Lee Fern
Wimborne Minster,Dorset
Summary
Accomplished professional with extensive expertise in management and engineering leadership, specializing in resource planning and production systems. Proficient in systems engineering throughout the project lifecycle, with strong technical knowledge in electronic hardware. Demonstrates skills in configuration management, test and simulation design, and software proficiency in Microsoft Office. Effective communicator with a focus on technical documentation, troubleshooting, and system lifecycle management strategies.
Overview
10
10
years of post-secondary education
24
24
years of professional experience
Work history
Avionics Airborne Equipment (AAE) Systems Manager
Eaton Mission Systems Division (MSD) (formally Flight Refuelling Limited)
2025.01 - 2026.07
- In my role as AAE Systems Manager, my responsibilities are divided into two key areas:
- Team Management: I oversee the day-to-day operations of the team, including coordination and strategic planning, conducting one-to-one and feedback meetings, monitoring time and attendance, mentoring staff and managing general administrative activities. Additionally, I allocate work, ensure resource levels are sufficient and future demand is correct. I also play an active role in annual performance reviews to support employee development and progression.
- Technical Leadership: I provide technical lead input during meetings and discussions, conduct final reviews and approvals of documentation and hold responsibility for authorising reports, such as failure analyses and other investigative outputs. My technical leadership extends to producing project and engineering management plans, developing and scheduling project timelines and engaging with both internal stakeholders and external customers to ensure successful delivery. I also deliver project progress and raise escalations to senior management via tier board meetings. Furthermore, I facilitate cross-functional discussions and provide technical authority to project meetings.
Automated Test Equipment (ATE) Team Leader
Eaton Mission Systems Division (MSD) (formally Flight Refuelling Limited)
2014.01 - 2025.12
- In my previous position as ATE Team Leader and Lead Engineer for legacy test equipment, I was responsible for leading a team of engineers in the development of test solutions for a range of electronic ‘black box’ systems. This involved delegating tasks effectively while also contributing directly to technical deliverables.
- During my most recent project, I assumed the role of Lead Engineer, where I produced multiple engineering management plans, developed and maintained project schedules and collaborated closely with both internal stakeholders and external customers to ensure successful project outcomes.
- Key management responsibilities:
- Facilitating team and project meetings, allocating work and ensuring resource levels are sufficient
- Estimating hours and material for projects and assisting in project schedule creation and maintenance
- Delivering project progress updates to senior management
- Key responsibilities to produce test solutions for production test and simulation:
- Understanding and working to process, whilst identifying process improvement
- Understanding electronic block diagrams and/or schematics and being able to reverse engineer
- Understanding requirements, verification plans and creating test hardware and software from these
- Initial test solution design, including looms, load boxes, fixtures, racks
- Documentation, including requirement, design and various verification documents
- Test sequence design, primarily using National Instruments TestStand and LabVIEW
- Verification activities, including producing verification procedures or using procedures for test
- Conducting design reviews, including design ‘gates’ with presentations to other groups
- Report writing, such as verification reports
- Simulation activities which have been used to re-create real life scenarios
- Customer support, interfacing with and providing assistance
- Diagnostic support, interfacing with suppliers, internal or external to Eaton MSD
Automated Test Equipment Engineer
Eaton Mission Systems Division (MSD) (formally Flight Refuelling Limited)
2007.01 - 2014.01
- My role previously was to provide test solutions for various electronic ‘black boxes’.
- Key responsibilities:
- Understanding electronic block diagrams and/or schematics
- Initial test solution design, including looms and load boxes
- Documentation, including design and verification documents
- Test sequence design heavily using National Instruments TestStand and LabVIEW
- Verification activities
- Customer support
- Hand skills including, but not limited to, soldering and prototype loom and load box builds
Apprentice in Engineering
2003.01 - 2007.01
- Key responsibilities:
- Learning to use hand tools, manual machines and automated machines
- Understanding to read and produce detailed engineering drawings, electronic block diagrams and/or schematics
- Understanding the use of bench instruments including but not limited to DMMs and Oscilloscopes
- Understanding processes and procedures
Education
BSc Electronic Engineering Degree - Electronic Engineering
Southampton Solent University
2007.09 - 2014.06
ONC Mechanical Engineering - Mechanical Engineering
Bournemouth and Poole College
2004.09 - 2007.06
Level 2 NVQ Diploma - Manufacturing Engineering
HMS Sultan Naval Base
2003.09 - 2004.06
Skills
- Management expertise in resource planning
- Engineering leadership in production systems
- Systems engineering across full lifecycle
- Project engineering for planning and execution
- Technical knowledge in electronic hardware
- Configuration management processes
- Test and simulation design solutions
- Software proficiency in Microsoft Office
- Effective communication skills
- Technical documentation writing
- Troubleshooting expertise
- System lifecycle management strategies
- Change readiness initiatives
- Workload balancing techniques
- Technical design review lifecycle
Other
Full and clean UK driving license. Valid passport. SC security clearance being renewed.
Timeline
Avionics Airborne Equipment (AAE) Systems Manager
Eaton Mission Systems Division (MSD) (formally Flight Refuelling Limited)
2025.01 - 2026.07
Automated Test Equipment (ATE) Team Leader
Eaton Mission Systems Division (MSD) (formally Flight Refuelling Limited)
2014.01 - 2025.12
BSc Electronic Engineering Degree - Electronic Engineering
Southampton Solent University
2007.09 - 2014.06
Automated Test Equipment Engineer
Eaton Mission Systems Division (MSD) (formally Flight Refuelling Limited)
2007.01 - 2014.01
ONC Mechanical Engineering - Mechanical Engineering
Bournemouth and Poole College
2004.09 - 2007.06
Level 2 NVQ Diploma - Manufacturing Engineering
HMS Sultan Naval Base
2003.09 - 2004.06
Apprentice in Engineering
2003.01 - 2007.01