Senior Design Engineer

Prestwick Aerosystems; Belfast City District; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Profit sharing

Pension scheme

Share options

36 hour week

Flexible hours

Job summary

Airbus Belfast Limited is seeking an experienced Lead Design Engineer to provide technical guidance and leadership across design engineering activities, owning the end-to-end lifecycle from concept to production and shop-floor support.

The role requires an HNC or equivalent and at least 3 years' design experience in metallic/composite structures, with CATIA V5 proficiency and strong collaboration with manufacturing teams.

Qualifications

• Essential criteria: HNC (or equivalent) in engineering and 3+ years in design engineering.
• Knowledge of metallic and composite structures and/or systems installation design.
• Experience with CATIA V5 or similar 3D CAD tools and standard software.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end engineering lifecycle from concept to production.
• Lead design studies and trade-offs for key decisions.
• Provide guidance on repairs for in-service aircraft and components.
• Coach junior design engineers and liaise with manufacturing across sites.

Skills

HNC in engineering

CATIA V5

Design engineering

Analytical problem solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

HNC in engineering

Tools

CATIA V5

Enovia

Fibersim

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. While applicants only need to meet the essential criteria, relevant desirable experience within your specific discipline may be used to shortlist candidates.

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

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.

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

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.

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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