in transforming ideas into certified products, leading cross‑functional teams, and ensuring new developments deliver exceptional value for both customers and the business.

What you’ll do:

• Lead the end‑to‑end New Product Development (NPD) strategy from concept through to certification and entry into service.
• Drive innovation across aircraft seating products, balancing passenger experience, manufacturability, certification, and commercial objectives.
• Build, lead, and inspire a high‑performing multidisciplinary NPD team across engineering, design, and programme delivery.
• Own the product development roadmap and ensure alignment with company growth objectives and customer requirements.
• Work cross‑functionally with Engineering, Commercial, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, and Certification teams to successfully deliver programmes.
• Create a culture of accountability, collaboration, creativity, and continuous improvement.
• Oversee product lifecycle management, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards.
• Lead technical and strategic decision‑making across new product initiatives, managing risks, trade‑offs, and priorities.
• Ensure all products meet stringent aerospace certification and regulatory requirements.
• Drive efficient NPD processes that balance innovation, speed, compliance, and operational excellence.
• Develop strong relationships with customers, suppliers, and external partners to support programme success and future innovation.
• Introduce and monitor KPIs to track development performance, product quality, cost, and delivery reliability.
• Champion innovation in materials, mechanisms, sustainability, and passenger comfort.

What we’re looking for:

• Proven leadership experience within New Product Development, ideally in aerospace or another highly regulated industry.
• Strong track record of delivering complex products through full lifecycle development (NPD/NPI).
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams in fast‑paced, growth‑focused environments.
• Deep understanding of product development, manufacturing, certification, and programme delivery.
• Strong commercial and customer mindset with the ability to balance innovation and business objectives.
• Ability to operate strategically while remaining close enough to support technical decision‑making.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Passion for innovation, continuous improvement, and building high‑performing teams.

Nice to have:

• Aircraft seating or cabin interiors experience.
• Familiarity with CAD tools (e.g., SolidWorks).
• Experience with testing, validation, and certification processes.
• Exposure to lean, agile, or startup‑style environments.

Competitive salary and benefits including:

• 25 days holiday + bank holidays.
• 1pm finish on Fridays.
• Pension scheme.
• Electric car & cycle‑to‑work schemes.
• Employee discounts.

Ready to lead the future of aircraft seating innovation? Apply now – we’d love to hear from you. Unum Aircraft Seating is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where diversity is valued and respected. We encourage applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of background. All applicants must have the right to work in the UK. Proof of eligibility will be required prior to commencing employment. At Unum, we’re dedicated to creating a welcoming environment for all applicants and a first‑class candidate experience. If you require any reasonable adjustments during your interview process, please let us know.