Engineering Manager - Electronic Component (Military Systems)

Job Title: Engineering Manager - Electronic Component (Military Systems)
Location: North Wales, UK
Job Type: Full-time contract, 06 Months
Work Model: onsite

Summary:
The role is responsible for engineering airworthiness, compliance, and technical integrity in accordance with the Maintenance Approved Organisation Scheme (MAOS) and the site Maintenance Organisation Exposition (MOE). While not the Accountable Manager, this position ensures that all engineering outputs meet applicable regulatory, safety, and quality requirements.
The Engineering Manager acts as the technical authority for approving and signing off engineering reports, including substantiation for new repair capabilities and the introduction of advanced technologies such as Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing).
The role provides governance across MIL Part 145, AS9100, AS9110, and ISO9001 standards. It operates through three Section Managers -Development, Product Support & Obsolescence and Additive Manufacturing. Who manage day-to-day delivery, with the Engineering Manager providing strategic direction, oversight, and performance management.

Key Responsibilities:
Airworthiness, Regulatory & Quality Responsibility
Act as the responsible engineering authority for airworthiness within the scope of MRO&U activities.
Ensure adherence to MAOS and compliance with the site MOE.
Provide engineering governance across:
o MIL Part 145 (Maintenance Organisation Approval)
o AS9100 & AS9110 Quality Management Systems
o ISO9001 Quality Standards
Ensure all engineering outputs meet airworthiness, safety, and quality requirements.
Approve and sign off engineering reports, repair schemes, and technical justifications.
Support and interface with regulatory authorities (eg, MAA), customers, and certification bodies during audits and approvals.

Engineering Governance & Capability Development
Provide oversight of the development, qualification, and industrialisation of new repair and upgrade capabilities.
Ensure engineering substantiation, validation, and testing meet regulatory and QMS requirements.
Govern the introduction and control of Additive Manufacturing processes within approved frameworks.
Maintain configuration control, documentation integrity, and full traceability.

Leadership & Organisational Oversight
Lead and manage three Section Managers:
o Development Manager
o Product Support Manager
o Obsolescence & Additive Manufacturing Manager
Delegate operational delivery while retaining responsibility for engineering quality, compliance, and technical output.
Define clear roles, responsibilities, and interfaces across teams.
Review and optimise organisational structure to meet regulatory and operational demands.

Performance Management & Continuous Improvement
Establish and implement a structured performance management framework aligned to airworthiness and QMS requirements.
Define and monitor KPIs, including:
o Repair development lead time
o First-time-right approval rate
o Turnaround time (TAT)
o Engineering utilisation
o Audit findings and closure rates
Drive corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) and continuous improvement initiatives.

Product Support & Lifecycle Management
Ensure effective technical support to operations, customers, and supply chain.
Oversee obsolescence management strategies, including redesign, reverse engineering, and alternative component qualification.
Support failure investigations, reliability improvements, and urgent operational requirements.
Ensure engineering responsiveness supports mission readiness.
Innovation & Technology Leadership
Promote innovation in repair development, diagnostics, and engineering processes.
Provide direction for the adoption of Additive Manufacturing and digital engineering within compliant frameworks.
Support continuous improvement aligned with quality and operational excellence initiatives.

Qualifications & Experience:
Bachelor's degree (or higher) in Electronic Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related discipline.
Significant experience in defence, avionics, or electronic component MRO&U environments.
Strong working knowledge of:
o MIL Part 145
o AS9100/AS9110
o ISO9001
Proven experience in engineering governance within an airworthiness-regulated environment.
Experience managing engineering teams through functional/section managers.
Demonstrated experience in approving engineering data and repair solutions.
Familiarity with Additive Manufacturing and obsolescence management is desirable.

Key Skills & Competencies:
Strong understanding of airworthiness responsibility within a regulated framework
Technical authority in electronic and avionics systems
Leadership through managers
Knowledge of QMS and regulatory compliance
Organisational design and performance management capability
Analytical, data-driven decision-making

Success Measures:
Compliance with MIL Part 145, Part M, AS9100, AS9110, and ISO9001 requirements
Robust engineering airworthiness decisions and approvals
Successful audit outcomes and effective closure of findings
Improved engineering performance (TAT, quality, efficiency)
Strong performance and accountability across Section Managers
Effective implementation of organisational and performance improvements

Additional Information:
This role carries significant responsibility for engineering airworthiness and compliance but operates within the organisation's overall accountability structure. The Engineering Manager ensures that engineering outputs are technically sound, compliant, and support safe and effective operation of military systems.

Top 3 Evaluation Criteria:
1. Significant experience in electronic component MRO&U environments.
2. Proven experience in engineering governance within an airworthiness/regulated environment.
3. Experience managing engineering teams through functional/section managers.

Essential:
Proven experience in engineering governance within an airworthiness-regulated environment.
Experience managing engineering teams through functional/section managers.
Demonstrated experience in approving engineering data and repair solutions.
Strong understanding of airworthiness responsibility within a regulated framework
Technical authority in electronic and avionics systems
Leadership through managers
Knowledge of QMS and regulatory compliance
Organisational design and performance management capability
Analytical, data-driven decision-making
MS365 Proficient

Desirable:
Avionics experience.
Defence background would be helpful.
Familiarity with Additive Manufacturing and obsolescence management is desirable.