Director of Engineering

Ready to shape the future of aerospace and defence innovation?

An AS9100-accredited aerospace manufacturer is seeking a Director of Engineering with a strong background in

design engineering

to lead engineering execution within a high-performance production environment.

Reporting directly to the Vice President of Engineering, this is a senior leadership role with full responsibility for driving engineering excellence across complex aerospace and defence programmes. You’ll combine strategic oversight with operational leadership—ensuring seamless transition from design through to manufacture, while maintaining the highest standards of compliance and performance.

About this Position

As Director of Engineering, you will lead Manufacturing Engineering, Test Engineering, Engineering Technicians and Configuration Management within a regulated aerospace facility.

With deep roots in

aerospace or defence design

, you’ll provide the technical authority to guide product development into scalable, production-ready solutions. You will act as the central engineering leader across Programme Management, Quality, Supply Chain and Manufacturing—embedding accountability, strengthening engineering discipline, and driving operational excellence aligned to AS9100 standards.

Job Responsibilities

Provide strategic and operational leadership across all engineering functions

Translate design intent into robust, manufacturable production solutions

Lead New Product Introduction (NPI) from development through to full production readiness

Oversee tooling, test engineering, configuration management and change control

Ensure compliance with AS9100 and customer specifications

Support programme execution, production ramp-up and capacity planning

Drive continuous improvement, automation initiatives, and manufacturing optimisation

Develop and mentor engineering leaders, building long-term organisational capability

Experience Required

Essential:

1. Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical, Manufacturing or similar)
2. Extensive experience within

aerospace or defence

, with a strong foundation in

design engineering

1. Proven track record leading engineering teams at senior level within a manufacturing environment
2. Strong knowledge of AS9100, configuration management, FAI and production engineering
3. Demonstrated success transitioning products from design into production (NPI leadership)
4. Executive-level communication and cross-functional leadership capability

Desirable:

1. Master’s degree or MBA
2. Experience with advanced manufacturing, automation or robotics
3. Lean or Six Sigma expertise