Senior Aircraft Engineering Supervisor

Serco Limited; Helston; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension up to 6%

Internal training courses

Health & wellbeing program

Discounts across retailers

Job summary

Serco Limited in Cornwall is seeking a Senior Supervisor Aircraft Engineer (Merlin) to oversee Merlin aircraft and related workshop activities, ensuring safety, regulatory compliance, and on-time delivery in support of national defence.

You will lead and mentor teams, ensure tasks align with Customer Regulations and Procedures, and develop colleagues while maintaining high quality and airworthiness of assets. UK BPSS clearance and potentially SC/CTC may be required.

Qualifications

• At least 6 months’ experience working on Merlin aircraft or relevant components within the last 24 months.
• A Service Certificate of Competency or successful completion of the Serco Supervisory Management and Documentation Course and CofC Board.
• Strong supervisory experience with solid knowledge of Merlin systems, support equipment, planning processes, and technical publications.
• A good understanding of health and safety, COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health), tool control, and quality practices.
• Completion of a Maintenance Human Factors Course.

Responsibilities

• Ensure employees are authorised to carry out contracted tasks in line with Customer Regulations and Procedures.
• Make sure all contracted engineering tasks follow current policy, regulatory standards, and statutory requirements.
• Monitor work to ensure tasks are completed safely, correctly, and within required timelines.
• Flag business risks, customer complaints, and quality concerns to Departmental Management.
• Support the development of colleagues by identifying training needs and providing mentoring when requested.
• Promote compliance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, environmental procedures, the Serco Naval Air Command Unit Manual, Customer Regulations, and the Serco Management System.

Skills

Merlin experience

Supervisory experience

Safety compliance

Mentoring

COSHH knowledge

Education

Service Certificate of Competency

CofC Board completion

Job description

Location: RNAS Culdrose, Helston, TR12 7RH Salary: Competitive salary plus excellent benefits Schedule: 38 hours per week

Ready to impact a better future? As a Senior Supervisor Aircraft Engineer (Merlin) in our Serco Defence team, you’ll play a key role in ensuring Merlin Aircraft or Off‑Aircraft Workshop activities are delivered safely, effectively, and to the high standards required by the Ministry of Defence. Your work will help ensure aircraft critical to national defence remain available, airworthy, and dependable — making a meaningful impact on colleagues, communities, and national capability.

You’ll help create impactful solutions by supporting operational output, maintaining safety and regulatory compliance, and helping colleagues grow through guidance, training, and mentoring. Your contribution will directly support our purpose — to impact a better future through trusted work that touches lives.

What you’ll do as a Senior Supervisor Aircraft Engineer (Merlin) You’ll be entrusted to:

• Ensure employees are authorised to carry out contracted tasks in line with Customer Regulations and Procedures.
• Make sure all contracted engineering tasks follow current policy, regulatory standards, and statutory requirements.
• Monitor work to ensure tasks are completed safely, correctly, and within required timelines.
• Flag business risks, customer complaints, and quality concerns to Departmental Management.
• Support the development of colleagues by identifying training needs and providing mentoring when requested.
• Promote compliance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, environmental procedures, the Serco Naval Air Command Unit Manual, Customer Regulations, and the Serco Management System.

Does this sound like you? You’ll be a great fit for this role if you have:

• At least 6 months’ experience working on Merlin aircraft or relevant components within the last 24 months.
• A Service Certificate of Competency or successful completion of the Serco Supervisory Management and Documentation Course and CofC Board.
• Strong supervisory experience with solid knowledge of Merlin systems, support equipment, planning processes, and technical publications.
• A good understanding of health and safety, COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health), tool control, and quality practices.
• Completion of a Maintenance Human Factors Course.

Vetting and checks: This role requires Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance, which involves verifying your identity, employment history, nationality, and criminal record to meet government security standards. In addition, depending on the nature of the role, you will need to obtain formal Security Clearance (such as CTC or SC), which includes more detailed background checks on employment, criminal record, and financial history to ensure suitability for working in secure environments. Please note that UK residency requirements may apply for certain levels of clearance. You will also complete an Occupational Health Questionnaire so we can identify and provide any support you may need to undertake the role effectively.

Discover all you need to keep growing We’re one of the top 1% of international employers, so you can have confidence you’ll be part of a highly supportive culture with leaders you can count on to help you achieve your goals. From mentoring and training to our focus on internal progression, we’re proud to offer clear development opportunities – and the support and tools to help you seize them.

