Senior Principal Engineer

Safran; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

25 days holiday

Private medical insurance

Health cash plan

Flexible working options

Pension 10% employer contributions

Early finish on Fridays

Professional development

Job summary

Safran in Wolverhampton is seeking a Senior Principal Engineer to act as the technical authority for the Electro-Mechanical Actuation (EMA) product line within the Global Defence Systems value stream. You will lead technical delivery, ensure customer requirements are met, manage risks, and drive engineering solutions across the lifecycle.

You will mentor engineers and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, guiding reviews and qualification activities while maintaining strong governance and

Qualifications

• Experience working with Electro-Mechanical Actuation, control systems, power electronics or related safety-critical products.
• Aerospace or defence experience preferred.
• Strong systems engineering knowledge across mechanical, electrical and software disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Lead the technical delivery of EMA systems, ensuring compliance with customer, regulatory, safety and quality requirements.
• Own system architecture and technical governance across the full lifecycle, from proposal through verification and sustainment.
• Provide technical leadership to multidisciplinary engineering teams, driving timely decision-making and problem solving.
• Act as the primary technical interface for customers, suppliers and stakeholders, leading technical reviews and negotiations.
• Collaborate with the IPT Lead to define programme plans, milestones and qualification activities (PDR, CDR, certification).
• Ensure robust requirements, configuration and product safety management, including DOORS usage.
• Support Operations, Quality and Supply Chain with investigations, continuous improvement and sustainment.
• Review supplier designs and key systems engineering deliverables.
• Mentor and develop engineers, promoting a collaborative, technically rigorous culture.

Skills

EMA systems

Control systems

Power electronics

Safety-critical

Systems engineering

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Technical decision-making

Tools

DOORS

Job description

land, at sea, in the air and in space.

Looking after the people who make Safran great is our priority.

Senior Principal Engineer Wolverhampton

We offer a range of flexible benefits designed to support you-both in and out of work, including:

• Competitive salary and annual bonus and pay review
• 25 days' holiday + bank holidays
• Private medical insurance
• Comprehensive health cash plan
• Flexible working options
• Pension (10% employer contribution) and life assurance
• Early finish on Fridays
• Professional development, ongoing training, mentoring
• Onsite amenities: parking, restaurant, bicycle storage, showers
• Family-friendly and accessible workplace policies
• Safran - Here, we craft excellence together.

Your Role

The Senior Principal Engineer will act as the technical authority for the Electro-Mechanical Actuation (EMA) product line within the Global Defence Systems value stream. Working closely with the IPT Lead, you will provide technical leadership across the programme, ensuring customer requirements are met, technical risks are managed, and engineering solutions are delivered throughout the product lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the technical delivery of EMA systems, ensuring compliance with customer, regulatory, safety and quality requirements.
• Own system architecture and technical governance across the full lifecycle, from proposal and definition through to verification, manufacture and sustainment.
• Provide technical leadership to multidisciplinary engineering teams, driving timely decision-making and effective problem solving.
• Act as the primary technical interface for customers, suppliers and key stakeholders, leading technical reviews, discussions and negotiations.
• Collaborate with the IPT Lead to define programme plans, milestones and qualification activities, including PDR, CDR and certification reviews.
• Ensure robust requirements, configuration and product safety management, including the use of tools such as DOORS.
• Support Operations, Quality and Supply Chain teams with investigations, continuous improvement and sustainment activities.
• Review supplier designs and key systems engineering deliverables.
• Mentor and develop engineers whilst promoting a collaborative, innovative and technically rigorous engineering culture.

What You'll Bring

• Experience working with Electro-Mechanical Actuation (EMA), control systems, power electronics or related safety-critical products.
• Aerospace or defence experience preferred.
• Strong systems engineering knowledge across mechanical, electrical and software disciplines.
• Experience leading complex engineering projects and multidisciplinary teams.
• Confidence making technical decisions and solving challenging engineering problems.
• Strong customer and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships.
• Experience with requirements management, verification and product qualification activities.
• A collaborative mindset, strong communication skills, and a passion for technical excellence.

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Safran is an international high-technology group operating in the fields of aerospace (propulsion, equipment and interiors), space and defense. Its mission is to contribute sustainably to a safer world, where air transport becomes ever more environmentally friendly, comfortable and accessible. Present on every continent, the Group employs 110,000 people and generated €31.3 billion in revenue in 2025. Safran holds, either independently or through partnerships, leading global or European positions in its markets. Safran was ranked second in the Aerospace & Defense sector in TIME magazine's ''World's Best Companies 2025'' ranking. Safran Electronics & Defense is an international company with more than 19,000 employees who bring together expertise and team spirit to design high-technology solutions for the aerospace, defense and space sectors. By combining human and technological intelligence, the company develops products and services for both civil and military customers, operating on