Head of Maintenance & Engineering

About us

At Brussels Airlines, we are passionate about connecting people, economies, and cultures. As Belgium’s home carrier and one of the four network airlines of the Lufthansa Group, we fly from the heart of Europe to over 90 destinations worldwide, including 17 across Sub-Saharan Africa.

As proud ambassadors of Belgium, we bring the world to Belgium and the best of Belgium to the world: from collaborations with Michelin-starred Belgian chefs to our Belgian Icon aircraft adorned with national legends, we celebrate creativity and the amazing things our country has to offer.  

Our company culture is warm and inclusive. By focusing on wellbeing & flexibility, we create an empowering environment that gives our more than 3500 people wings. Ranked number 4 in 2025 in Randstad’s Employer Brand charts, we are driven by passion, ownership, team spirit, excellence and respect: values that make the difference every day for our company, for our guests and for each other.

Purpose of the Role

As Head of Maintenance & Engineering, you are responsible for ensuring the safe, reliable, and cost-efficient technical operation of the Brussels Airlines fleet.

You lead the Maintenance & Engineering organization — including Line Maintenance, Base Maintenance, Engineering Support, Technical training, Logistics, and Technical Records — ensuring compliance, operational excellence, and strong collaboration across all technical and operational interfaces.

As end responsible for Part-145 and Part-CAMO, you provide strategic direction, leadership, and oversight to ensure full regulatory compliance and continuous airworthiness in close cooperation with the nominated postholder(s) and regulatory authorities.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic and Technical Leadership

• Define and execute the company’s technical and maintenance strategy, aligned with the airline’s operational and commercial objectives.
• Oversee and steer all maintenance activities, ensuring fleet reliability, airworthiness, and operational readiness.
• Provide a vision for long-term maintenance planning (short-, mid-, and long-term) while balancing aircraft utilization, manpower capacity, and cost efficiency.
• Ensure effective integration and cooperation between Part-145, Part-CAMO, Engineering, and other technical stakeholders.
• Contribute to and challenge future fleet, maintenance, and investment decisions with data-driven insights and operational pragmatism.

1. Leadership, Culture & Engagement

• Lead by example — act as a visible and inspiring leader who embodies the values of safety, accountability, and teamwork.
• Create a sense of purpose and engagement within the maintenance organization, fostering pride in delivering a safe and reliable product.
• Build and sustain a strong internal network across all operational, technical, and corporate functions (Flight Ops, Ground Ops, Safety, HR, Finance, Procurement).
• Develop leadership capability at all levels of M&E, by enforcing (coaching) managers and supervisors to take ownership and make balanced, transparent decisions.
• Drive a culture of collaboration over silos, empowering teams to proactively address issues and continuously improve efficiency and reliability.

1. Organizational Excellence & Performance

• Oversee the structure, processes, and performance of the M&E department to ensure agility and clarity of responsibilities.
• Translate strategic priorities into operational objectives, measurable KPIs, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Manage the M&E budget and resource planning with a focus on sustainable efficiency and technical reliability.
• Encourage cross-functional projects between maintenance, engineering, logistics, and digital teams to optimize processes and data use.
• Support compliance and audit readiness by ensuring high-quality technical documentation and adherence to procedures.

1. Stakeholder Management & Representation

• Represent Maintenance & Engineering internally within the airline and externally towards suppliers, regulators, and industry partners.
• Act as the primary M&E representative within the broader airline group, leveraging group synergies and sharing best practices.
• Maintain a close working relationship with the Belgian Civil Aviation Authority (BCAA), Lufthansa Group Technical Organizations, and external MRO partners.
• Support HR and Industrial Relations in creating constructive dialogue with employee representatives and unions.

Profile

• University degree in Aeronautical or Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent technical qualification.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in Maintenance & Engineering within an airline or MRO environment.
• At least 7 years in a leadership position, ideally overseeing multidisciplinary teams across maintenance, engineering, and support functions.
• In-depth knowledge of EASA Part-145 and Part-CAMO regulations and their operational application.
• Proven ability to lead through transformation, build trust, and drive engagement across diverse teams.
• Strong interpersonal, influencing, and networking skills — able to connect people, build alignment, and navigate complex stakeholder landscapes.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to engage both operational staff and senior executives.
• Fluent in English and either proficiency in French and/or Dutch.