Head of Engineering - A220 Wing Development

Job Description:

SECURITY CLEARANCE: You will be subject to BPSS and Export Control checks (including a criminal record check) 

TRAVEL REQUIRED: Frequent travel within UK and international

LOCATION: Belfast

GRADE: L1 

TYPE: Full time 

 

WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU

• Financial Reward: Competitive salary, annual profit share, contributory pension, share options

• Work / Life Balance: 36 hour week, flexible working around core hours and Friday afternoons off, flexible working

 

Step into a pivotal leadership role at Airbus in Belfast as the Head of Engineering for A220 Wing Development, where you will guide a diverse team managing a complex and growing engineering portfolio. As a critical integration leader, you will oversee everything from major industrial modifications and test facility support to pioneering digital transformation initiatives across the wing. This is a unique opportunity to shape the strategic direction of the A220 Wing team, offering an exciting blend of technical challenges, innovative problem-solving, and high-level stakeholder collaboration. 

 

HOW YOU WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE TEAM 

• Industrial and Plant Modifications: Deliver Major and Minor Modifications to support development projects and help address Major In-Service Problems. 

• Test Support: Provide critical assistance to the test facilities ensuring that products meet performance, quality, and reliability standards.

• REACH Projects: Assess and deliver modifications to support the removal of hazardous substances.

• Team Leadership: Lead the team to deliver on all engineering commitments, manage a team of both in-house staff and offload suppliers, and foster an inclusive culture of collaboration and accountability.

• Project and Financial Management: Provide clear project plans, manage resource allocation, monitor financial plans, and control budgets for your portfolio.

• Stakeholder Engagement: Act as a key representative for the A220 wing team, managing relationships with Chief Engineers, Programme, and other key stakeholders.

• Lead Integration: Take the lead on all engineering integration activities within your perimeter 

• Resource Management: Support the Head of Engineering with resource discussions with both Analysis & Design Skill Group Leaders.

• Digital Transformation: Actively engage with the digital transformation in wing engineering to pave the way for new ways of working.

• Problem Solving: Integrate technical inputs from various sources, identify clear priorities, and make informed decisions and recommendations.

 

ABOUT YOU

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that sufficient detail is provided to demonstrate how they meet essential job criteria, as this alone will be used for vetting purposes. 

Please ensure that your application includes a covering letter detailing your motivations and suitability for this position.

Essential

• A degree (BEng/BSc) in Engineering and a minimum of 10 years’ experience in an engineering environment OR a relevant qualification such as HNC in Engineering and a minimum of 15 years’ experience in an engineering environment. 

• Proven Leadership: You have a proven track record of leading a large engineering or project team (multi-skills team made of Integrators, Static Stress, F&DT, Design and Systems Installation engineers) and delivering on time, cost, and quality. You are skilled in managing teams, resolving conflicts, and supporting the development of your team members.

• Clear Communicator: You can listen, understand, and communicate information clearly, both verbally and in writing. You are able to understand complexity and communicate simplicity.

• Project Manager: You are confident in Project Management principles and can manage multiple topics simultaneously, working to challenging deadlines.

• Influential Leader: You can deliver on commitments through persuasion, negotiation, and influence, and you can make or influence decisions in a complex network of stakeholders.

• Strategic Thinker: You have a creative and strategic mindset and can foster innovation and free thinking.

• Lifelong Learner: You have a strong interest in developing yourself and others and can seize opportunities to grow toward the Wing Architect development path.

Desirable

• Previous experience working in Aerospace 

 

Closing date: 9th October 2026

Please note that meeting the mandatory criteria listed above guarantees consideration for the role, but does not ensure progression to the interview stage. In the event of a high volume of qualified applications, the selection panel reserves the right to shortlist and progress candidates who additionally meet one or more of the preferential (desirable) criteria. 

 

ABOUT US

Join Airbus Belfast - Pioneering Sustainable Aerospace for a Safe and United World

As a premier centre of excellence for advanced aerostructures, our Belfast team drives the complete wing lifecycle - from concept design to in-service support - for the world’s leading aerospace manufacturer.  To support major multi-million-pound site investments and expanding operations, we are recruiting talented engineers to scale world-class aerospace innovation into the future.

What We Do

• Global A220 Wing Nerve Centre: Our specialist engineering teams drive the continuous design and technical development of the advanced composite A220 wing. With over 1,100 firm orders from 30+ global customers and 500+ aircraft flying across 25 international operators, Belfast is accelerating production ramp-ups to meet record global demand. By leveraging cutting-edge digital tools, advanced composite materials and automated manufacturing processes, our engineers are actively advancing performance, passenger experience and structural capabilities for the world's most popular single-aisle aircraft in its class.  

• Iconic Commercial Programmes: Our expertise spans the entire Airbus commercial family, delivering critical innovations from the record-breaking A350-1000 fuel tank integration that enabled the longest flight in history, to the primary structural backbone for the A350F- the world’s most eco-efficient cargo aircraft.

Shape the Future of Flight To fuel our long-term growth, we are expanding our engineering team in Belfast and seeking specialists across key disciplines, including structural design, stress analysis, aircraft integration and materials & processes. If you are ready to work with cutting-edge technologies and define the next generation of aerospace, apply today. In Belfast, we make it fly! 

 

HOW WE CAN SUPPORT YOU

Many of our staff work flexibly in many different ways, including part-time. Please talk to us at interview about the flexibility you need and we’ll always do our best to accommodate your request. 

Please let us know if you need us to make any adjustments for the selection process – you can share this with your Talent Acquisition Partner if you are invited to interview. Examples may include (but not exclusive to) accessible facilities; auxiliary aids; room layout, etc. Any information disclosed will be treated in the strictest confidence.

As a Disability Confident Employer, Airbus UK will offer an interview to any applicant that considers themselves to have a disability or long-term condition under the Equality Act 2010 and meets the minimum criteria of the role (as set out in the job advert). To ‘opt in’, just select the option during your application submission and your application will be considered accordingly.

Airbus Group is committed to achieving workforce diversity and creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome all applications irrespective of social and cultural background, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, or religious belief.

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This job requires an awareness of any potential compliance risks and a commitment to act with integrity, as the foundation for the Company’s success, reputation and sustainable growth.

Company:

Airbus Belfast Limited

Employment Type:

Permanent

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Experience Level:

Professional

Job Family:

Leadership <JF-FA-EM>

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Airbus is committed to achieving workforce diversity and creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome all applications irrespective of social and cultural background, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation or religious belief.

Airbus is, and always has been, committed to equal opportunities for all. As such, we will never ask for any type of monetary exchange in the frame of a recruitment process. Any impersonation of Airbus to do so should be reported to emsom@airbus.com.

At Airbus, we support you to work, connect and collaborate more easily and flexibly. Wherever possible, we foster flexible working arrangements to stimulate innovative thinking.