Senior Principal Validation and Verification (V&V) Engineer

Preligens; England; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading aerospace company is seeking a Senior Principal Validation and Verification Engineer in Buckinghamshire. The role requires extensive experience in the V&V process for aeronautical equipment, leading teams, and managing validation activities to ensure compliance. The ideal candidate will possess strong analytical skills and a relevant engineering qualification. This position offers a dynamic work environment with significant responsibilities related to product compliance and strategy development.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in the V&V process for aeronautical equipment and systems.
• Advanced knowledge in areas like Generators, Motors, Drives.
• Ability to lead teams and develop roadmaps to improve V&V performance.

Responsibilities

• Lead the V&V strategy definition for projects.
• Oversee outsourced verification and validation work packages.
• Manage V&V activities and improvement roadmap.

Skills

Extensive experience in Mechanical / Aeronautical Engineering

Expertise in V&V process for aeronautical equipment

Strong written and verbal communication

Analytical and problem-solving abilities

Education

Relevant engineering qualification

Tools

DOORS / Integrity

Data acquisition systems

Job description

Senior Principal Validation and Verification (V&V) Engineer

Job Description

This role is responsible for leading and guiding the V&V strategy definition to enable demonstration of product and system-level compliance with customer and regulatory requirements in support of delivery of conforming Systems and/or Products in the electrical generator, control and motor drive domains. This will include assessment, definition and technical direction of standards and roadmaps for the virtual and real domain V&V activities and means required to meet new customer expectations and embodying the best practices and lessons learnt from Safran Electrical & Power's significant body of knowledge and experience.

• Oversight of all aspects of Validation (to ensure the design meets the intent) and Verification (to ensure product compliance to requirements & regulations).
• Direction and definition of Pitstone site V&V strategy for projects and to address future needs.
• Oversight of divisional interaction and working for V&V through interaction with staff in France and in the USA, to guide and inform the division-wide V&V strategy and approach.
• Influence investment decisions and CAPEX planning at site level and across the division.
• For each development project, oversee, lead and/or coordinate the definition of V&V strategy to be implemented throughout the project lifecycle, across all Engineering disciplines, to adhere to budget, quality and time objectives. This entails coordinating with Customers; Program Managers; Lead/Chief Engineers; Engineers across all disciplines; Project Managers; Test, Means & Laboratory team; Simulation & Means team.
• Oversee outsourced verification and/or validation work packages.
• Manage V&V activities and an improvement roadmap to drive cost reduction (typical budget £2M – £5M per project).
• Provide investment strategy guidance for significant new capital investment projects to meet future V&V needs (average budget ca. £5M per year, up to £1.5M per instance).
• Act as a subject matter expert, providing guidance and oversight to other V&V Strategy team members, with potential for direct team management.
• Ensure the quality of technical documentation of V&V activities on a project (e.g., verification plans, test procedures and reports); authoring and peer review or approval as required to meet customer and regulatory requirements.
• Technically oversee all V&V activity.
• Where appropriate, participate in development and qualification testing of Safran products and/or systems, data acquisition and analysis of test results to demonstrate compliance.
• Identify trends, performance and reliability of V&V methods and equipment, and pinpoint areas for improvement or risk.

Complementary Description

• Sets ARP-4754 and ARP-4761 design compliance standards and guidelines for the site and/or multi-sites when required; provides training to ensure compliance to ARP standards.
• Prepares supplier management plans and ensures subcontractors adhere to ARP standards defined.
• Conducts ARP-4754 compliance audits of relevant design teams.
• Defines the overall V&V strategy for R&T or R&D projects across all levels and disciplines; typically the most complex projects.
• Accountable for the quality of V&V Strategy Team activities and deliverables.
• Accountable for verifying that customer and regulatory requirements are achieved completely, correctly and without ambiguity, including systems, LRU and equipment requirements for generator, control and motor drives.
• Captures customer requirements and defines the requirements data model; administers V&V data within a Model Based Systems Engineering framework and ensures global configuration management.
• Defines optimized V&V activities, using standard and non-standard methods, and specifies appropriate resources to meet project objectives.

Job Requirements

• Extensive experience in a Mechanical / Aeronautical Engineering discipline (or a relevant engineering qualification).
• Extensive experience in the V&V process for aeronautical equipment and systems with knowledge of ARP-4754 and ARP-4761 design compliance standards.
• Extensive development and certification knowledge, including compliance verification, technical risk, documentation, and instrumentation.
• Advanced knowledge in one or more of the following areas: Generators, Motors, Drives, Hybrid Power Systems.
• Extensive experience with requirements management and tools (e.g., DOORS / Integrity).
• Expertise in at least one of: machine and channel system testing, electronic HW/SW integration testing, test equipment, EMC testing, environmental testing (vibration, temperature, altitude).
• Experience with data acquisition systems and analysis tools, and presenting results.
• Knowledge of RTCA DO-160, MIL-STD-810 and related environmental test standards.
• Experience with full aircraft electrical systems is advantageous.
• Ability to lead teams and develop roadmaps to improve V&V performance.
• Strong written and verbal communication across staff, engineering teams, and external customers.
• Analytical and problem-solving abilities, methodical and safe working, sharing knowledge proactively.
• Ability to plan and organize activities for a subset of the project team; meet program deadlines.
• Evidence of written English at interview stage (certification of a formal English qualification or online SHL test if not provided).

Specificity of the job

As required

Locate your future workplace

Westfield Road LU7 9RH

Pitstone, Buckinghamshire

England United Kingdom