Production Lead - Aircraft

Line Up Aviation; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Line Up Aviation is seeking a Production Lead to coordinate multidisciplinary aircraft maintenance and modification activities on the E-7 Wedgetail programme in Birmingham. You will lead production, maintenance and modification workstreams, ensuring safety, quality and timely delivery.

The role requires extensive experience with aeronautics, strong leadership of supplier teams and cross-functional stakeholders, and the ability to interpret technical publications, manage daily build plans,

Qualifications

• Significant experience in aircraft production, maintenance, modification or build operations.
• Experience on Boeing aircraft, ideally the 737NG.
• Proven team leadership and ability to coordinate maintenance personnel and supplier organisations.
• Knowledge of EASA, FAA, UK CAA or MAA regulations and aviation safety systems.
• Ability to read technical documentation and publications.
• Strong problem-solving skills under pressure.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder-management skills.
• Understanding of aircraft maintenance supply chains and logistics.

Responsibilities

• Lead supplier maintenance teams to deliver aircraft production, maintenance and modification activities safely.
• Work with the modification supplier through daily operational meetings.
• Drive the daily aircraft build plan and maintain schedule adherence.
• Lead daily action-tracker meetings and resolve issues affecting progress.
• Coordinate with engineering, quality, logistics to resolve aircraft issues.
• Identify recurring manufacturing or maintenance problems and follow processes.
• Monitor workflow, workload and priorities to support on-time delivery and quality.
• Coordinate second shift build plan with first-shift management and scheduler.

Skills

Team leadership

Aircraft production

Modification coordination

Stakeholder management

Scheduling/planning

Safety compliance

Education

Aircraft maintenance licence

Engineering degree

Job description

Production Lead - E-7 Wedgetail Modification Programme

Location: Birmingham Airport (BHX)

Contract: Contract opportunity to End August 2027 (Umbrella inside IR35)

Hours of Work: Monday-Thursday Days and Lates 10 hours, potential OT on Friday

Rate of Pay: Neg

To be successful in your application you will need to hold UK working rights at the time of application, sponsorship is not available.

Lead aircraft production and modification operations on a major defence aviation programme

Line Up Aviation is seeking an experienced Production Lead to support our client working on the E-7 Wedgetail aircraft modification programme in Birmingham. This is an opportunity for an experienced aviation professional to take a leading role in coordinating aircraft maintenance, production and modification activities, ensuring work is delivered safely, efficiently and to the required quality standards. Working alongside supplier maintenance teams, our client's management and cross-functional support functions, you will play a key role in maintaining production progress, resolving operational issues and ensuring the daily build plan is delivered to schedule.

The Role

As Production Lead, you will oversee and coordinate multidisciplinary maintenance teams, including technicians and certifiers, supporting aircraft production, maintenance, repair and modification activities. You will work closely with the modification supplier and stakeholders to manage priorities, address production challenges and maintain effective communication across the programme.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate supplier maintenance teams to deliver aircraft production, maintenance and modification activities safely and efficiently.
• Work closely with the modification supplier counterpart through daily operational meetings.
• Drive the delivery of the daily aircraft build plan, maintaining schedule adherence, quality and productivity.
• Lead daily action-tracker meetings, identifying and resolving issues that could affect production progress.
• Coordinate with engineering, quality, logistics and other support functions to resolve aircraft issues and remove operational obstacles.
• Identify recurring manufacturing or maintenance problems and ensure established processes are followed.
• Monitor workflow, workload and production priorities to support on-time delivery and first-time quality.
• Coordinate and communicate the second shift build plan with first-shift management and the industrial engineering scheduler.
• Promote a strong safety culture and ensure maintenance activities comply with relevant regulatory and organisational requirements.

About You

You will be an experienced aircraft maintenance, production or modification professional with a strong understanding of aircraft operations and the ability to lead teams in a demanding, schedule-driven environment. You will be comfortable working across organisational boundaries, communicating with senior stakeholders and coordinating multiple activities to achieve programme objectives. You should be able to demonstrate:

• Significant experience in aircraft production, maintenance, modification or build operations within a civil or military aviation environment.
• Experience working on Boeing aircraft, ideally the B737 / 737NG, or a comparable aircraft type. The client specifies a minimum of 12 months' experience on the relevant type or a similar Boeing aircraft.
• Proven team leadership and the ability to coordinate maintenance personnel, team leads and supplier organisations.
• Working knowledge of relevant EASA, FAA, UK CAA or MAA regulations, together with aviation quality assurance and safety management systems.
• The ability to interpret technical documentation, engineering drawings and authorised technical publications.
• Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to resolve production issues and maintain workflow under pressure.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder-management skills.
• An understanding of aircraft maintenance supply chains and logistics.

Qualifications

An aircraft maintenance licence or equivalent qualification, such as A&P, EASA, EMAR or CAA, would be advantageous. A degree-level qualification in an engineering discipline and familiarity with 737NG base maintenance processes would also be beneficial.

Location and Security

The position is based in Birmingham Airport. The successful candidate will need to meet the programme's high-level security clearance requirements.