Skilled Fitter - CAWDE Operator

Job Description:

A CAWDE Operator at the Airbus Filton plant operates Electroimpact’s 5-axis Composite Automated Wing Drilling Equipment (CAWDE) to execute high-precision drilling, countersinking, and temporary bolt insertion during the assembly of A400M wing boxes.

Role Overview

• Location: Airbus Filton Facility (Bristol, UK)
• Program: Airbus A400M Military Transport Aircraft Wing Production
• Primary Equipment: Electroimpact 5-Axis Traveling-Column CNC Post Mill with ride-on operator platform
• Materials Worked: Multi-material stacks including Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) wing skins, aluminum/titanium ribs, composite spars, and engine pylon reinforcements.

Key Responsibilities

• CNC Machine Operation: Load and execute CNC part programs using multi-display HMIs, camera monitoring systems, and hold-to-run pendants while positioned on the machine’s ride-on platform.
• Precision Automated Drilling & Fastening: Drill and countersink holes ranging from 1/4” to 3/4” diameter through thick composite-to-metal material stacks under continuous joint clamp loads (900 N to 9,000 N).
• System Sensor Calibration: Use automated metrology tools—including Renishaw touch probes, surface normality sensors, optical resync cameras, and Thru-Skin magnetic sensors—to realign machine head positioning normal to actual wing skin contours.
• Tooling & Maintenance: Change out drill bits and cutting tools by diameter via dedicated shadow boxes, ensuring proper functioning of through-bit flood coolant, chip vacuuming, and coolant recovery systems.
• Quality Assurance: Verify hole tolerances, countersink depths, and automated slave-dowel/bolt installations, completing mandatory shop-floor quality tracking and aerospace compliance documentation.
• Safety & EHS: Work within strict aerospace Environmental Health & Safety guidelines while operating heavy automated equipment around elevated assembly jigs and composite dust extraction systems.

Qualifications & Experience

• Education/Apprenticeship: Recognized time-served engineering apprenticeship or NVQ Level 3 (or equivalent) in Aerospace, Mechanical Engineering, or Advanced Manufacturing.
• Machining Background: Practical experience operating 5-axis CNC machine tools, reading G-code/M-code, and managing automated machining cycles.
• Material Expertise: Knowledge of structural assembly techniques, specifically metal-composite stack drilling and carbon-fiber machining dynamics.
• Security Requirements: Eligibility for UK Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance given the defense scope of the A400M program.

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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