Principal Aerostructures Engineer

Company Description

ALTEN is a global engineering and technology consultancy operating across over 35 countries worldwide. We partner with industry leaders across sectors including Aeronautics, Aerospace, Defence, Naval, Automotive, Energy, Rail, IT and many more to deliver innovative engineering solutions that drive technological advancement & support sustainable transformation.

Our teams of passionate and agile engineers work on cutting-edge projects that shape the future of technology and sustainability. At ALTEN, we empower talented engineers to innovate, solve complex challenges, and deliver impactful solutions that build tomorrow’s world—today.

Join us and start building tomorrow’s world today!

Job Description

As a Principal Aerostructures Engineer you will join our aerospace engineering team to support our activities within the aviation sector

You will play a critical role in ensuring the airworthiness, compliance, and certification of aerostructural designs in accordance with EASA/UK CAA Part 21 requirements. Acting as a key technical authority within the Design Organisation Approval (DOA) framework, you will review, verify, and approve structural engineering deliverables, ensuring the highest standards of safety, quality, and regulatory compliance are maintained throughout the design lifecycle.

• Location: Bristol
• On Site: Hybrid
• Clearance: Clearable
• Experience Level: Senior 5+ years of experience

Key Responsibilities:

• Review and approve aerostructural designs in accordance with Design Organisation Approval (DOA) requirements
• Ensure compliance with EASA and UK CAA Part 21 regulations and applicable certification standards
• Assess and approve composite and metallic structural designs, analyses, and associated engineering documentation
• Verify that engineering outputs meet airworthiness, safety, performance, and regulatory requirements
• Support certification activities and provide airworthiness guidance throughout the product development lifecycle
• Review structural substantiation reports, stress analyses, and design justifications
• Provide technical oversight during design reviews and certification audits
• Collaborate with design, stress, manufacturing, and certification teams to ensure compliance objectives are achieved
• Support investigations into design issues, non-conformities, and airworthiness concerns
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of DOA processes, procedures, and compliance practices

Qualifications

Required Skills:

• Strong knowledge of EASA and/or UK CAA Part 21 regulations
• Experience working within a Design Organisation Approval (DOA) environment
• Extensive understanding of aerostructures, including metallic and composite structures
• Experience reviewing and approving structural engineering data and certification documentation
• Knowledge of airworthiness regulations and aerospace certification processes
• Strong technical judgement and decision-making capability
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to interpret engineering analyses, substantiation reports, and compliance documentation

Required Qualifications:

• A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, or equivalent military experience.
• Significant experience within aerospace structural design, stress, airworthiness, or certification engineering
• Previous experience operating within a regulated aerospace environment
• Demonstrable experience supporting aircraft certification programmes

Desirable Skills:

• Existing DOA Signatory or Approver authorisation
• Experience with both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft programmes
• Knowledge of CS-23, CS-25, CS-27, or CS-29 certification requirements
• Experience supporting certification audits and regulatory authority interactions
• Familiarity with fatigue, damage tolerance, and structural integrity assessments
• Experience mentoring engineers and providing technical leadership

Additional Information

Why join us? 

We bring together entrepreneurial, tech-driven people to deliver innovative solutions for leading companies.

At ALTEN, you’ll work on exciting projects, supported by ongoing learning, mentoring, and clear career development tailored to your goals.

Join a passionate team and help build tomorrow, today.

In short you get: 

• A personalised career path and a rewarding management style 
• A huge diversity of engineering projects and industries
• Private Medical Insurance
• Cycle & Tech Scheme 
• Employee assistance programme
• Life insurance & Pension Scheme
• Social atmosphere, regular gatherings & team buildings
• Flexible way of working (role dependent)

We are proud to support the Armed Forces Covenant & actively encourage applications from members of the Armed Forces community, including veterans, reservists, service leavers, and military spouses/partners. We recognise the value of military skills and experience and are committed to ensuring that no applicant is unfairly disadvantaged during our recruitment and selection processes. 

ALTEN is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace and values the strength that comes from a global mix of backgrounds and perspectives. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates, regardless of background or protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know. 

This role may require you to have or be willing to go through Security Clearance. As part of the onboarding process candidates will be asked to complete a Baseline Personnel Security Standard; details of the evidence required to apply may be found on the government website Gov.UK. If you are unable to meet this and any associated criteria, then your employment may be delayed, or rejected . Details of this will be discussed with you at interview.