Job Title: Lead Engineer Hardware Obsolescence

Job Location: Gatwick area

Industry: Aerospace, Flight Simulators

Job ID – 14441

About this opportunity and L3Harris UK

From 12 UK sites, our team of over 1,400 people deliver unique capabilities across air, land, sea, space and cyber for military, security and commercial customers, worldwide.

L3Harris in Crawley specialise in technology and systems to enable quality pilot training from distance learning systems applications and maintenance solutions to training devices and full flight simulators, our technology covers the complete training spectrum.

A few of our employee benefits

• 25 days holiday per year (plus bank holidays), increasing with long service and with the opportunity to buy/sell up to 5 days
• Private medical insurance with optional family cover
• Pension scheme of up to 7% employer contribution
• Life Assurance 4x salary (flexible up to 10x)
• Group income protection
• Flexible opt-in extras such as a health care cash plan, dental insurance, gym membership, critical illness cover and cycle to work scheme
• Employee assistance program providing mental health and wellbeing support
• Subsidised staff restaurant

About the Role

We are seeking an enthusiastic and capable Lead Engineer to manage hardware obsolescence.

We are  proud to have a wide range and number of mission critical flight training products in use around the world to provide pilot training on a round the clock basis. We provide ongoing support, upgrade routes and refresh of products from our base in Greater London. As a Hardware Lead for Obsolescence you will play a pivotal role in helping us advise our customers on the next steps to keep their cutting edge flight simulator training assets operational.

You will be responsible for developing and implementing robust component, unit and system obsolescence strategies, ensuring the long-term availability and sustainability of mission-critical systems. This is a key role where you will lead efforts to anticipate, mitigate, and resolve obsolescence issues, safeguarding the integrity and performance of our flight simulation products and services. This is a seen as a development role for the right candidate and as such, candidates with a blend of relevant skills, experience, interest, appetite and personal qualities are encouraged to apply.

Our organisation operates in a unique marketplace where we deliver products and services to almost every continent, providing the underlying capability to many pilot training operations globally. The marketplace is competitive and requires individuals who are fast moving, customer orientated, and results driven.

This particular opportunity is right at the heart of our transformation goals.  This role will suit an individual that is highly motivated, hands on and wants to implement change.

Why Join Us?

• Take a leadership role in safeguarding the future of flight simulation technology in a rapidly evolving industry.

• Be part of a collaborative, innovative company at the forefront of aerospace engineering.

 • Competitive salary package with excellent benefits and opportunities for growth.

• Work on projects that have a direct impact on the safety and performance of aviation systems worldwide.

Key Responsibilities

 • Develop and implement a comprehensive obsolescence management strategy, ensuring the continued support of flight simulators throughout their lifecycle.

• Establish and refine obsolescence processes, ensuring they align with industry best practices and meet the needs of the business.

• Work closely with cross-functional teams, including engineering, procurement, and project management, to identify potential risks related to obsolete components or systems.

• Drive the creation of obsolescence solutions, ensuring timely identification, evaluation, and resolution of at-risk technologies.

 • Oversee the assessment of alternative solutions, including redesigns, substitutions, and last-time buys, to address obsolescence issues without compromising quality or safety.

• Collaborate with suppliers and partners to monitor technology trends and ensure continuous support for long-term systems.

• Maintain compliance with aerospace standards and regulatory requirements, ensuring obsolescence management processes meet safety-critical requirements.

• Provide leadership in obsolescence forecasting and proactive planning to mitigate risks before they impact project timelines or costs.

• Lead cross-functional obsolescence reviews, ensuring risks are effectively communicated and mitigation strategies are in place.

• Support the development of in-house capabilities for obsolescence tracking and monitoring, ensuring the organization can respond quickly to evolving challenges.

Key Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Aerospace, Systems Engineering, or a related field.

•  Experience in obsolescence management, ideally within the aerospace or defence sectors is desirable but not essential as this is seen as a developmental role for the right candidate

• Knowledge of relevant aerospace industry standards and compliance requirements related to obsolescence is desirable but not essential as this is seen as a developmental role for the right candidate (e.g., MIL-STD-3018, IEC 62402).

• Expertise in developing and implementing management processes for complex systems.

• Excellent understanding of supply chain management and the ability to engage with suppliers to resolve obsolescence risks.

• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to assess technical and commercial solutions to obsolescence challenges.

• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and collaborate effectively with stakeholders at all levels.

• Proactive mindset, with the ability to anticipate future challenges and put in place long-term mitigation strategies.

• Experience with flight simulators, avionics, or other complex aerospace systems is highly desirable.

Please note: Applicants who accept a conditional offer of employment must meet the requirement of right to work in the UK