NATS is the UK’s leading air navigation service provider, handling over 2.4 million flights each year. We provide air traffic control services from two control centres and at airports around the UK. We also provide a wide range of commercial products and solutions internationally. Our people are at the heart of our purpose to advance aviation and keep the skies safe.
Salary: £54,328.31 - £72,437.75
Closing Date: Tuesday 22nd September 2026
Purpose Of The Job
Carry out engineering maintenance, modification and project support activities on operational and support systems to ensure the effective and efficient provision of the Air Traffic Management services required by NATS to the appropriate Safety and Quality standards.
Principal Accountabilities
- Carrying out 1st and 2nd line repairs; routine maintenance; modifications and project support on a wide range of operational equipment and systems at Engineering Operations Service Support operational sites to ensure the continued provision of a safe, efficient, Air Traffic Management Service.
- The equipment the post holders will maintain fall under the following categories – Communications; Navigation Aids; Surveillance and Aerial Turning Gear.
- Act as focal point whilst the lead Engineer on site or when delegated to do so, in order to take responsibility for operational services and liaising with NATS/Contractor engineering staff both on site and at Air Traffic Control Centres to ensure that work is carefully planned and co-ordinated and operational safety, integrity and service levels are maintained.
- When holding the requisite Competency qualification, provide support to LTIP Projects; SDA’s; ADA’s and Equipment Design Authorities to ensure that Asset Operator support requirements are represented during asset change and support discussions.
- Develop an in-depth knowledge of the supported equipment in order to provide on site support to Engineering Operations and Engineering Design teams for implementation of approved changes, participation in Problem Report/STAR investigations and management of the operational services.
- Where the post holder is competency qualified on a system/equipment, provide guidance and instruction on technical theory and procedures to less experienced staff where required.
- Liaise with local public bodies, contractors and any site sharers, to ensure the security, safety and operational integrity of the facilities within the defined area of responsibility are maintained.
- Take responsibility for personal Health and Safety (H&S) by adhering to H&S procedures and report any H&S related breach observed on site or elsewhere, to Line Manager.
Autonomy
A necessary high degree of autonomy exists within the framework of this post. The post holder will be frequently working unsupervised which includes lone working and working with fellow post holders, frequently assuming responsibility for assessing whether an operational equipment can be returned to service or not and for ensuring a remote site is safe and secure. Typically, the post holder has the following autonomy:
- The return of operational services to ATC via the Service Delivery team at Swanwick and Prestwick Centre’s. Prior to the return of the service, the post holder will ensure that all operational criteria are met and the service meets its Standard Operating Conditions. Any deviation to this policy must be agreed by the relevant Service Delivery Manager or delegates before the service is offered back to ATC.
- When acting as the nominated Lead Engineer, the post holder is free to take appropriate actions, as detailed within the NATS BMS, necessary to restore or protect the operational services.
- The post holder is free to demand whatever parts are necessary to ensure the maintenance and repair of the operational equipment through the approved Equipment Spares Schedules (ESS). Spares falling outside of the scope of the ESS will be agreed with the appropriate Engineering Manager.
- The post holder is free to prioritise their tasks on a daily basis within the boundaries of the tasks allocated to them by their local management team on a weekly basis.
- This post does not allocate resources to tasks. Any requirement for additional resource is referred to their local manager.
Job Scope
Surveillance, Voice Comms and Navaids are essential for Civil and Military Air Traffic Operations. Maintenance Engineers provide the necessary skill set to ensure that Surveillance, Voice Comms and Navaid services meet the standards of integrity, safety and availability required by ATC.
Co-ordination And Communication Tasks
The post holder will be required to interface and co-ordinate with a wide range of operational and engineering sections and in particular, with Technical Services Management Centre and/or the appropriate Centre Service Manager’s and the equipment Technical Designers. Typically this co-ordination will include:
- The removal from service and restoration of services for equipment this post is qualified to maintain.
- The on-site activities of Technical Designers and external contractors to protect the operational services.
- De-confliction of work on operational sites where multiple teams with a wide range of operational requirements are maintaining the operational services.
- The post holder will be required to communicate effectively with a wide range of customers and engineering teams
Planning Tasks
The post holders will be required to tactically plan all routine and corrective maintenance activities that they are tasked to perform at ATC Centre’s and remote operational sites. This will include all aspects of checking that documentation and logistics are in place for the efficient management of the maintenance activity.
Analytical Tasks
The provision of maintenance engineering has a direct impact on the availability of Air Traffic Services to internal and external ATC customers and hence, can directly impact on Airline delays. Stringent availability, reliability and maintainability requirements necessitate well trained and highly motivated staff capable of achieving fast and efficient restoration of operational services. The post holder will therefore be required to troubleshoot and rapidly analyse an operational situation and implement immediate restorative actions.
General
- Air Traffic Control maintenance Engineering is a 24/7 requirement which is achieved via a formal on call system that provides a guaranteed out of hours response, when required. This post has a formal on call liability. This requirement includes both elements of specialist support via Competency qualified Engineers and supporting staff. Specialist support is directed by specific equipment requirements.
- This role carries an on call liability pertinent to the role.
- The post is classified as a safety related role as defined within the NATS drugs and alcohol policy and the post holder will be required to acknowledge their generic safety obligations.
Experience, Qualification & Skills
- Professional engineering qualification to Higher National Certificate (Level 4 or SQF Level 7) as a minimum Electronics, Telecommunications or Computer Science or other relevant Engineering discipline
In lieu of the above qualifications the candidate will be required to demonstrate one of the following alternative criteria:-
- Relevant lower-level engineering qualifications such as an Apprenticeship coupled with demonstrable engineering experience in a relevant field (May include but not limited to: Military, Rail, other Safety Critical environment)
- Evidence of substantial experience gained in a relevant transferable environment (such as ATSEP) gained over a significant period
- Experience of resolution of incidents, service restoration, incident and problem management of systems and equipment in a Safety Critical environment such as but not limited to Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs), Military or Rail.
- Demonstrate the necessary qualities to develop and maintain harmonious working relationships with a wide range of internal and external NATS customers/stakeholders.
- Good written, oral and IT skills.
Additional Information
This is a UK home-based role, primarily covering NATS English Outstations involving extensive travel. Applicants should ideally be based around key areas, Southampton, Cirencester, Preston, or Grantham.
Candidates would be expected to participate in an on-call roster to provide 24/7 engineering support to Air Traffic Control once competent.
Company car will be provided.
We are proud to offer a fantastic total reward package to help you thrive both personally and professionally - for more information on what NATS can offer you please visit - Why NATS? - NATS '
All staff at NATS are subject to UK Security Vetting and Clearance (SC) and must maintain valid clearance throughout employment. We are unable to progress applications where an applicant does not meet eligibility requirements for clearance. For further guidance click here Security Clearance - NATS
We have adopted agile working to provide greater flexibility and increased choice over working arrangements, with the opportunity for this role to work in our modern office facilities as well as remotely.
If you share our passion to advance aviation and keep the skies safe – we would like to hear from you whatever your age, sex, race, faith, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, visible or invisible disability. Individuals that bring different perspectives, skills, life experiences and backgrounds help us be at the forefront of our industry.