Shift pattern: 4x 07:00 – 19:00, 4x off, 4x 19:00 – 07:00
Contract type: Permanent
Salary: Competitive
Closing date: 20th October 2026
At Virgin Atlantic, we believe in the extraordinary power of people to reshape what’s possible.
With our bold ambition to become the most loved travel company, we’re redefining aviation through innovation, inclusivity, and a culture that puts people first. Individuality isn't just welcomed — it’s celebrated.
In a nutshell
At Virgin Atlantic, we’re driven by a passion for delivering safe, reliable, and exceptional flying experiences. We’re looking for an Engineering Operations Manager to play a critical role in ensuring our aircraft operate safely and efficiently across our global network.
As a key member of the Engineering Operations leadership team, you will oversee day-to-day engineering operations, ensuring aircraft depart safely and on time. You’ll lead operational decision-making, manage technical teams, and provide oversight of short-term maintenance planning while driving performance, safety, and customer experience.
You’ll also lead and develop a high-performing Technical Operations team, ensuring world-class standards across engineering operations worldwide.
Day to day
- Lead operational control and decision-making, including AOG (Aircraft on Ground) recovery and disruption management
- Oversee the immediate maintenance planning window, ensuring compliance and operational efficiency
- Provide 24/7 technical and operational leadership, including crisis management support
- Drive safety, regulatory compliance, and risk-based decision-making
- Collaborate cross-functionally with Engineering, Flight Operations, and wider business teams
- Manage team performance, development, and engagement
- Drive continuous improvement through root cause analysis and reliability initiatives
- Ensure accurate reporting, delay attribution, and cost control
About you
- Proven leadership experience in an aviation engineering or technical operations environment
- Strong knowledge of EASA, CAA, and airworthiness regulations
- Skilled in operational decision-making under pressure, with a focus on safety and customer impact
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
- Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret complex data and drive insights
- EASA Part 66 B1/B2 Licence or Degree/HND in a relevant engineering discipline
Accessibility and inclusion
We’re committed to making our recruitment process accessible. If you need reasonable adjustments or additional support, you can let us know in your application.
If you’d prefer to speak to someone directly before or during your application, interview or assessment, please contact our recruitment team at [email protected].
We know every role and candidate is different, so we’ll discuss the adjustments available for the role and at each stage of recruitment, and how best to support you.
At Virgin Atlantic, we’re proud to be an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from everyone. Whatever your background, identity, experience or perspective, we’d love to hear from you.
Skills Required
- Proven leadership experience in an aviation engineering or technical operations environment
- Strong knowledge of EASA, CAA, and airworthiness regulations
- Operational decision-making under pressure with a focus on safety and customer impact
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
- Analytical ability to interpret complex data and drive insights
- EASA Part 66 B1/B2 Licence or degree/HND in a relevant engineering discipline
What We Do
Virgin Atlantic first took to the skies in 1984 to shake things up, bringing a sparkle of red, a touch of wit and a passion for flying to the grey world of airlines. We fell in love with creating the best experience in the skies for our customers, and they fell in love with us right back. Since then we’ve become Britain’s second largest carrier, with non-stop transatlantic routes including New York, Orlando, the Caribbean, Delhi and Johannesburg. And thanks to our hugely successful joint venture with Delta, Air France and KLM, we can seamlessly connect our customers to over 350 cities across North America, Europe and the UK. Today, we want to empower everyone to take on the world. The customers we proudly fly and our people who go the extra mile. As we embark on a brand spanking new era of travel, it gives us more opportunities to do things differently and lead the way with fresh ideas. This means becoming more sustainable for our planet and our destinations, and working hard to make travel open to everyone, no matter who you are, who you love or where you go. And of course never, ever, forgetting the small stuff - like the clink of champagne glasses on a special occasion or a cheeky cream tea at 30,000 feet.
