Lead Electrical Engineer

Safran; Pontypool; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Safran Seats in the United Kingdom is seeking a Lead Electrical Engineer to head design activities and coordinate a multidisciplinary team across flagship programmes. You will plan to deliver design milestones, drive technical governance, and ensure quality through Catia and PLM tools.

The role requires strong leadership, excellent communication, and the ability to influence across engineering functions to meet demanding schedules.

Qualifications

• Experience leading and developing others across multiple programmes.
• Proven ability to monitor team productivity on a regular basis.
• Degree in Mechanical / Aerospace / Structural Engineering, or HNC/HND with extensive experience.
• Highly proficient with Catia and PLM.
• Strong leadership to plan and schedule design activities across multiple modules.

Responsibilities

• Lead design activities and coordinate a team to deliver on programme milestones.
• Plan and coordinate design activities to ensure on-time delivery.
• Support Program Chief Engineers and participate in MER/Technical Audits.
• Develop tools, processes and methods for delivery of design deliverables.
• Reporting/forecasting of status and KPI updates.
• Audit Design engineering deliverables and manage governance meetings.

Skills

Effective communication

Leadership

Problem solving

Influence across functions

People development

Team leadership

Education

Bachelors in Mechanical / Aerospace / Structural Engineering

HNC/HND or equivalent in Mechanical / Aerospace / Structural Engineering

Tools

Catia

PLM

Job description

The Lead Electrical Engineer is seen as a planning and coordination authority, through knowledge, experience and exposure to high complexity category programmes while providing input and support to Project Chief Engineers. 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.

Are you interested in working at the business end of Aerospace, where airline brand meets innovative passenger experience? Then your next opportunity could be with Safran Seats, an industry award winning, premium designer and manufacturer of First and Business Class seating and technology. Our passenger experience prides itself on innovation, customization, quality and industrial design. At Safran Seats, we are unique within aerospace, as we interface with both the world's biggest airlines and airframers alike, with the largest seats portfolio of all seats suppliers. One day you could be liaising with one of the world's largest airframers, and the next, some of the biggest airline brands 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 and Newport, Wales and Brackley, England.

Scope of Responsibilities

Holding the lead role, from a design perspective, managing a team of Senior and Design Engineers. Responsibility for the planning and co-ordination of design activities to ensure delivery at key programme milestones. Role may also include management of external work packages to support high demand.

• Planning and coordination of all design activities to ensure on time delivery.
• Provide support to Program chief engineers.
• Participate in all MER/Technical Audits.
• Develop tools, processes and methods for delivery of design deliverables for project deadlines.
• Reporting/forecasting of status and updating of KPI.
• Support ITCM, PDR and CDR when required.
• Audit Design engineering deliverables.
• Manage regular governance meetings to assign team tasks.

Key Responsibilities and Duties

• Planning and coordination of all design activities to ensure on time delivery.
• Provide support to Program chief engineers.
• Participate in all MER/Technical Audits.
• Develop tools, processes and methods for delivery of design deliverables for project deadlines.
• Reporting/forecasting of status and updating of KPI.
• Support ITCM, PDR and CDR when required.
• Audit Design engineering deliverables.
• Manage regular governance meetings to assign team tasks.

We want Safran Seats to be a workplace where everyone feels valued, can be themselves and know they can reach their full potential.

We embrace and celebrate our differences through various initiatives and support colleagues through a number of staff networks. We are committed to building a workforce that is reflective of the diverse community we serve. We want to attract the best applications from people of all backgrounds and underrepresented groups because we strongly believe in adding value through diversity, inclusion. Our employees enable us to deliver services that are accessible and inclusive. As part of our commitment with Disability Confident Employers, we may offer a guaranteed interview to applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post. We strive to provide reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and employment. Let us know if you need support to showcase your talents or require any reasonable adjustments with your application.

Knowledge, Experience, Training and Qualifications

Experienced in leading and developing others, managing workload and resources across multiple programmes concurrently, ideally within the Aerospace industry.

Experienced in developing a robust process to monitor team productivity on a regular basis.

Qualified to a minimum of degree in a Mechanical / Aerospace / Structural Engineering field.

Alternatively a HNC/HND or an equivalent qualification in Mechanical / Aerospace / Structural Engineering field, with extensive experience in mechanical systems design, developing concept and detailing engineering solutions.

Significant experience gained in project leadership capacity through a full programme lifecycle.

Highly Proficient with experience in Catia and PLM.

Strong ability to plan and schedule design activities across multiple design modules.

Competencies, Behaviours and Skills

• Effective communication skills.
• Able to clearly define expectations and gain understanding.
• Strong Problem Solving Ability to support on complex programmes.
• Good leadership skills to engage and motivate others.
• Ability to advise and influence across functions.