What we offer

• Pension: Up to 6% contributory pension scheme
• Training and development: Over 1,100 internal courses available, funding for qualifications and apprenticeships (including L3 Team Leader and L5 Operations Manager apprenticeships), mentoring opportunities, and a focus on internal progression
• Health and wellbeing: Employee Assistance Programme, Bupa Anytime HealthLine, wellbeing app, 30% off at Serco-managed leisure centres, and 24/7 access to a virtual GP service
• Discounts: Discounts across around 1,000 retailers, from food and clothing to days out, entertainment and travel
• Charity: Tax‑free charitable giving through Payroll Giving Scheme, donate your pennies from your monthly pay to the Serco People Fund Charity
• Employee networks: Our networks support inclusion and connection by providing spaces for collaboration, learning, and belonging. They represent and empower all our colleagues including LGBTQIA+ employees, women, parents and carers, people with disabilities, veterans, and people from all cultural backgrounds.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

Senior Aircraft Engineering Supervisor

Company: Serco Limited Salary: £0.1-0.1 per annum Hours: Full-time Location: Cornwall, TR12 7RH Job type: Permanent Posting date: 19 Oct 2026 Closing date: 18 Nov 2026

Summary

Serco Limited

Senior Supervisor Aircraft Engineer (Merlin)

Location: RNAS Culdrose, Helston, TR12 7RH Salary: Competitive salary plus excellent benefits Schedule: 38 hours per week

Ready to impact a better future? As a Senior Supervisor Aircraft Engineer (Merlin) in our Serco Defence team, you’ll play a key role in ensuring Merlin Aircraft or Off‑Aircraft Workshop activities are delivered safely, effectively, and to the high standards required by the Ministry of Defence. Your work will help ensure aircraft critical to national defence remain available, airworthy, and dependable — making a meaningful impact on colleagues, communities, and national capability.

You’ll help create impactful solutions by supporting operational output, maintaining safety and regulatory compliance, and helping colleagues grow through guidance, training, and mentoring. Your contribution will directly support our purpose — to impact a better future through trusted work that touches lives.

What you’ll do as a Senior Supervisor Aircraft Engineer (Merlin) You’ll be entrusted to:

• Ensure employees are authorised to carry out contracted tasks in line with Customer Regulations and Procedures.
• Make sure all contracted engineering tasks follow current policy, regulatory standards, and statutory requirements.
• Monitor work to ensure tasks are completed safely, correctly, and within required timelines.
• Flag business risks, customer complaints, and quality concerns to Departmental Management.
• Support the development of colleagues by identifying training needs and providing mentoring when requested.
• Promote compliance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, environmental procedures, the Serco Naval Air Command Unit Manual, Customer Regulations, and the Serco Management System.

Does this sound like you? You’ll be a great fit for this role if you have:

• At least 6 months’ experience working on Merlin aircraft or relevant components within the last 24 months.
• A Service Certificate of Competency or successful completion of the Serco Supervisory Management and Documentation Course and CofC Board.
• Strong supervisory experience with solid knowledge of Merlin systems, support equipment, planning processes, and technical publications.
• A good understanding of health and safety, COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health), tool control, and quality practices.
• Completion of a Maintenance Human Factors Course.

Vetting and checks: This role requires Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance, which involves verifying your identity, employment history, nationality, and criminal record to meet government security standards. In addition, depending on the nature of the role, you will need to obtain formal Security Clearance (such as CTC or SC), which includes more detailed background checks on employment, criminal record, and financial history to ensure suitability for working in secure environments. Please note that UK residency requirements may apply for certain levels of clearance. You will also complete an Occupational Health Questionnaire so we can identify and provide any support you may need to undertake the role effectively.

Discover all you need to keep growing We’re one of the top 1% of international employers, so you can have confidence you’ll be part of a highly supportive culture with leaders you can count on to help you achieve your goals. From mentoring and training to our focus on internal progression, we’re proud to offer clear development opportunities – and the support and tools to help you seize them.

What we offer

• Holidays: 29 days plus bank holidays
• Pension: Up to 6% contributory pension scheme
• Training and development: Over 1,100 internal courses available, funding for qualifications and apprenticeships (including L3 Team Leader and L5 Operations Manager apprenticeships), mentoring opportunities, and a focus on internal progression
• Health and wellbeing: Employee Assistance Programme, Bupa Anytime HealthLine, wellbeing app, 30% off at Serco-managed leisure centres, and 24/7 access to a virtual GP service
• Discounts: Discounts across around 1,000 retailers, from food and clothing to days out, entertainment and travel
• Charity: Tax-free charitable giving through Payroll Giving Scheme, donate your pennies from your monthly pay to the Serco People Fund Charity
• Employee networks: Our networks support inclusion and connection by providing spaces for collaboration, learning, and belonging. They represent and empower all our colleagues including LGBTQIA+ employees, women, parents and carers, people with disabilities, veterans, and people from all cultural backgrounds.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

About Disability Confident Disability Confident is a government scheme. It encourages employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with long term health conditions.