Draken Europe offers exciting careers that matter.
We believe that mission success does not start with the mission itself. It begins with our people.
Draken also believes in fair reward and recognition for our employees. As such, we offer competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package including up to 12% matching pension contributions, bonus incentives, discounted PMI, electric car scheme, tech vouchers, wellbeing programmes and much more.
The Role
We are currently recruiting for a Crew Chief to support the Chief Engineer in ensuring the safety, regulatory compliance, and operational performance of all Part 145/A8-23 aircraft maintenance activities across Draken bases and detached locations. This role is critical to delivering on customer contractual requirements and maintaining the highest standards in aircraft maintenance.
As Crew Chief, you will:
- Assist with engineering decisions and provide technical guidance to the team.
- Support personal and team development initiatives.
- Drive a culture of safety first, ensuring compliance with all regulatory and quality standards.
- Aircraft maintenance is highly regulated; safety, quality, and compliance are our top priorities.
- You will champion Safety, Health, Environment (SHE) and Security in all maintenance activities.
- Operational demands are based on customer requirements, so flexibility is essential. This includes working additional hours when required and deploying on detachments within the UK and overseas.
Key Responsibilities
- Safety First: Operate in accordance with Draken Europe’s Safety, Health, and Environmental (SHE) standards and procedures. Apply safe systems of work to all assigned tasks and operations.
- Maintain the overall performance of aircraft maintenance operations and personnel at designated stations, ensuring: Safety, Quality, and Regulatory Compliance at all times.
- Undertake the role of Crew Chief, with responsibility for Maintenance of aircraft and associated equipment.
- Oversight of personnel under your control.
- Support aircraft operations and maintenance at the main base and detached locations worldwide.
- Promote a “Just Culture” for safety and encourage reporting of occurrences.
- Manage ground movements of assigned aircraft.
- Ensure technical staff under your supervision perform duties safely, correctly, and in compliance with Relevant Maintenance Manuals and Maintenance Organisation Exposition.
- Guarantee accurate and timely completion of all aircraft documentation related to maintenance activities.
- Coordinate engineering activities with stakeholders to meet targets and budgets.
- Review team performance and provide feedback to the Chief Engineer.
- Drive continuous improvement by evaluating existing standards, practices, and procedures.
- Assist the Chief Engineer in daily operations and deputise in their absence.
- Prioritise tasks, schedule requirements, and allocate resources to achieve the maintenance plan.
- Support departmental workload planning and team development.
- Conduct Performance Development Reviews (PDRs) for direct reports.
- Uphold company core values at all times.
- Maintain excellent customer and stakeholder relations while achieving optimal aircraft maintenance performance.
- Proactively monitor and maintain personal authorisations for compliance and recency.
- Perform additional tasks as directed by the Chief Engineer, within your capabilities and role scope.
Experience / skills / qualifications
Technical Expertise
- Safe and compliant completion of aircraft maintenance within agreed timeframes.
- Accurate recording of maintenance activities using business documentation and computer-based systems.
- Strong adherence to regulatory standards and company procedures.
- Ability to work safely while ensuring the safety of others.
- Efficient delivery of scheduled and unscheduled tasks to meet operational demands.
Core Skills
- Excellent change and project management capabilities.
- Strong team orientation with proven communication and influencing skills.
- Customer-focused with exceptional interpersonal and communication abilities.
- Self-motivated, confident, and assertive.
- Ability to work within and uphold organisational values.
- Medically fit for daily engineering duties, including detachment work.
- Willingness to work shift patterns as required by business needs.
- Security clearance to meet UK and ITAR requirements.
Qualifications & Experience
- Previous experience within an aircraft maintenance department (Base/Line/Workshop experience desirable).
- Minimum 3 years’ experience on fast jet aircraft.
- Proven track record of at least 3 years in a supervisory role within an aircraft maintenance environment.
- Experience as a supervisor in Military or Civil Aviation, or holding a CAA Part 66 Aircraft Maintenance Licence Category B1 and/or B2.
- Company authorisations and/or unrestricted CAA Part 66 B1/B2 licence with relevant type ratings.
- Extensive knowledge of regulatory requirements related to aircraft maintenance.
- Basic business acumen, including financial awareness.
- Ability to deliver under time pressure using project management skills.
- Strong communication, team-building, and stakeholder engagement skills.
- Ability to motivate teams and influence change in line with company values.
- Understanding or experience of continuous improvement projects.
Our employee values
Draken is committed to eliminating unlawful and unfair discrimination and we celebrate the differences that a diverse workforce brings. A range of perspective and talent supports our values and drives our success, with a mix of voices generating better discussions, business decisions and outcomes for all.
At all our sites internationally, every member of the Draken Europe team is accountable to ensure that we are all treated fairly and with respect.
We are also an Armed Forces friendly organisation, and as part of our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, welcome applications from veterans and services spouses and partners who met the criteria in our job specifications.
In line with our Disability Confident Commitments, we provide reasonable adjustments to facilitate our interview process, please liaise with us if any reasonable adjustments are required.