Senior Design Engineer

Airbus; Belfast City District; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Profit sharing

Pension

Share options

36-hour week

Flexible working

Job summary

Airbus Belfast Limited in Belfast is seeking an experienced Lead Design Engineer to provide technical guidance and leadership across design engineering activities and ongoing build support. You will own the end-to-end engineering lifecycle for advanced aircraft structures and systems installations from initial concept through to final production and shop-floor support.

The role requires an HNC (or equivalent) in engineering and at least 3 years of design engineering experience.

Qualifications

• HNC (or equivalent) in engineering.
• 3+ years’ relevant design engineering experience.
• Metallic and composite structures experience and/or systems installation design.
• CATIA V5 proficiency and standard engineering IT software.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end engineering lifecycle for aircraft structures and systems installations from concept through to production.
• Lead design decisions, prepare project progress reports and engineering change proposals.
• Coach junior design engineers and collaborate with manufacturing to resolve production challenges.

Skills

Communication

Problem solving

Leadership

Education

HNC (or equivalent) in engineering

Tools

CATIA V5

Enovia

Job description

Job Description

SECURITY CLEARANCE: You will be subject to BPSS and Export Control checks (including a criminal record check) LOCATION: Belfast GRADE: B6 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

At 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. As a Senior Design Engineer, you will own the end-to-end engineering lifecycle - leading the development of advanced aircraft structures and systems installations from initial concept and detailed design through to final production and active shop-floor build support.

HOW YOU WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE TEAM

Ensure structural and systems designs comply strictly with certification standards, prepare engineering change/modification proposals, and provide expert guidance on repairs for in-service aircraft and components. Partner closely with internal manufacturing departments to resolve production challenges and provide formal engineering dispositions for manufacturing non-conformances/defects. Direct and coach junior design engineers, lead trade studies to drive key design decisions, and deliver robust technical outputs to required quality standards and project schedules. Act as an authoritative internal design decision-maker, prepare project progress reports, and represent the engineering department in technical meetings, customer discussions, and supplier reviews.

ABOUT YOU

Essential criteria:

• Possess an HNC (or equivalent) in an engineering-related subject alongside a minimum of 3 years’ relevant design engineering experience.
• Knowledge and hands-on experience in metallic and composite structures and/or systems installation design, utilizing CATIA V5 (or similar 3D CAD toolsets) and standard engineering IT software.
• Proven ability to analyze and solve technical problems effectively, with full accountability for delivering your own tasks to time, cost, and quality parameters.
• Articulate communicator able to convey technical information clearly, with a strong ability to collaborate effectively across local site and broader group-level teams.

Desirable criteria:

• Knowledge in Fibersim and/or Enovia .
• Experience in supporting concessions.
• Wing structure knowledge.

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

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,

In Belfast, we make it fly!

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.

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.

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

By submitting your CV or application you are consenting to Airbus using and storing information about you for monitoring purposes relating to your application or future employment. This information will only be used by Airbus.

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].

At Airbus, we support you to work, connect and collaborate more easily and flexibly. Wherever possible, we foster flexible working arrangements to stimulate innovative thinking. 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.

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