Our site in Wimborne  - former Cobham Mission Systems, now part of the Eaton portfolio – is manufacturing air-to-air refueling systems and actuation (weapons carriage), primarily for defense markets. The site has a workforce of approximately 1,000 people. It is a state-of-the-art facility, using the most modern techniques in AI, Machine Learning, integrating testing, next generation systems. It is also a people enabling organization, striving on career growth and employees’ happiness. We are ITAR Regulated for this site and all candidates must be eligable for Security clearance.

What you’ll do:

PRIMARY FUNCTION

Eaton Aerospace Mission Systems Division (MSD) has an opening for a Chief Engineer in Wimborne, UK. Reporting to the Engineering Senior Manager, this position provides technical leadership and expertise across Air-to-Air Refuelling (AAR) systems, including Hose & Drogue Systems, Refuelling Probes and Actuation products.

The Chief Engineer develops technical strategy, drives innovation and provides governance across multiple programmes and product lines. Acting as a recognised technical authority, the role delivers technical solutions, conducts feasibility assessments, influences technology roadmaps, approves engineering designs and collaborates with customers, suppliers and business functions to resolve complex challenges. The position ensures products meet business, customer, regulatory, airworthiness, quality and cost objectives while supporting future growth and technology development.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Serve as technical authority and SME for AAR and Actuation products, providing engineering leadership across the business.

• Lead complex engineering programmes and projects, ensuring technical completeness, compliance and delivery against customer and business requirements.

• Develop and execute technology roadmaps, innovation initiatives and strategic engineering activities aligned to customer and business needs.

• Generate, review and approve technical solutions, maintaining accountability for design integrity across multiple programmes and products.

• Act as a key signatory for technical, design, programme and governance reviews.

• Champion Eaton Aerospace Standards, ensuring alignment of engineering processes and adherence to best practice methodologies.

• Drive the design and development of components and systems to achieve performance, reliability, quality, safety and cost objectives.

• Provide technical leadership within Program Development Teams and act as a senior technical interface for customers and key stakeholders.

• Collaborate with customers and suppliers to define requirements, evaluate solutions and ensure successful programme execution.

• Lead RCCA investigations and approve corrective actions to address technical and quality issues.

• Conduct Non-Advocate Reviews across site programmes and support reviews at other Aerospace locations as required.

• Promote Design for Six Sigma, systems engineering, requirements management and structured problem-solving methodologies.

• Review requirements management and systems engineering plans, facilitating technical exchanges relating to verification, certification, airworthiness and aircraft systems integration.

• Coach, mentor and develop engineers, supporting engineering capability and future leadership.

• Identify opportunities to improve business performance through technology, collaboration and continuous improvement.

• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Essential

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from an accredited institution is required.
• 10 years of experience within aerospace or a high-tech industry with new product development and sustaining support.
• 5 years’ experience in mechanical or electrical actuation components and/or systems.
• This position requires use of information or access to hardware which is subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR)

Preffered

• Advanced Engineering degree from an accredited institution.
• 10 years of experience within aerospace industry with new product development and sustaining support – specific to Air-to-Air Refueling systems and/or Weapons Carriage and Release actuation systems
• Key role in aerospace related professional organization
• DFSS Greenbelt or Blackbelt.  If Greenbelt, progress on a development plan to Blackbelt is required
• DFSS Greenbelt with a development plan for Blackbelt certification.

Skills:

• Strong analytical skills covering multiple areas of engineering (mechanical design, test, project management, structural analysis, fluid analysis, electrical design).
• Strong communication and collaboration with engineers, engineering leadership, suppliers and customers.
• Ability to influence the organization without direct reporting relationship
• Ability to identify growth opportunities and nurse them through the Ideation Process, PRELaunch, and PROLaunch
• Ability to interact with business and technology leaders
• High level of creativity and strategic thinking
• Ability to teach and employ DFSS tools and processes
• Ability to lead product investigations through 8D methodology
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Work in a matrix organization within a global virtual engineering organization
• Network divisional resources
• Develop productive working relationships with functions and organizations outside of Engineering
• Develop working relationships within the Aerospace engineering community
• Develop working relationships with customers
• Travel up to 5%, with some international travel.

What we offer:

• A company culture committed to Inclusion & Diversity and Sustainability.
• Annual mentoring programme, Eaton University, and a robust reward and recognition framework.
• Ongoing learning and global career development opportunities, including internal mobility.
• Comprehensive induction support and a well‑structured onboarding experience.

The successful applicant will be in contact with US ITAR controlled technology, goods and information. As a condition of employment, employees with access to US ITAR controlled technology and goods may be required to undergo an additional screening process as part of the recruitment process.

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All positions may require participation in video and in-person interviews as part of the hiring process. All candidates will be evaluated based on job-related competencies, and all candidates’ privacy rights and data security will be protected in accordance with applicable laws.

We are committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for job applicants and employees. Our recruitment processes use balanced selection criteria and avoid unlawful discrimination against applicants on the basis of their age, colour, disability, marital status, national origin, gender, gender identity, genetic information, race or racial origin, religion, sexual orientation or any other status protected or required by law.