Project Engineer - Design

Airbus; Belfast City District; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Profit sharing

Pension plan

Share options

Flexible hours

Friday afternoons off

36-hour week

Job summary

Airbus Belfast Limited is seeking an experienced Lead Design Engineer to provide technical leadership across design activities and ongoing manufacturing support. You will lead specialist packages within Structures and/or Systems Installation, ensuring compliance with Design Authority and airworthiness standards.

You will mentor an engineering team, manage projects to schedule and budget, and collaborate with customers and suppliers on complex engineering packages from concept to shop floor.

Qualifications

• Degree (BSc/BEng or equivalent) in Mechanical, Aerospace, or Manufacturing Engineering with 3+ years’ design engineering experience, or HNC/HND with 5+ years’ experience.
• Comprehensive knowledge of aircraft structures and/or systems installation and airworthiness regulations (CAA, EASA, FAA).
• Proven ability to lead and mentor an engineering team on specialist packages and report to senior management.
• Experience liaising with customers, suppliers, and Certification Authorities with strong organisational skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to an engineering team on complex design problems.
• Take accountability for projects, delivering commitments on schedule and budget.
• Maintain deep design engineering expertise across design-to-manufacturing lifecycle.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams, customers, and suppliers for feasibility studies and packages.

Skills

Leadership

Design engineering

Airworthiness regulations

Stakeholder liaison

Education

BSc/BEng or equivalent

HNC/HND

Job description

Job Description

SECURITY CLEARANCE: You will be subject to BPSS and Export Control checks (including a criminal record check) LOCATION: Belfast GRADE: L4 TYPE: Full time

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
• As Airbus in Belfast, we are pioneering the future of sustainable aerospace.

We are looking for an experienced Lead Design Engineer to provide technical guidance and leadership across a broad spectrum of design engineering activities and ongoing design support of the manufacturing build. In this role, you will lead specialist technical packages within our Structures and/or Systems Installation teams, ensuring full compliance with Design Authority requirements and airworthiness standards. You will bridge the gap between initial design, feasibility, and shop‑floor manufacturing to deliver world‑class aerospace components.

HOW YOU WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE TEAM

• Provide technical leadership, mentorship, and advice to an engineering team, developing innovative approaches to complex design problems and fostering continuous development.
• Take full accountability for assigned projects or programmes, ensuring all technical commitments are delivered strictly within agreed schedules and budgets.
• Maintain deep design engineering expertise to advise user departments across the design‑to‑manufacturing lifecycle, ensuring all components satisfy customer specifications and airworthiness regulatory standards.
• Work closely with cross‑functional specialists, customers, and suppliers to effectively coordinate complex engineering packages and conduct full project feasibility studies.

ABOUT YOU

To be considered for shortlisting, candidates must clearly demonstrate the following requirements in their application:

Essential criteria

• Degree (BSc/BEng or equivalent) in Mechanical, Aerospace, or Manufacturing Engineering with 3+ years’ design engineering experience, OR an HNC/HND in a relevant discipline with 5+ years’ design engineering experience.
• Comprehensive theoretical and applied knowledge of aircraft structures and/or systems installation, alongside thorough working knowledge of applicable airworthiness regulations (e.g., CAA, EASA, FAA), analysis methods, testing procedures, and engineering processes.
• Proven track record of managing, guiding, and advising an engineering team on specialist technical packages, with the demonstrated ability to lead, motivate, and mentor staff through project updates and organisational change.
• Proven experience liaising directly with senior management, external customers, key suppliers, and Certification Authorities, supported by strong organisational and presentation skills for cross‑functional project reporting.

Desirable criteria

• Candidates should preferably be members of a professional engineering institution.
• This job requires an awareness of any potential compliance risks and a commitment to act with integrity, as the foundation for the Company’s success, reputation and sustainable growth.

Closing date: 8th October 2026

Please note that meeting the mandatory criteria listed above guarantees consideration for the role, but does not ensure progression to the interview stage. In the event of a high volume of qualified applications, the selection panel reserves the right to shortlist and progress candidates who additionally meet one or more of the preferential (desirable) criteria.

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 Center

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. If you are ready to work with cutting‑edge technologies and define the next generation of aerospace, we invite you to consider this opportunity.

HOW WE CAN SUPPORT YOU

Many of our staff work flexibly in many different ways, including part‑time. Please talk to us at the 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.

Company: Airbus Belfast Limited Employment Type: Permanent ------- Experience Level: Student Job Family: Structure Design & Integration

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.

Airbus pioneers sustainable aerospace for a safe and united world. The Company constantly innovates to provide efficient and technologically‑advanced solutions in aerospace, defence, and connected services. In commercial aircraft, Airbus offers modern and fuel‑efficient airliners and associated services. Airbus is also a European leader in defence and security and one of the world's leading space businesses. In helicopters, Airbus provides the most efficient civil and military rotorcraft solutions and services worldwide. 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.