Test Article Build and Maintenance Planning lead

Manufacturing/ Production Lead

12 Month Outside IR35 Production/manufacturing lead position with a next generation avionics company. Due to the nature of the work the majority of hours must be completed onsite but the client can offer flexibility for one or two home working days per week.

You’ll coordinate the planning, build, and upkeep of aircraft test articles—ensuring every system arrives in a fully conforming state and is built exactly to specification. You’ll act as the vital link between Engineering IPTs, Manufacturing Engineering, Aircraft Build Teams and Lab Test, ensuring seamless delivery of test specimens that support critical verification activities. You must have the technical background to understand the requirements and what the manufacturing engineers and technicians are doing, must be able to interpret CAD and have supervisory experience within this remit taking accountability for the documentation and traceability whilst liaising with the relevant stakeholders.

• Working with Lab Test Managers and Test Requestors to identify, define, and document all test specimen requirements.
• Planning delivery, assembly, modification, instrumentation, and maintenance of test articles in line with scheduled test programmes.
• Coordinating with ME Planning on all builds, installations, removals, tooling, and fixtures required.
• Ensuring all test specimens are built in accordance with airworthiness, quality, and conformity standards—capturing deviations and maintaining accurate documentation.
• Providing clear Bills of Materials for kitting and part control.
• Acting as the point of contact for Build Team support and test article‑related coordination.
• Reviewing procedures, refining processes, and sharing insights to improve assembly and maintenance workflows.
• Offering weekly status updates, horizon plans, and escalations to the Lab Test Programme Manager.
• Driving accurate workflow management through tools like Jira
  , keeping data and progress tracking fully up to date.

We’re looking for someone who combines hands‑on technical understanding with strong organisational oversight:

• 3+ years in (preferably aircraft) production or maintenance (POA, MRO, Part 145) preferred, with supervisory experience.
• Strong grasp of documentation standards, traceability, and conformance.
• Experience engaging with multiple stakeholders—engineers, technicians, managers—and taking proactive ownership of work streams.
• Understanding of technician‑level activities; licensed aircraft engineers or experienced aircraft technicians are highly welcomed.
• Ability to interpret drawings/CAD environments—experience with Dassault 3DX, CAD interpretation, and reading engineering drawings is highly beneficial.
• Proficiency with workflow and planning platforms (Jira, Confluence or similar).
• Maintenance management background or experience coordinating technical work streams.
• Ability to provide technical coordination and direction to ensure every test article is built right the first time.

While aircraft and aerospace experience is strongly preferred, we are also open to candidates from other high‑precision, complex engineering environments—automotive included—especially those with supervisory experience and hands‑on technical backgrounds. If you’ve worked “on the tools,” led teams, understood technical drawings, and delivered high‑integrity builds, your skills will transfer exceptionally well.

You will be the technical orchestrator ensuring our systems and structures are verified with absolute confidence. Your work directly supports critical testing, safety assurance, and innovation—helping shape the aircraft of tomorrow.

Please apply with an up to date CV if this could be of interest. Management are reviewing CVs from the 1st December and can facilitate a start before Christmas.