Configuration Manager

Safran; Chester; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

33 days holiday

Pension scheme 10%+

Private medical cover

Cycle to work

Life assurance 4x

Interactive benefits platform

Family-friendly policies & EAP

Annual share-save schemes

Safran University training

Job summary

Safran Seats is seeking a Configuration Manager to lead the CMS, ensure traceability, and govern product configurations across lifecycles. You will align CMS with group processes, QMS, and regulatory standards, and own ECR processes with a focus on continuous improvement.

You will partner with Change and Programme teams to embed configuration control throughout delivery, with experience of Windchill PLM and PLM systems as a strong asset.

Qualifications

• Degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or Structural Engineering or equivalent.
• CMII Level 6 certification.
• Experience with CATIA, SmarTeam, or other PLM systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead and continuously improve the CMS, ensuring governance and KPI reporting across programmes.
• Own and optimize the engineering change control process with clear responsibilities and CCBs.
• Drive standardisation of configuration and engineering change practices aligned with group processes.

Skills

CMS governance

Change control

KPI reporting

Education

Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering degree

CMII Level 6 Certification

Tools

CATIA V5

SmarTeam

Windchill PLM

PLM systems

Job description

Configuration Manager

Date: 2026-09-10T00:00:00

Location: Chester, Cheshire, GB, CH1 1

Type: Any

Application Deadline: 2026-12-09T21:10:23.783

About Safran

Safran is an international high-technology group operating in the fields of aerospace (propulsion, equipment and interiors), space and defense. Its mission is to contribute sustainably to a safer world, where air transport becomes ever more environmentally friendly, comfortable and accessible. Present on every continent, the Group employs 110,000 people and generated €31.3 billion in revenue in 2025. Safran holds, either independently or through partnerships, leading global or European positions in its markets. Safran was ranked second in the Aerospace & Defense sector in TIME magazine's "World's Best Companies 2025" ranking. With more than one million seats installed across the fleets of the world's leading airlines, Safran Seats is one of the global leaders in passenger, crew, aircraft and helicopter seating, delivering innovative, high value-added solutions.

Position: Configuration Manager

Location: Cwmbran, Wales

Salary: Competitive

Company Overview

Safran Seats is one of the world's leading manufacturers of aircraft seats, for both crew and passengers. 1 million Safran manufactured aircraft seats are currently in service with air fleets around the world. In the UK, Safran Seats specialises solely in the First Class and Business Class seating markets for wide body aircraft, with industrial and engineering teams in Cwmbran, Wales.

Benefits

• 33 days holiday (including bank holidays)
• Pension Scheme, leading salary sacrifice employer contributions up to 10%
• Private Medical Cover (upgrade to cover family members)
• Salary sacrifice benefits scheme including cycle to work
• 4 x Life Assurance
• Interactive benefits platform (tech, retail benefits & income protection)
• Enhanced family friendly policies & employee assistance programme
• Annual share-save schemes
• Career advancement - Safran University and internal Training and Development Schools
• Corporate Social Responsibility activities

Your Role

The Configuration Manager leads, develops, and maintains the SSGB Configuration Management System (CMS), ensuring effective control, traceability, and governance of product, programme, and business configurations throughout their lifecycle. The role ensures CMS alignment with Group and Branch processes, QMS requirements, Information Systems, and all applicable business and regulatory standards.

Responsibilities

• Leading and continuously improving the CMS, ensuring compliance with organisational, customer, OEM, and regulatory requirements through governance, monitoring, and KPI reporting.
• Owning and optimizing the engineering change control process, maintaining clear responsibilities and effective Change Control Boards (CCBs).
• Driving standardisation of configuration and engineering change practices, aligned with group processes, procedures, and best practices.
• Producing and maintaining configuration management data and reports supporting programme and project lifecycle requirements.
• Assessing changes in business, customer, and industry requirements, implementing improvements to configuration management processes.
• Partnering with Change and Programme Management teams to embed configuration control throughout programme delivery and change implementation.
• Supporting Windchill PLM deployment and optimisation, ensuring configuration management principles and controls provide a robust foundation.
• Analyzing CMS performance and implementing improvements that increase efficiency, reduce non-value-added engineering change, and strengthen configuration governance.

Desirable Experience

• Degree qualified in Mechanical, Aerospace, or Structural Engineering, or HNC/HND (or equivalent) with significant experience in mechanical design.
• CMII Level 6 Certified, with a strong understanding of configuration management principles and best practices.
• Proficient in CATIA V5, SmarTeam, and/or other Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems.
• Experience working within the Aerospace or Automotive industries, including knowledge of Digital Mock-Up (DMU) environments.
• Familiarity with Boeing and Airbus specifications and requirements.
• Strong understanding of engineering release, change control, and approval processes.
• Proven ability to apply configuration management principles within complex engineering and product development environments.