Head of Engineering - A220 Wing Development

Airbus; Belfast City District; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Profit sharing

Contributory pension

Share options

Flexible working (36h week, core hours

Job summary

Airbus Belfast Limited seeks a Head of Engineering for A220 Wing Development to guide a diverse team, oversee major modifications, and drive digital transformation across the wing portfolio.

As a pivotal integration leader, you will manage stakeholder relationships with Chief Engineers and programmes, ensuring delivery on time, cost, and quality while shaping strategic direction for the wing engineering group.

Qualifications

• A degree (BEng/BSc) in Engineering with substantial experience.
• Proven leadership of large multi-discipline engineering teams.
• Clear written and verbal communication; ability to simplify complexity.
• Strong project management skills with delivery on time, cost, and quality.
• Influential leadership with stakeholder negotiation abilities.
• Strategic thinker with a drive for innovation and growth.
• Lifelong learner with interest in Wing Architect development path.
• Desirable aerospace experience.

Responsibilities

• Deliver major and minor modifications for development projects and In-service issues.
• Provide test facility support ensuring performance, quality, and reliability.
• Lead REACH projects to remove hazardous substances.
• Lead and develop a multi-skill engineering team and manage external suppliers.
• Manage project plans, resources, and budgets for the portfolio.
• Act as a key interface with chief engineers and programme stakeholders.
• Lead integration activities within the engineering perimeter.
• Coordinate resource discussions with group leaders.
• Drive digital transformation initiatives in wing engineering.
• Identify priorities and provide informed decisions and recommendations.

Skills

Leadership

Project Management

Strategic Thinking

Communication

Influence

Aerospace Experience

Education

BEng/BSc in Engineering

HNC in Engineering

Job description

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.

• 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.
• 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

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.

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.

Company: Airbus Belfast Limited Employment Type: Permanent ------- Experience Level: Professional Job Family: Leadership

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 [e-mail].

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.

From sending your resume to participating in successful interviews, here you can access all important pieces of information to guide you in your candidate journey.