Inzpire Expression of Interest Principal Defence Air Engineering Consultant
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Job Summary
THE COMPANY
We are a highly innovative and rapidly growing defence and technology company that design develop and deliver some of the worlds most advanced defence related training products and services.
We were recently crowned Employer of the Year at the British Ex-Forces in Business Awards 2023. We have been listed as one of the 100 Best Large Companies to Work For in the UK and Midlands by Best Companies several times as well as achieving Best Companies 3 Star Accreditation and a rating of world-class for our employee engagement on a number of occasions. We are also proud to have been honoured with two Queens Awards for Enterprise in Innovation for our next-generation GECO military mission planning system.
As part of a unique and specialist defence company our friendly team consists of experienced and highly capable individuals working together with a mature can do work ethic. Our central business functions are located in an easily accessible bright and modern head office to the west of Lincoln alongside our mission systems team while the majority of our operational specialists are embedded alongside our Defence customers.
LOCATION
UK-based hybrid working with travel to MOD DE&S Front Line Command and Defence Industry customer sites as required. Likely locations may include MOD Main Building Abbey Wood Dstl sites RAF stations Boscombe Down Farnborough Warton Lincoln and other customer or industry locations. Some UK and overseas travel may be required depending on assignment.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Inzpire is inviting expressions of interest from Principal Defence Air Engineering professionals with the judgement credibility and depth of experience to support complex UK and international military air programmes. We are seeking individuals who can operate with authority independence and confidence in demanding MOD DE&S Front Line Command Defence Industry and international customer environments.
The work supports safe effective and operationally relevant military air capability across the Defence Air Environment. It may include airworthiness certification safety engineering governance complex air systems capability delivery systems assurance test and evaluation MAA/MRP compliance through-life support international programmes and export activity.
THE ROLE
Successful candidates will support Inzpires expanding Technical and Strategic Services Operational Business Unit providing high-level engineering airworthiness certification safety and capability advice to UK MOD Defence Industry and international customers.
Our Air Engineering Team supports complex military air projects and programmes across the Defence Air Environment including fixed-wing rotary-wing RPAS/UAS ISTAR air mobility maritime air training systems mission systems and wider military air capability.
Depending on assignment you may:
- Provide senior Defence Air Engineering airworthiness safety certification and technical assurance advice.
- Act as a trusted customer-side adviser helping customers understand technical risk engineering trade-offs risk appetite evidence maturity and decision options.
- Support Type and Continuing Airworthiness activity within MAA/MRP-regulated environments.
- Develop review or assure engineering safety certification requirements trials acceptance or Release to Service artefacts.
- Support in-service engineering continuing airworthiness sustainment modification configuration operational availability and capability enhancement activity.
- Contribute to capability development requirements management systems assurance operational acceptance and through-life support.
- Support export international Combat Air or multi-national programme activity.
- Provide independent technical judgement constructive challenge and senior-level assurance.
- Lead or mentor small teams assure the quality of technical outputs and help develop Inzpires Defence Air Engineering capability.
- Represent Inzpire in senior customer forums working groups reviews and governance boards.
Typical outputs may include technical advice notes airworthiness or certification assessments safety and engineering assurance reviews requirements and acceptance advice governance papers independent technical evaluations senior stakeholder briefings programme support outputs and recommendations that enable informed customer decision-making.
EXPERIENCE AND SPECIALIST AREAS OF INTEREST
We are seeking candidates with a strong combination of technical depth operational understanding regulatory awareness stakeholder confidence and sound engineering judgement.
Relevant experience may include some or all of the following:
- Type and Continuing Airworthiness; Release to Service; Chief Engineer Chief Air Engineer Engineering Authority or equivalent technical authority responsibilities.
- Air safety certification safety case safety argument hazard management technical assurance or engineering governance.
- MAA/MRP Defence Standards JSPs ASEMS MOD acquisition DE&S delivery Defence safety or airworthiness governance.
- Civil/military certification approval or airworthiness frameworks including MRP Part 21 MRP Part 145 MRP Part M DAOS MAOS or equivalent frameworks.
- Initial airworthiness continuing airworthiness major modification certification design assurance design organisation interface modification control or configuration governance.
- Complex in-service air platforms air systems or mission systems through life.
- Fixed-wing rotary-wing support helicopter RPAS/UAS ISTAR air mobility maritime air training systems or complex air support environments.
- 4th 5th or 6th-generation air systems Typhoon F-35 Lightning GCAP Tempest or other complex Combat Air programmes.
- NETMA NATO allied coalition or international air capability programmes.
- Low Observability survivability electromagnetic warfare EMSO mission data platform integration weapons integration sensors avionics or complex systems integration.
