John Lynch from 25 years in the RAF to a Principal Configuration Engineer at Leonardo
Tell us about your time in Service
Trade: Engineering Technician Weapons.
Joined the RAF August 1989, Left the RAF June 2014.
After completion of Basic and Trade Training (1990), I was posted / Deployed to the following RAF Stations:
RAF Wyton, RAF Lyneham, RAF Bruggen (Germany, 3 Years), RAF Valley, RAF Cosford (Technical Training -12 months), RAF Leeming, RAF Leuchars, RAF Akrotiri (Cyprus, 3 Years), RAF Leuchars, RAF Conningsby, RAF Leuchars.
My last role in the RAF was as a sergeant on 6 Squadron (Typhoon Aircraft).
6 Squadron formed at RAF Coningsby (Lincolnshire) in 2009, then in 2010 we were redeployed to RAF Leuchars (Fife).
My Roles on 6 Squadron included the Following:
Typhoon Eurofighter Weapons Systems Engineer ◊ Team Leader/Line Manager ◊ Independent Inspector of safety critical systems ◊ Aircraft safety Assessor and Instructor ◊
Roles & Responsibilities included:
• Shift Manager and Supervisor: responsible for the day to day management of trade related Engineering tasks and the “hands on” supervision of associated technicians.
• Installation/replacement and preventative maintenance of aircraft electro-mechanical armament systems/components.
• Installation/replacement of aircrew survival systems: Explosive initiated ejection seats and transparencies.
• Loading/Unloading of a variety of explosive ordnance: “Air to Air” missiles, ammunition and precision guided “Air-Surface” weapons.
• Multi-system fault diagnosis, testing and the interrogation of complex aircraft generated fault coding.
• Accountable for the personal development of subordinates and carry the position for compiling their bi-annual appraisals (written and oral).
• Independent inspector of safety critical systems.
• Responsible for the compilation and co-ordination of aircraft engineering documentation and the implementation and sustainment of standards, quality and HSE directives.
• Weapon and Crew Escape Systems Instructor/Assessor: authorised to deliver aircraft safety and ground handling training to internal and external agencies.
• Squadron Deputy Aircraft Maintenance Coordinator: responsible for the prioritizing, delivery and co-ordination of all maintenance activities.
• Squadron Deputy Flight Line Controller: responsible for the allocation of manpower and resources required to maintain the Squadrons flying commitment.
• UK North - Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) Duty Engineering Coordinator: responsible for all QRA aircraft maintenance activities/manpower with the objective of sustaining a state of continual readiness to launch interceptor aircraft at short notice. (Periodic 24hr / 7 Day residential duty).
Which aspects of Service life did you enjoy the most?
Teamwork, Travelling, learning new roles
Tell us a little about your current job and what it entails.
As a Principal Configuration Engineer, my primary role is to manage the delivery of Configuration engineering activities in a professional manner and to provide technical leadership, coaching and mentoring to the “team” & Project co-workers.
Did you face any challenges when settling into your job?
Becoming familiar with the Company Structure and processes
What advice would you give other Service leavers?
1. Plan ahead. Have a plan “A”, a plan “B”,…plan “Z”. Things don’t often progress in the order that you want. It took me 2 years of civilian life before I Joined Leonardo.
2. Every activity that you have done in the military is not wasted. There have numerous times since leaving the Airforce that I have had to refer back to tasks that at the time I had considered to be a waste of time…,… but in civilian life some of these tasks have proven to be extremely useful.
3. Grow / Join a “Network” such as Linkedin.