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Skilled Fitter CAWDE Operator

Airbus

Job Location:

Bristol - UK

Monthly Salary: Not provided by the employer

Posted: 29 September 2026 (Yesterday)

Application Deadline: 27 December 2026

Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Job Description:

A CAWDE Operator at the Airbus Filton plant operates Electroimpacts 5-axis Composite Automated Wing Drilling Equipment (CAWDE) to execute high-precision drilling countersinking and temporary bolt insertion during the assembly of A400M wing boxes.

Role Overview

Location: Airbus Filton Facility (Bristol UK)
Program: Airbus A400M Military Transport Aircraft Wing Production
Primary Equipment: Electroimpact 5-Axis Traveling-Column CNC Post Mill with ride-on operator platform
Materials Worked: Multi-material stacks including Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) wing skins aluminum/titanium ribs composite spars and engine pylon reinforcements.

Key Responsibilities

CNC Machine Operation: Load and execute CNC part programs using multi-display HMIs camera monitoring systems and hold-to-run pendants while positioned on the machines ride-on platform.
Precision Automated Drilling & Fastening: Drill and countersink holes ranging from 1/4 to 3/4 diameter through thick composite-to-metal material stacks under continuous joint clamp loads (900 N to 9000 N).
System Sensor Calibration: Use automated metrology toolsincluding Renishaw touch probes surface normality sensors optical resync cameras and Thru-Skin magnetic sensorsto realign machine head positioning normal to actual wing skin contours.
Tooling & Maintenance: Change out drill bits and cutting tools by diameter via dedicated shadow boxes ensuring proper functioning of through-bit flood coolant chip vacuuming and coolant recovery systems.
Quality Assurance: Verify hole tolerances countersink depths and automated slave-dowel/bolt installations completing mandatory shop-floor quality tracking and aerospace compliance documentation.
Safety & EHS: Work within strict aerospace Environmental Health & Safety guidelines while operating heavy automated equipment around elevated assembly jigs and composite dust extraction systems.

Qualifications & Experience

Education/Apprenticeship: Recognized time-served engineering apprenticeship or NVQ Level 3 (or equivalent) in Aerospace Mechanical Engineering or Advanced Manufacturing.
Machining Background: Practical experience operating 5-axis CNC machine tools reading G-code/M-code and managing automated machining cycles.
Material Expertise: Knowledge of structural assembly techniques specifically metal-composite stack drilling and carbon-fiber machining dynamics.
Security Requirements: Eligibility for UK Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance given the defense scope of the A400M program.

This job requires an awareness of any potential compliance risks and a commitment to act with integrity as the foundation for the Companys success reputation and sustainable growth.

Company:

Airbus Operations Limited

Employment Type:

Permanent

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Experience Level:

Professional

Job Family:

Assembly & Integration

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Airbus is committed to achieving workforce diversity and creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome all applications irrespective of social and cultural background age gender disability sexual orientation or religious belief.

Airbus is and always has been committed to equal opportunities for all. As such we will never ask for any type of monetary exchange in the frame of a recruitment process. Any impersonation of Airbus to do so should be reported to.

At Airbus we support you to work connect and collaborate more easily and flexibly. Wherever possible we foster flexible working arrangements to stimulate innovative thinking.

Required Experience:

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