Principal Design Engineer

Job description

Principal Design Engineer Wolverhampton Hybrid Safran – Here, we craft excellence together. At Safran, excellence is a journey – and we'd love you to be a part of it. As a trusted global leader in aerospace, defence, and space, we are proud to be a company where diversity, innovation, and opportunity come together to shape a sustainable future where we can all succeed together through a shared vision. About Safran Actuation Systems UK Safran Actuation Systems UK is a world‑class centre for the design, manufacture and support of actuation and flight‑control solutions used across commercial, military and rotary platforms.

With major sites in Wolverhampton and Banbury, our teams play a critical role in delivering innovative, reliable and safe systems that keep aircraft performing at their best. Our UK Actuation business brings together engineering excellence, advanced manufacturing capability and a proud heritage within the aerospace sector. Whether supporting major global programmes or developing the next generation of actuation technologies, our people are at the heart of everything we do.

As part of Safran's global network, joining Safran Actuation Systems UK means becoming part of a highly skilled, collaborative and forward‑thinking team with opportunities to grow, innovate and make a meaningful impact in the future of aerospace. We are looking for passionate individuals to join our Aftermarket Design Engineering team as a Principal Design Engineer] at our Wolverhampton site. Your Role You will be responsible for providing technical leadership and engineering support across the full lifecycle of aerospace products in service.

Acting as a recognised technical authority, you will lead complex engineering work packages, support operational fleets, and drive engineering solutions that maintain product safety, reliability, performance, and customer satisfaction.

Key Responsibilities

Engineering Design & Product Support

• Lead the development and implementation of design solutions supporting aftermarket, in-service, and through-life support activities.
• Produce and approve detailed 3D CAD models, engineering drawings, and associated design definitions.

Configuration & Product Data Management

• Manage product configuration throughout the product lifecycle, ensuring compliance with configuration control processes.
• Create, maintain, and approve Bills of Materials (BOMs), parts lists, and product structures.

Engineering Governance & Airworthiness

• Review, author, and approve engineering documentation in accordance with delegated authority and signatory privileges.
• Support concession activities, design deviations, and non-conformance assessments.

Work Package & Project Leadership

• Lead and manage engineering work packages from initiation through to delivery.
• Define technical scope, schedules, resource requirements, risks, and deliverables. Why Safran?

A global presence

Be part of a global aerospace, defence & space business with over 100,000 Colleagues, across 300 sites in 30 countries.

Inclusive & empowering environment

We celebrate our differences and believe they make us stronger. We know that a fulfilling work environment is a key driver for innovative ideas and team success.

Innovation at the core

Join our mission to decarbonise aerospace and make the world a safer place. Your ambitions can take us further.

Mobility & training opportunities

We can support your ambitions with training, development, a personalised career plan and mobility opportunities. If you have big dreams, we'll support you to make them a reality.

A culture of excellence

Join a team that values collaboration, integrity, and continuous improvement. Whatever your background, together we aim for excellence. Looking after the people who make Safran great is our priority. 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

Essential Qualifications & Experience

• Degree qualified in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Significant engineering experience, ideally from aerospace within aftermarket, product support, in-service engineering, or sustaining engineering environments.
• Proven experience in CAD modelling and engineering drawing production.
• Strong understanding of configuration management, BOM management, and product lifecycle management processes.
• Experience managing Engineering Change Requests (ECRs), concessions, design deviations, and non-conformances.
• Demonstrated experience leading technical investigations and root cause analysis activities.
• Experience chairing or participating in formal design reviews.
• Strong stakeholder management and customer-facing experience.
• Experience leading technical work packages and multidisciplinary teams.

Desirable Experience

• Knowledge of aerospace regulatory and airworthiness requirements.
• Delegated design signatory approval authority.
• Familiarity with aerospace standards including AS9100 and configuration management requirements.

At Safran, we understand that diversity and inclusion make teams stronger and more effective, and as an organisation, we are committed to fair and equitable employment practices for everyone. We also know that some candidates may be put off applying for jobs where they don't meet 100% of the criteria outlined in the advert, however, we encourage anybody to apply if you can demonstrate a variety of skills and experience relevant to the requirements of this role.

Please let us know if you would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments to the application or hiring process that may better facilitate your participation.