Skilled Fitter - CAWDE Operator

Job description

Job Description

A CAWDE Operator at the Airbus Filton plant operates Electroimpact’s 5-axis Composite Automated Wing Drilling Equipment (CAWDE) to execute high-precision drilling, countersinking, and temporary bolt insertion during the assembly of A400M wing boxes.

Role Overview

Location: Airbus Filton Facility (Bristol, UK)

Program

Airbus A400M Military Transport Aircraft Wing Production Primary Equipment: Electroimpact 5-Axis Traveling-Column CNC Post Mill with ride-on operator platform Materials Worked: Multi-material stacks including Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) wing skins, aluminum/titanium ribs, composite spars, and engine pylon reinforcements.

Key Responsibilities

CNC Machine Operation: Load and execute CNC part programs using multi-display HMIs, camera monitoring systems, and hold-to-run pendants while positioned on the machine’s ride-on platform.

Precision Automated Drilling & Fastening

Drill and countersink holes ranging from 1/4” to 3/4” diameter through thick composite-to-metal material stacks under continuous joint clamp loads (900 N to 9,000 N).

System Sensor Calibration

Use automated metrology tools—including Renishaw touch probes, surface normality sensors, optical resync cameras, and Thru-Skin magnetic sensors—to realign machine head positioning normal to actual wing skin contours.

Tooling & Maintenance

Change out drill bits and cutting tools by diameter via dedicated shadow boxes, ensuring proper functioning of through-bit flood coolant, chip vacuuming, and coolant recovery systems.

Quality Assurance

Verify hole tolerances, countersink depths, and automated slave-dowel/bolt installations, completing mandatory shop-floor quality tracking and aerospace compliance documentation.

Safety & EHS

Work within strict aerospace Environmental Health & Safety guidelines while operating heavy automated equipment around elevated assembly jigs and composite dust extraction systems.

Qualifications & Experience

Education/Apprenticeship: Recognized time-served engineering apprenticeship or NVQ Level 3 (or equivalent) in Aerospace, Mechanical Engineering, or Advanced Manufacturing.

Machining Background

Practical experience operating 5-axis CNC machine tools, reading G-code/M-code, and managing automated machining cycles.

Material Expertise

Knowledge of structural assembly techniques, specifically metal-composite stack drilling and carbon-fiber machining dynamics.

Security Requirements

Eligibility for UK Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance given the defense scope of the A400M program. 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 Operations Limited Employment Type: Permanent ------- Experience Level: Professional Job Family: Assembly & Integration By submitting your CV or application you are consenting to Airbus using and storing information about you for monitoring purposes relating to your application or future employment. This information will only be used by Airbus. 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. Any impersonation of Airbus to do so should be reported to [email protected] . 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.