Configuration Engineer - SC Cleared

CBS Butler; Luton; Hybrid; GBP 34,000 - 41,000; Full time

Job summary

CBS Butler is seeking a Contract Configuration Engineer for a defence and aerospace programme based in Luton. The role is hybrid and offers a 12-month contract with an hourly rate of £25–£30 inside IR35, requiring SC clearance.

You will manage configuration items, baselines, and change control across hardware, software and firmware, ensuring traceability and compliance throughout the life cycle. Responsibilities include supporting CM plans, audits, CCBs, and the end-to-end change process using

Qualifications

• Proven CM and Change Control within Defence/Aerospace or regulated industry.
• Experience with Configuration Management Plans (CMPs).
• Strong understanding of CM concepts: items, baselines, change control, status accounting.
• Experience with TCU or similar CM tool.
• Understanding of Class I/Class II changes.
• Experience supporting configuration audits and compliance.

Responsibilities

• Support CM activities across defence programmes.
• Identify and control Configuration Items (CIs).
• Establish and maintain configuration baselines throughout the life cycle.
• Ensure traceability between requirements, design, verification and delivered products.
• Support development, maintenance and implementation of CMPs.
• Ensure CMPs align with standards and contractual requirements.
• Support the end-to-end change process and Change Control Boards (CCBs).
• Maintain records for concessions, deviations and temporary changes.
• Act as a key user of TCU for data accuracy and traceability.
• Assist in defining workflows and improving CM data structures.

Skills

Configuration Management

Change Control

Baselines

Configuration Status

Audits

Export Controls

Governance

Tools

TCU

Windchill

Teamcenter

Dimensions

Job description

Contract Configuration Engineer - Defence & AerospaceLocation: Hybrid - Luton
Contract: 12 months
Rate: £25-£30 per hour (Inside IR35)
Clearance: SC Cleared

We are seeking an experienced Configuration Engineer to join a major defence and aerospace programme based in Luton.

This is an excellent opportunity for a Configuration Engineer with experience in configuration management, change control and engineering governance to work within a highly regulated environment, supporting the control and traceability of complex hardware, software and firmware throughout the product life cycle.

You will play a key role in maintaining configuration integrity, managing change, supporting audits and ensuring programme teams follow robust configuration management processes and standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the implementation and delivery of Configuration Management (CM) activities across defence and aerospace programmes.
• Identify and control Configuration Items (CIs) covering hardware, software and firmware.
• Establish and maintain configuration baselines throughout the product life cycle.
• Ensure robust traceability between requirements, design information, verification evidence and delivered products.
• Support the development, maintenance and implementation of Configuration Management Plans (CMPs).
• Ensure CMPs align with contractual, regulatory and organisational requirements, including relevant defence and aerospace standards.
• Support the end-to-end change control process, using TCU as the authoritative configuration and change management tool.
• Support Change Control Boards (CCBs) and ensure changes are assessed, approved and appropriately recorded.
• Support the classification and management of Class I and Class II changes, considering impacts on safety, airworthiness, cost, schedule and support.
• Manage and maintain accurate records for concessions, deviations, waivers and temporary changes.
• Ensure approved changes are implemented, verified and correctly reflected in configuration baselines.
• Act as a key user of TCU, ensuring configuration and change data is accurate, controlled and traceable.
• Support the definition and improvement of workflows, data structures and status accounting within TCU.
• Maintain configuration data integrity and ensure appropriate access controls, security classifications and export controls are applied.
• Support internal, customer and regulatory configuration audits, including FCA and PCA activities.
• Produce configuration status accounting, metrics and management reports.
• Support configuration management activities across design, development, manufacturing, in-service support, modification and obsolescence.
• Support release-to-manufacture, release-to-service and in-service modification activities.
• Identify configuration risks and provide support to programme teams in assessing impacts and mitigation.
• Work closely with Engineering, Systems, Quality, Safety, Manufacturing, Supply Chain and Programme teams.
• Support continuous improvement of configuration management processes, procedures and tools.
• Provide guidance and support to junior Configuration and Change Control Engineers.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Proven experience in Configuration Management and Change Control within Defence, Aerospace or another highly regulated industry.
• Experience working with Configuration Management Plans (CMPs).
• Strong understanding of configuration management principles, including configuration items, baselines, change control and configuration status accounting.
• Experience with TCU or a similar configuration/change management tool.
• Understanding of Class I/Class II change management.
• Experience supporting configuration audits and compliance activities.
• Strong attention to detail with excellent analytical and organisational skills.
• Experience handling classified and/or export-controlled information.
• Ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary engineering and programme teams.

Desirable Experience

• Experience managing complex products involving hardware, software and firmware.
• Knowledge of airworthiness, safety-critical systems or certification environments.
• Familiarity with additional PLM or Configuration Management tools such as Windchill, Teamcenter or Dimensions.
• Experience improving CM processes, procedures or ways of working.
• Experience working to defence and aerospace configuration management standards, including DEF STAN 05-057.

Personal Attributes

We are looking for someone who is:

• Methodical and highly detail-oriented
• Process-driven with a strong understanding of governance
• Confident working within a regulated and audit-focused environment
• A strong communicator and effective team player
• Comfortable working with engineering and programme stakeholders
• Proactive in identifying configuration risks and process improvements
• Able to take ownership and work independently when required

The Opportunity

This is a great opportunity for a Configuration Engineer/Configuration Management Engineer to gain valuable experience working on a complex defence and aerospace programme.

You will be exposed to configuration control, change management, engineering governance and life cycle management, working alongside experienced Engineering, Programme, Quality and Configuration professionals.