Programme Chief Engineer

Programme Chief Engineer
Wolverhampton

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:

• Competitive salary and annual bonus and pay review
• 25 days' holiday + bank holidays
• Private medical insurance
• Comprehensive health cash plan
• Flexible working options
• Pension (10% employer contribution) and life assurance
• Early finish on Fridays
• Professional development, ongoing training, mentoring
• Onsite amenities: parking, restaurant, bicycle storage, showers
• Family-friendly and accessible workplace policies

Safran - Here, we craft excellence together.

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
About Safran Actuation Systems UK

Safran Actuation Systems UK is a world‑class centre for the design, manufacture and support of actuation and flight‑control solutions used across commercial, military and rotary platforms. With major sites in Wolverhampton and Banbury, our teams play a critical role in delivering innovative, reliable and safe systems that keep aircraft performing at their best.

Our UK Actuation business brings together engineering excellence, advanced manufacturing capability and a proud heritage within the aerospace sector. Whether supporting major global programmes or developing the next generation of actuation technologies, our people are at the heart of everything we do.

We are looking for passionate individuals to join our Global Defence Systems team as Programme Chief Engineer at our Wolverhampton site.
At Safran, we understand that diversity and inclusion make teams stronger and more effective, and as an organisation, we are committed to fair and equitable employment practices for everyone.

Your Role

The Programme Chief Engineer will act as the technical authority for the Electro-Mechanical Actuation (EMA) product line within the Global Defence Systems value stream. Working closely with the IPT Lead, you will provide technical leadership across the programme, ensuring customer requirements are met, technical risks are managed, and engineering solutions are delivered throughout the product lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the technical delivery of EMA systems, ensuring compliance with customer, regulatory, safety and quality requirements.
• Own system architecture and technical governance across the full lifecycle, from proposal and definition through to verification, manufacture and sustainment.
• Provide technical leadership to multidisciplinary engineering teams, driving timely decision-making and effective problem solving.
• Act as the primary technical interface for customers, suppliers and key stakeholders, leading technical reviews, discussions and negotiations.
• Collaborate with the IPT Lead to define programme plans, milestones and qualification activities, including PDR, CDR and certification reviews.
• Ensure robust requirements, configuration and product safety management, including the use of tools such as DOORS.
• Support Operations, Quality and Supply Chain teams with investigations, continuous improvement and sustainment activities.
• Review supplier designs and key systems engineering deliverables.
• Mentor and develop engineers whilst promoting a collaborative, innovative and technically rigorous engineering culture.

What You'll Bring

• Experience working with Electro-Mechanical Actuation (EMA), control systems, power electronics or related safety-critical products.
• Aerospace or defence experience preferred.
• Strong systems engineering knowledge across mechanical, electrical and software disciplines.
• Experience leading complex engineering projects and multidisciplinary teams.
• Confidence making technical decisions and solving challenging engineering problems.
• Strong customer and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships.
• Experience with requirements management, verification and product qualification activities.
• A collaborative mindset, strong communication skills, and a passion for technical excellence.