Principal Configuration & Change Control Engineer

Description

The company builds defence capability, and this role sits at the centre of configuration work on its complex defence programmes.

As Principal Configuration and Change Control Engineer, you are the technical authority for configuration across programmes. You will work alongside the Lead Configuration Engineer to give leadership, governance and assurance, so that sound configuration and change control is part of every stage of the product lifecycle. You will champion good practice and check that programmes meet contractual, regulatory and business requirements.

The role is hybrid, with at least 3 days a week on site and up to 2 days working from home. You can be based in either Luton or Bristol.

Responsibilities

• Advise on configuration risks, non-conformances, concessions, waivers and the impact of changes.
• Oversee Configuration Items, baselines, structures and configuration strategies across the lifecycle.
• Check that Configuration Management Plans are of good quality and meet contractual, regulatory and business requirements.
• Lead governance and assurance of change control, supporting key review boards and difficult change decisions.
• Drive the use of configuration management tools, processes and data so that each programme has one source of truth.
• Lead and support configuration audits, compliance checks and assurance work with customers and regulators.
• Produce configuration metrics, risk assessments and insight to inform programme and engineering decisions.
• Mentor and develop Configuration Engineers and push continuous improvement across the discipline.
• Act as a trusted adviser to engineering, programme, quality, safety and leadership teams.

Requirements

• Extensive experience in configuration and change control in defence, aerospace or similarly regulated industries.
• Proven authority in configuration governance, baseline management and change control.
• Good experience assuring and reviewing Configuration Management Plans.
• Advanced user and subject-matter expert in TCU.
• Proven record supporting regulatory, customer and internal audits.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and give authoritative technical direction.
• Experience working with classified and export-controlled information.
• Desirable: experience across development, production and in-service phases.
• Desirable: knowledge of airworthiness, safety-critical systems or certification frameworks.
• Desirable: familiarity with other PLM or CM tools such as Windchill, Teamcenter or Dimensions.
• Desirable: experience defining organisational CM policy or frameworks.
• The list is not exhaustive, and applicants without every item are welcome. A good attitude and willingness to learn matter most.

Conditions

Security clearance: the role is subject to pre-employment screening under the UK Government's Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). Further National Security Vetting (NSV) may apply, which could include eligibility for the Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV). Guidance is available on the company careers site.

Permanent contract.

Primary location Luton (Cap. Green 300), with Bristol (Coldharbour Lane) as an additional location.

Hybrid working.

The company is committed to an inclusive and accessible workplace, and accessibility support is available during recruitment.

Benefits

• Generous leave, with up to 12 additional flexi-days a year that you can accrue.
• Pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution.
• Free mental health support, financial advice and access to employee networks.
• Bonus scheme open to all employees at management level and below.
• Free access to over 4,000 online courses through Coursera and LinkedIn Learning.
• Referral reward for recommending a friend who is hired.
• Up to £500 a year in flexible benefits, such as private healthcare, dental, family cover, tech and lifestyle discounts and gym memberships.
• Flexible hours, with hybrid options. Part-time working can be discussed for this role.
• The salary shown is the approved grade band for the role, or a narrower hiring range within it, benchmarked against the external market. Offers above the standard range go through governance controls to protect internal equity.