Location: The VHQ, Crawley
Shift Pattern: 4x 07:00 – 19:00, 4x off, 4x 19:00 – 07:00
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: Competitive
Closing Date: 6th July 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.
Key responsibilities
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
Our differences make us stronger
Our customers come from all walks of life and so do our colleagues. That’s why we’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer and actively encourage applications from all backgrounds. At Virgin Atlantic, we believe everyone can take on the world - no matter your age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disabilities, religion, or beliefs. We celebrate difference and everything that makes our colleagues unique by upholding an inclusive environment in which we can all thrive. So that everyone at Virgin Atlantic can be themselves and know they belong.
To make your journey with us accessible and individual to you, we encourage you to let us know if you’d like a little extra help with your application, or if you have any individual requirements at any stage along your recruitment journey. We are here to support you, so please reach out to our team, ([email protected]) feeling confident that we’ve got your individual considerations covered.
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 focus on safety and customer impact
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
- Analytical mindset able 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.
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