Principal Stress Engineer-FEM

Job Description:

SECURITY CLEARANCE: you will be subject to BPSS and Export Control checks (including a criminal record check)

TRAVEL REQUIRED: Occasional travel within UK and international

LOCATION: Belfast

GRADE: L2

TYPE: Full time on site

WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU

• Financial Reward: Competitive salary, annual profit share, contributory pension, share options
  

• Work / Life Balance: 36 hour week, flexible working around core hours and Friday afternoons off, flexible working
  

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Principal Stress Engineer (FEM) to join Airbus Belfast. In this highly impactful role, you will become a key leader within the Stress Team in the A220 Wing Engineering community, guiding a dynamic group responsible for finite element (FE) loads strategy and enablement. You will be empowered to make pivotal technical judgments affecting safety, certification, and performance, while spearheading the development of innovative digital solutions to solve complex challenges in a multifunctional aerospace environment.

HOW YOU WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE TEAM

• Lead FEM Strategy & Operations: Act as the technical focal point for all A220 FEM activities, leading the development of FE models and coordinating the Integrated Product Development Team (IPDT) to meet critical program outputs.
  
• Optimize Design Solutions: Analyze and validate FE and stress data to propose highly optimized design solutions that balance weight, cost, performance, and manufacturing requirements.
  
• Ensure Certification & Compliance: Guarantee strict adherence to applicable airworthiness regulations (e.g., FAA/EASA) and Airbus A220 design principles, methods, and tooling philosophies.
  
• Drive Financial Performance: Manage the total Program Estimate at Completion (EAC) during product development, tracking budgets and analyzing performance metrics to ensure cost efficiency.
  
• Champion Digital Innovation: Deliver new digital modeling solutions and continuously improve processes by challenging the status quo to optimize wing structure enablement.
  

THE PROFILE WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• A minimum of a BSc/BEng degree with at least 5 years of relevant management/professional experience, OR an engineering-related HNC with a minimum of 8 years of relevant experience.
  
• You must hold a delegated authority for FEM approval or possess a valid A220/C-series signatory check.
  
• Extensive hands-on experience in the development, analysis, and testing of aircraft aero-structures, specifically the idealization of wing components using FEM tools (Hyperworks, Hypermesh, and MSC Nastran/Patran).
  
• A minimum of 3 years of project management experience in a multi-disciplined environment, demonstrating a proven ability to resolve cross-functional conflicts and foster a strong, collaborative team spirit.
  

DESIRABLE

• Active membership of a recognized professional engineering institution.
  
• Proven experience in leading structural aero-thermal design and designing for high-temperature operations.
  
• Practical knowledge and working experience with UNIX-based platforms.
  
• Previous experience deputizing for senior management in technical, certification, and overarching management matters.
  

Applications must be completed and submitted by Tuesday 14th July 2026

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that sufficient detail is provided to demonstrate how they meet essential job criteria, as this alone will be used for vetting purposes

Please Note:

Please note that meeting the mandatory criteria listed above guarantees consideration for the role, but does not ensure progression to the interview stage. In the event of a high volume of qualified applications, the selection panel reserves the right to shortlist and progress candidates who additionally meet one or more of the preferential (desirable) criteria.

We employ people from all sections of the community and are committed to the appointment of the best candidate based upon the merit principle alone. In pursuit of our equal opportunities program, we would particularly welcome more applications from Catholics and females, as these groups are currently under-represented in our workforce.

HOW WE CAN SUPPORT YOU

Many of our staff work flexibly in many different ways, including part-time. Please talk to us at interview about the flexibility you need and we’ll always do our best to accommodate your request.

Please let us know if you need us to make any adjustments for the selection process - you can share this with your Talent Acquisition Partner if you are invited to interview. Examples may include (but not exclusive to) accessible facilities; auxiliary aids; room layout, etc. Any information disclosed will be treated in the strictest confidence.

As a Disability Confident Employer, Airbus UK will offer an interview to any applicant that considers themselves to have a disability or long-term condition under the Equality Act 2010 and meets the minimum criteria of the role (as set out in the job advert). To ‘opt in’, just select the option during your application submission and your application will be considered accordingly.

#SP_TRA

#LI-CG1 This job requires an awareness of any potential compliance risks and a commitment to act with integrity, as the foundation for the Company’s success, reputation and sustainable growth.