Engineering Manager – Avionics & Test

Engineering Manager - Avionics & Test

Vacancy Reference: CLA-424

Position:
Full-time

Location:

Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK

Salary: £80,000+ DOE

At Callen-Lenz, we are expanding the limits of what is possible. We specialise in crewed and uncrewed aircraft operations and technology and having recently received investment into the business we are going through a period of rapid growth and development and are looking for key roles to assist with these changes. Callen-Lenz offers innovative and customer-focused UAS solutions through our 4 key business strands: technical services, products, platforms and operational services.

We are looking for individuals to help drive forward our expansion, placing you at forefront of UAS development in the UK.

• Innovation
• Integrity
• Collaboration
• Excellence

Based in the heart of rural Wiltshire, close to the Historic city of Salisbury you will join our rapidly growing, friendly and multi-disciplined team, working on a range of diverse and interesting projects, leading the way in this exciting field and witnessing the full lifecycle of our products. The Callen-Lenz team are passionate about what we do, and we are searching for individuals to grow with us as we expand into the aerospace industry.

• 25 days annual leave per year (plus bank holidays)
• Buy/Sell holiday policy up to 5 days either way
• Pension Scheme via Royal London
• Company contributed Share Incentive Plan.
• Green Car Scheme
• Life assurance scheme (6x basic salary)
• Income protection policy (75% of basic salary)
• Private Health Insurance via Bupa
• Private Dental insurance via Bupa
• Enhanced Maternity and paternity
• 1 Professional membership reimbursed per year
• 1 paid volunteering day per year
• Access to an independent financial advisor year round
• Training & development opportunities

Reporting to the Head of Engineering, you will manage deployment of the Avionics & Test team according to resource demand from across the delivery streams. You will be responsible for the continuous improvement of our processes and tools in the Avionics & Test department, and will be responsible for the pastoral care and career development for the department.

Lead the Avionics & Test department, including:

• Guide, or lead where appropriate, the team in their technical duties.
• Define and communicate “what good looks like” for avionics, integration, and test engineering across the organisation.
• Establish and maintain processes, standards, best practices, and technical governance aligned to industry (e.g. DO-178C, DO-254, ARP
  4754) where applicable.
• Establish and maintain fit‑for‑purpose tools for the Avionics & Test department, integrated with the rest of Engineering and the wider business.
• Promote cross‑discipline collaboration (systems, air vehicle, software, manufacturing) to improve integration outcomes.
• Lead major technical reviews and assurance activities to ensure performance, safety, and airworthiness of delivered systems.
• Identify and remove inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and duplication across engineering workflows.

• Allocate and prioritise avionics & test engineers across delivery streams based on programme priorities and project demand signals.
• Balance short‑term delivery needs with long‑term capability development and sustainability of the function.
• Work with Project Managers to forecast resource demand, identify constraints, and resolve conflicts across competing programmes.
• Maintain clear visibility of department allocation, utilisation, and skills coverage to ensure effective execution.
• Act as escalation point for delivery risks relating to avionics integration and test activities.

• Identify capability gaps and drive recruitment, training, and upskilling plans to build a high‑performing, future‑ready team.
• Coach, mentor and develop staff, including goal setting, performance management, and regular 1:1 engagement.
• Support career development including structured development plans, and alignment to professional standards (e.g. UK‑SPEC).
• Foster an inclusive, high‑performing team culture with strong engagement,…