Simulator Manager - ATC

MAG (Airports Group); North West Leicestershire; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible pension plan (up to 10%)

Free parking

Subsidised public transport

Huge range of company discounts

2 volunteering days per year

Free Virtual GP service (24/7)

Care Concierge service

Job summary

MAG (Airports Group) invites applications for a Simulator Manager at East Midlands Airport. The role oversees the simulator end to end, including exercises, airspace models, pseudo pilots, and coordination with our supplier Micro Nav.

Reporting to the Training and Standards Manager, you will design, validate and maintain training exercises, keep hardware and software up to date, and ensure alignment with live operations and regulatory scrutiny.

Qualifications

• Working knowledge of the UK regulatory framework for ATCO training and Synthetic Training Devices, including UK Regulation (EU) 2015/340 and CAP 2331.
• Experience in a simulation, training, aviation, technical or other safety-critical environment.
• Experience designing and validating realistic simulation exercises against defined training objectives.
• Ability to work with operational subject matter experts and translate their requirements into effective scenarios.
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills, and the discipline to maintain controlled documentation and configuration records.
• Clear communication with specialist and non-specialist audiences, and the ability to plan and prioritise competing demands.
• A relevant technical, training, simulation or aviation qualification, or equivalent professional experience.

Responsibilities

• Exercise design: Design, build, validate and maintain simulator exercises for Aerodrome and Surveillance Radar training, including assessment and competency exercises.
• Simulator capability: Keep hardware, software and airspace models operational, fit for purpose and aligned with the live operation, managing defects, limitations and configuration control.
• Airspace modelling: Develop and maintain airspace models, procedures and system configurations that reflect current and future operational requirements.
• Pseudo pilots: Establish and run a competency scheme for pseudo pilots, covering training, assessment, performance monitoring and development.
• Planning: Own the simulator utilisation plan, working with Watch Managers and instructors to prioritise training, competency and ABES requirements.
• Supplier liaison: Act as primary point of contact with our simulator provider, Micro Nav, for support, upgrades and future development.
• Governance: Maintain exercise documentation (including Driver Briefs and OJTI guidance), records and assurance arrangements that demonstrate compliance with CAA and unit training requirements.
• Operational change: Use simulation to support the safe introduction of new procedures, airspace changes and technology.
• Improvement: Turn operational feedback and safety learning into better realism, training effectiveness and use of resources.

Education

Relevant technical, training, simulation or aviation qualification

Job description

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Summary

• Full-time, permanent
• Based at East Midlands Airport
• Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm
• 40 hours per week
• Some flexibility to work out of hours for training

Why MAG

Every year, East Midlands Airport connects over 4 million passengers with more than 80 destinations across Europe and is also the UK’s number one provider of pure freight services. Part of the largest UK owned airport operator group, MAG, East Midlands Airport supports over 6,000 jobs and generates around £300m each year for the region.

At MAG, we recognise creating a first‑class journey for our customers starts by creating a first‑class career journey for our colleagues and we are committed to building inclusive environments in which our people can thrive. Our benefits include:

• Flexible and generous company pension plan with various company contribution options (up to 10%) that you can change to suit your personal needs
• Free parking
• Subsidised public transport
• Huge rangeof company discounts
• 2 volunteering days per year
• FreeVirtual GP service, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Care Concierge service

The Role

East Midlands Airport recruits and trains its own Air Traffic Controllers, and the simulator is at the heart of that. We're looking for a Simulator Manager to run it: keeping it reliable, keeping it true to the live operation, and making sure every exercise it delivers stands up to regulatory scrutiny.

Reporting to the Training and Standards Manager, you'll own the simulator end to end - the exercises, the airspace models, the pseudo pilots and the relationship with our supplier.

What you'll do

Exercise design: Design, build, validate and maintain simulator exercises for Aerodrome and Surveillance Radar training, including the assessment and competency exercises that support unit endorsements.

Simulator capability: Keep hardware, software and airspace models operational, fit for purpose and aligned with the live operation, managing defects, limitations and configuration control.

Airspace modelling: Develop and maintain airspace models, procedures and system configurations that reflect current and future operational requirements.

Pseudo pilots: Establish and run a competency scheme for pseudo pilots, covering training, assessment, performance monitoring and development.

Planning: Own the simulator utilisation plan, working with Watch Managers and instructors to prioritise training, competency and ABES requirements.

Supplier liaison: Act as primary point of contact with our simulator provider, Micro Nav, for support, upgrades and future development.

Governance: Maintain exercise documentation (including Driver Briefs and OJTI guidance), records and assurance arrangements that demonstrate compliance with CAA and unit training requirements.

Operational change: Use simulation to support the safe introduction of new procedures, airspace changes and technology.

Improvement: Turn operational feedback and safety learning into better realism, training effectiveness and use of resources.

What you’ll need

Working knowledge of the UK regulatory framework for ATCO training and Synthetic Training Devices, including UK Regulation (EU) 2015/340 and CAP 2331, and the ability to apply it to simulator management and training.

Experience in a simulation, training, aviation, technical or other safety-critical environment.

Experience designing and validating realistic simulation exercises against defined training objectives.

The ability to work with operational subject matter experts and translate their requirements into effective scenarios.

Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills, and the discipline to maintain controlled documentation and configuration records.

Clear communication with specialist and non-specialist audiences, and the ability to plan and prioritise competing demands.

A relevant technical, training, simulation or aviation qualification, or equivalent professional experience.

It would be great if you also have

• A qualification in training design, instructional systems, simulation or Human Factors.
• A technical qualification in simulator systems, software, systems engineering or aviation technology.
• Training in project, configuration or change management.
• An understanding of competency-based training and assessment, and the role of simulation within a Safety Management System.

Equal Opportunities & Reasonable Adjustments

We’re building something brilliant at MAG: a diverse team of Journey Makers who share our values and want to make a difference. We’re on a mission to be number one in our industry, and that takes talent in all its forms. With so many exciting roles across our airports and businesses, there’s space for your unique strengths to shine.

Whether this is your first role or your next big step, we want to hear from you – even if you don’t think you tick every box. What matters most is what you bring.

We’re proud to be a Disability Confident employer. If you need any adjustments to support your application or interview, just let us know. We’re committed to helping you perform at your best.

At MAG, every journey matters. Our Colleague Communities play a big part in that: Women’s Network, Embrace (Race & Ethnicity), Fly with Pride (LGBTQIA+), Mind Matters (Mental Health), PACT (Parents & Carers), RespectABILITY (Disability & Neurodiversity), and the CAVU Global ID&E Affinity Group.