Chief Engineer – Technical Leader & Certification Authority

About the role

A leading aerospace avionics business in Fareham is seeking a Chief Engineer to provide technical leadership and act as the organisation’s Technical Leader and Certification Authority representative. This senior role ensures airworthiness, compliance and certification of safety‑critical avionics equipment for global aircraft programmes.

Key responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership across departments.
• Act as Company Design Signatory, signing off product certification and airworthiness.
• Serve as the primary point of contact with the UK CAA certification manager.
• Ensure engineering processes comply with relevant civil aviation regulations.
• Review and approve certification artefacts, DDPs and compliance documentation.
• Oversee system lifecycle planning in line with civil aircraft and systems development guidance, safety‑critical software, airborne electronic hardware and system safety assessment methods.
• Oversee DO‑160G environmental and EMC qualification testing.
• Maintain robust configuration and change‑control processes.
• Represent engineering in discussions with customers, suppliers and regulators.

Required profile

• Previous experience in avionics systems certification (preferred).
• Knowledge of ED‑79B, ED‑12C, ED‑80, ED‑135 and UK CAA, EASA or FAA certification processes, including DO‑160G qualification testing.
• Responsibility for product certification and airworthiness signatory duties.
• Experience with configuration and change‑control systems.
• Strong understanding of software, hardware and mechanical integration in airborne systems.
• Proven ability to sign off design certifications and approve compliance data while operating autonomously.

Required skills

• ED‑79B
• ED‑12C
• ED‑80
• ED‑135
• DO‑160G qualification testing
• UK CAA certification processes
• EASA certification processes
• FAA certification processes
• Configuration and change‑control systems

What we offer

• Very competitive salary plus a 15 % performance bonus.
• Funded membership of a professional body.
• Focused career development planning with progression opportunities.
• Pension scheme with up to 10 % company matching.
• Income protection scheme and life assurance (4 × basic salary).
• Share‑buying scheme.
• 25 days holiday.