Aircraft Painter

Job Description:

Aircraft Painter

Oxford

Permanent

About AHUK...

Airbus Helicopters is the world’s largest helicopter manufacturer and the company’s site at Oxford Airport is Britain’s civil helicopter hub.

AHUK offers considerable experience in helicopter sales, bespoke completions, maintenance and spares support.  Its in-house engineering capabilities include design, customisation, installation, flight-testing and certification, as well as technical support, maintenance, training and the supply of spares for civil and military applications.

AHUK is the MoD’s chosen provider of helicopters and maintenance for its No.1 Helicopter Flying school (referred to as MFTS) located in RAF Shawbury (Shropshire) and RAF Valley (Anglesey).

The Reward: Why Join Airbus?

We offer a competitive base salary and a robust suite of benefits designed to support your health, wealth, and lifestyle:

• Holiday Allowance: We value loyalty and work-life balance; your annual leave entitlement grows with you, rewarding your commitment with an extra day of leave for each year of service (up to an additional 4 days) 
• Health: Private Medical Insurance (Bupa). You also have the flexibility to add family members to your policy at an additional cost. Other options include Health-care Cash Schemes and Den-Plan. 
• Future Wealth: up to 8% Company Pension contribution, when you contribute 6%. Plus Yearly Share Incentive Plans, and Discretionary Group Bonuses.
• Everyday Savings: Access to exclusive shopping discounts, including a cashback card to help your money go further.
• Lifestyle: Bikes to Work scheme (up to £3,000), Mydrive car purchase scheme, and Technology purchase schemes.
• Added Protection: Benefit from Personal Accident Insurance, Health-care Cash Schemes, and professional Financial/Legal advice. 
• Refer a friend Scheme : We offer a generous Referral Bonus for any successfully placed candidates you recommend to the business. 

The Opportunity 

• Operate within a Part 145 environment as a dedicated on-site professional capable of completing minor paint touch-ups and local resprays.
• Supervise third-party organisations sub-contracted to carry out full or partial resprays off-site.
• Manage immediate corrosion treatment and preventive coating application.
• Perform in-service livery touch-ups, including registration changes and logo repairs.
• Execute component refinishing on parts such as cowlings, panels, and manufactured parts.
• Rectify paint defects on-site to ensure aircraft presentation meets aesthetic standards prior to release to service, avoiding substandard finishes like visible brush marks or “orange peel”.
• Ensure that paint stored in the hangar is stored correctly and is compliant with the regulation.
• Manage the selection and ordering of the correct paints as specified within maintenance or modification documentation.
• Ensure the control of tooling, equipment, paint facilities, and materials to maintain strict regulatory compliance.
• Act as the nominated subject matter expert (SME), responsible for the quality of work and the control of processes, methods, and materials used to safely refinish the aircraft to specification.
• If desired there is also the opportunity to diversify with regard to hands-on aircraft engineering involvement and development.
• There will be a requirement to travel between Airbus Helicopters and Subcontractor sites, so a flexible approach is required.

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Comprehensive understanding of compliance regarding the secure control of paints, processes, and painting techniques.
• Proven capability to achieve high-quality aesthetic standards, resolving complex surface defects without reliance on patchwork fixes.
• Excellent supervisory and communication skills required to oversee external third-party paint contractors.
• Ability to work effectively and independently to ensure operational flexibility, including occasionally executing  out of normal hours repairs to minimise operational downtime.

Desirable

• Previous experience operating specifically within an EASA/UK CAA Part 145 maintenance environment. 

Education, Qualifications or Training

Essential

• Accredited painter with industry training and proven experience either in automotive or aircraft painting.
• Ability to successfully complete an occupational health assessment to evaluate fitness for handling chemicals, heavy lifting, and potential lone working conditions.

Desirable

• Specific health and safety certifications related to hazardous material handling and curing environments. 

Culture and Wellbeing 

• Inclusive Space: We provide a dedicated Multi-Faith Prayer Room, ensuring a quiet, private space prayer during the day.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Your mental health matters. Gain access to 24/7 confidential support, counseling, and resources for both your professional and personal life.
• The Canteen Hub: A dedicated space to take a break and recharge, featuring on-site vending machines for quick snacks and refreshments.
• Fuel Your Day: Enjoy free tea and coffee throughout the day, because sometimes the best ideas happen over a fresh brew.

Additional requirements

• This position is subject to National Security Vetting. Candidates must be able to obtain SC clearance, which generally requires having lived in the UK for the last five years. All successful applicants will also undergo a mandatory BPSS check. 
• Applicants must meet any/all requirements of Export Compliance Regulations.
• All candidates must possess the current, legal right to work in the United Kingdom. Airbus will not be able to offer sponsorship for any employment Visa's.

Data Protection

By submitting your CV or application you are consenting to Airbus using and storing information about you for monitoring purposes relating to your application or future employment. This information will only be used by Airbus.

Airbus is committed to achieving workforce diversity and creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome all applications irrespective of social and cultural background, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation or religious belief.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive an overwhelming response. 

After this date the applications will then be reviewed, Feedback will be given and Interviews will be arranged. Please direct any questions relating to this job posting to contact.recruitment .ahuk@airbus.com in the first instance for the attention of the  HR Team.

This job requires an awareness of any potential compliance risks and a commitment to act with integrity, as the foundation for the Company’s success, reputation and sustainable growth.

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By submitting your CV or application you are consenting to Airbus using and storing information about you for monitoring purposes relating to your application or future employment. This information will only be used by Airbus.
Airbus is committed to achieving workforce diversity and creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome all applications irrespective of social and cultural background, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation or religious belief.

Airbus is, and always has been, committed to equal opportunities for all. As such, we will never ask for any type of monetary exchange in the frame of a recruitment process. Any impersonation of Airbus to do so should be reported to emsom@airbus.com.

At Airbus, we support you to work, connect and collaborate more easily and flexibly. Wherever possible, we foster flexible working arrangements to stimulate innovative thinking.