- Airworthiness-related cyber security or security-informed certification of complex air systems.
- Test trials evaluation operational evaluation acceptance capability release export support UK Government-to-Government activity or international customer-facing delivery.
- Advising senior stakeholders within MOD DE&S HQ Air Front Line Commands industry OEMs or international programme organisations.
- Assuring the quality of technical outputs and helping customers make informed risk-aware decisions.
Previous experience as a Type Airworthiness Authority Chief Engineer Chief Air Engineer Engineering Authority Release to Service Authority or equivalent senior airworthiness certification or technical authority appointment would be highly advantageous.
Chartered or Incorporated Engineer status Fellowship or membership of a relevant professional institution would be advantageous but is not essential where equivalent experience can be demonstrated.
THE PERSON
We recognise that engineering credibility is built through a range of routes and your experience does not need to match every area listed. However we are interested in candidates who have held or directly supported significant airworthiness engineering authority capability delivery platform delivery team operational support Chief Engineer Chief Air Engineer Release to Service Authority or equivalent technical authority appointments.
Relevant experience may have been gained in the Royal Air Force Royal Navy Army Aviation DE&S MOD Defence Industry OEMs international programme organisations allied military air environments civil/military aviation environments or specialist defence consultancy.
The successful candidate will be a confident approachable and professionally respected individual able to operate with authority in complex customer environments. Comfortable advising constructively challenging and supporting senior stakeholders they will bring a pragmatic collaborative and delivery-focused mindset.
Strong analytical and critical thinking skills are essential along with sound engineering judgement and the ability to translate complex technical regulatory or capability issues into clear advice robust outputs and practical customer support.
The role requires someone equally at ease working independently leading activity supporting a wider team mentoring colleagues or integrating into customer organisations to deliver specific contracted outputs. Integrity resilience and strong interpersonal judgement are key enabling the individual to build trust quickly and represent Inzpire to a consistently high standard.
This is an opportunity to work in a specialist agile environment where expertise is visible valued and directly connected to customer outcomes.
Security and Eligibility
Due to the nature of the work candidates must be UK Nationals and must hold or be willing and eligible to obtain appropriate UK National Security Vetting.
SC clearance is expected as a minimum for many roles. Some assignments may require candidates to hold or be eligible to obtain DV clearance. Vetting will normally include criminal record security and credit reference checks and may require at least five years continuous UK residency. Existing SC or DV clearance would be advantageous but we are also interested in candidates who are willing and eligible to complete the required vetting.
Some roles may also be subject to nationality residency export-control or customer-specific restrictions.
AVAILABILITY
We have potential vacancies beginning in Summer 2026 alongside longer-term opportunities with start dates in the 6 to 18-month timeframe.
Please let us know your likely availability when contacting us.
Due to the nature of elements of the role the successful applicant mustbe a UK National and may be required to successfully complete National Security Vetting which may require criminal record security service and credit reference checks; qualification will also normally require a minimum UK residency of at least 5 years.
HOW TO APPLY
If you have the required background and are interested in joining a high-performing team supporting the delivery of exceptional award-winning products and services to our customers we would be delighted to hear from you. Please click apply and follow the instructions to upload your CV.
Please note that we are part of the QinetiQ group and you will be taken to the QinetiQ careers website in order to complete your application.
BENEFITS
Our comprehensive benefits package includes:
- 30 days paid holiday plus 8 days bank holidays per year.
- Uncapped paid leave scheme (upon successful completion of probation period).
- Company provided private medical and dental insurance.
- QinetiQ Share Incentive Scheme.
- Enhanced maternity and paternity pay.
- Annual profit and performance related pay scheme.
- Death in service (x4 salary).
- Company contributions into a group personal pension scheme.
- Business travel insurance.
- Tax efficient cycle to work and charitable giving schemes.
- Tax efficient electric vehicle company car scheme.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
Inzpire are committed to creating an inclusive and respectful environment for current and prospective employees. We recognise that a diverse talented and highly motivated workforce is pivotal to our continuing success therefore our selection decisions are based on the merit of the individual irrespective of their race colour religion gender age sexual orientation marital status disability or any other characteristic.
We genuinely recognise the benefits of a diverse and inclusive working environment. We are proud to be a Disability Confident Committed Employer a supportive signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant and a Gold award winner within the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme. We are therefore delighted to offer a guaranteed interview scheme to service leavers reservists and military spouses or partners (including those of service leavers) who meet all our advertised requirements.
Required Experience:
Staff IC
About Company
Established in 2019, QinetiQ US is a leading defense and security company in the United States providing mission-led innovation at pace. We are a provider of technologically advanced services and products to the U.S. Department of Defense and national security agencies, positioned to ... View more
