Lasham Gliding Society Ltd - Chief Engineer/LGS Technical Officer.
Lasham Gliding Society Ltd is looking for a Chief Engineer/Technical Officer to head up our busy in-house aircraft engineering team.
Lasham is the premiere gliding club in Europe, and possibly the World. With a membership of 700 active pilots, full time staff of 20+, a sizeable club fleet of single and two-seat gliders, 5 tugs and over 230 private gliders located on the club-owned airfield. The fully licenced and equipped workshop maintains our club fleet and offers comprehensive services to member-owners and glider pilots from further afield.
Lasham Workshop. The Lasham workshop is a 625 m2 purpose-built modern steel-clad hangar complete with professional & certified paint spray facilities, tooling workshop and offices, with spare parts store, bonded store, and general storage available alongside the engineer's office on a mezzanine floor. Revamped considerably last year the well-lit and heated working floor space of approximately 500 m2 is split into 5 bays. The engineering team is supported by the maintenance office responsible for maintenance scheduling, purchase of spares and consumables, ongoing workshop certification and maintenance of aircraft records (for our 2-seater fleet of 2 Duo-discus, 5 ASK21s, 5 ASK 13s, club single-seat fleet of 3 Discus and 3 Astir single seaters, and a club Falke).
Role description : Lasham intends to expand the qualified aircraft engineer workforce in the near future. The Chief engineer will be responsible for the management of all aircraft engineering staff, the observance of safe H+S practices and the quality control of all the aircraft workshop output. The Chief Engineer will report to the Chairman and is expected to work closely with Chief Flying Instructor (CFI) and General Manager. In addition to line management of all LGS engineers the Chief Engineer will be responsible for:
the output and quality standards of all work that is carried out by the LGS workshop.
managing the output standards of the other engineers and offer training, advice and guidance where required.
ensuring all practices carried out in the workshop are the safe and H&S compliant.
ensuring that the working environment is of a suitable standard for the planned work.
complying with the relevant regulatory, technical & operational requirements.
Ensuring the club fleet is effectively and efficiently maintained in line with aircraft operational requirements agreed with the CFI, devising work schedules and maintenance plans as required in liaison with the Maintenance manager.
carrying out unscheduled aircraft maintenance as reported by members instructors as efficiently as possible in order to maintain the required flying fleet.
providing time & parts estimates to the Maintenance Office for Lasham fleet and external work.
providing work sheets to the Maintenance Office for all work undertaken.
The Chief Engineer would also be expected to take an active role in marketing and promoting the LGS workshop facilities to both the LGS membership and external customers.
Qualifications required :
Senior BGA Glider Inspector: Chief Engineer/ ARC Signatory requiring CAA Part 66 L1/L2 license (or equivalent) and extensive experience at complex repairs for which Lasham has the CAA List 1 status.
Self-Sustaining Sailplane - requires L2 Part 66 license.
Self-launching Sailplane & Touring Motor Glider - requires L2 Part 66 license.
Wood Repair - must have formal accreditation or rating.
Composite Repair - must have formal accreditation or rating.
Current BGA Continuation Training.
Previous experience in a commercial aircraft workshop environment is desirable, but not essential in the role.
If not already qualified to maintain powered aircraft be prepared to work towards the relevant certification to allow tug maintenance in-house.
Place of work/Working Hours/Holidays/Salary/Pension :
You will be expected to work from the main workshop at Lasham. Core working hours are 0830 - 1730 - (40 hours) spread over five days a week although you would occasionally be required carry out some duties outside of normal working hours. Holiday entitlement is 25 working days plus 8 public holidays (or days in lieu). The position comes with a competitive pay (negotiable according to experience) and benefits package, a generous contributory pension scheme and a food allowance in the restaurant.
Deadline : Whilst there is a deadline of 15th November 2025 for receipt of applications, suitable candidates may be considered and/or selected at any time prior to that date. The selected candidate is expected to start work at Lasham in January 2026, or earlier if mutually agreeable.
Contact for more details / to apply with CV.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £40,000.00-£65,000.00 per year
Benefits:
Casual dress
Free parking
On-site parking
Ability to commute/relocate:
Alton GU34 5SS: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Language:
English (required)
Licence/Certification:
Senior BGA Inspector certification (required)
L2 Part 66 licence - Self sustaining/launching sailplane/TMG (required)
Work authorisation:
United Kingdom (required)
Location:
Alton GU34 5SS (required)
Work Location: In person