Configuration Manager

Safran; Eastbourne, Cwmbran; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

33 days holiday

Pension scheme up to 10%

Private medical cover

Cycle to work

Life assurance (4x)

Salary sacrifice benefits

Annual share-save schemes

Safran University & training

Job summary

Safran is seeking a Configuration Manager to lead the CMS across multiple UK sites, ensuring robust configuration governance from design through delivery. You will own change control processes, drive standardisation, and produce CM data and KPIs to support programmes.

Ideal candidates will have CMII Level 6, a degree in Mechanical/Aerospace engineering, and hands-on CATIA V5/SmarTeam experience within aerospace or automotive sectors.

Qualifications

• Experience leading CMS in aerospace/defense environments.
• Strong change control and governance skills.
• Experience with Windchill PLM desirable.
• Knowledge of DAMA/DO-178? or equivalent regulatory alignment helpful.
• Proven ability to implement CM best practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead and continuously improve the CMS, ensuring compliance with requirements and KPI reporting.
• Own and optimise the engineering change control process with clear responsibilities.
• Drive standardisation of configuration and change practices.
• Produce and maintain CM data and reports for lifecycle requirements.
• Assess changes in requirements and implement process improvements.
• Partner with Change/Programme teams to embed CM in delivery.
• Support Windchill PLM deployment and optimisation.
• Analyse CMS performance and drive efficiency and governance.

Skills

Configuration management

Change control

KPI reporting

Governance

Education

CMII Level 6 Certified

Mechanical/Aerospace/Structural Eng degree

Tools

CATIA V5

SmarTeam

PLM systems

Job description

Configuration Manager

Location: Brighton, East Sussex, GB, BN1 1

Location: Cwmbran, Wales

Salary: £ Competitive

Company Overview

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.

Company Profile

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

Role Overview

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

• Lead and continuously improve the CMS, ensuring compliance with organisational, customer, OEM, and regulatory requirements through governance, monitoring, and KPI reporting.
• Own and optimise the engineering change control process, maintaining clear responsibilities and effective Change Control Boards (CCBs).
• Drive standardisation of configuration and engineering change practices, aligned with group processes, procedures, and best practices.
• Produce and maintain configuration management data and reports supporting programme and project lifecycle requirements.
• Assess changes in business, customer, and industry requirements, implementing improvements to configuration management processes.
• Partner with Change and Programme Management teams to embed configuration control throughout programme delivery and change implementation.
• Support Windchill PLM deployment and optimisation, ensuring configuration management principles and controls provide a robust foundation.
• Analyse CMS performance and implement 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.