Job Description
ROLE OVERVIEW
The Senior Manager - Production Engineering for Jigs, Platform, Ground Support Equipment & Fixtures owns the
tooling. The role designs, procures and qualifies production jigs, work platforms, fixtures and ground support
equipment.
Tooling design and procurement is a long-lead activity that sets the critical path to first build. The role is
accountable for releasing tooling early enough to protect the build schedule, and for keeping it dimensionally
proven and under configuration control once in service.
PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
• Deliver the assembly jigs, fixtures, drill templates and work platforms required for the demonstrator and for
the rate build.
• Deliver and maintain the ground support equipment fleet required to handle, service and support the
aircraft.
• Own dimensional management: the measurement strategy that proves the tooling and the assembly are
within tolerance.
• Protect the build schedule by releasing long-lead tooling to plan.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Tooling Design and Qualification
• Design, specify and procure assembly jigs, fixtures, drill templates and work platforms against the
requirements set by the other Production Engineering groups.
• Own tool design standards, tool proving, acceptance and handover into production.
• Own tooling configuration control, the tooling register, periodic recertification and maintenance.
Dimensional Management and Metrology
• Own the measurement strategy for tooling and assembly: measurement plans, datum schemes and
capability assessment.
• Operate and control the measurement equipment used to set and re-certify jigs, including laser tracker and
photogrammetry methods where adopted.
• Support tolerance stack-up and process capability work with the other Production Engineering groups.
• Metrology is deliberately folded into this role for now. Recommend splitting it into a dedicated position once
the function passes approximately 15 full-time equivalents, or sooner if tolerance capability becomes a
Preliminary Design Review issue.
Ground Support Equipment
• Own the ground support equipment fleet: aircraft handling, jacking, transport, high-voltage servicing and
battery swap.
• Specify, procure and qualify ground support equipment, including its safety case, inspection regime and
operator requirements with QHSE.
• Own ground support equipment configuration, maintenance and calibration records.
Schedule, Cost and Interfaces
• Own the tooling and ground support equipment plan, budget and long-lead release dates, and report
schedule risk early.
• Manage tooling suppliers and design partners through design review, acceptance and installation.
• Lead, develop and grow the tooling team; hold the interfaces to the other Production Engineering groups,
Manufacturing and Quality, Facilities, Supply Chain and QHSE.
EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
Required:
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing or Aeronautical Engineering.
• 12-15+ years in aerospace tooling, jig and fixture design or ground support equipment engineering, including
team leadership.
• Demonstrated ownership of a tooling programme from requirement through design, procurement, proving
and handover.
• Practical experience of dimensional management and large-volume metrology methods.
• Experience managing tooling suppliers and design partners.
• Working knowledge of machinery, lifting and workplace safety requirements as they apply to tooling and
ground support equipment.
Preferred:
• Ground support equipment design or fleet ownership for an aircraft programme.
• High-voltage servicing or battery-swap ground support equipment exposure.
• Determinant assembly and reduced-tooling assembly strategies.
• eVTOL or urban air mobility exposure.
KEY SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES
• Strong practical design judgement — tooling that works for the technician, not only on the model.
• Discipline on dimensional proof and re-certification.
• Command of a long-lead schedule and the confidence to escalate early.
• Commercial awareness in tooling procurement and total cost of ownership.
• Clear communication with suppliers and with the shop floor.
• Effective leadership of a small, highly technical team.