Oldhamer Paul elected as Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering

The Royal Academy of Engineering has today (Wednesday) elected BAE Systems Air’s Paul Needham as a new fellow, in recognition of his outstanding career in Engineering and contributions to solving engineering problems in aerospace design and manufacture.

Proud Oldhamer Paul will be formally admitted into the Fellowship at an event hosted at Prince Phillip House in London on November 28.

The Academy’s Fellowship was formed in 1976 and has to date welcomed 1,653 leading engineers from across the world, including a number of BAE Systems’ colleagues – including Chief Executive Charles Woodburn (2020) and Dave Holmes, Managing Director – FalconWorks (2022).

With a career spanning close to 40 years so far, Paul joined predecessor company British Aerospace as a shop floor apprentice in 1985, before moving to Samlesbury to join a small team working on the Joint Strike Fighter programme.

This programme would then evolve into the F-35 programme, where Paul became Head of Engineering – this role involved a substantial contribution to the UK and USA’s F-35 Lighting II programme.

From his role as Head of Engineering on F-35, Paul took up his current position as Head of Engineering Value Stream for Air and Space Products, a role that is responsible for the engineering capability and engineering disciplines that develop our Air and Space products.

He is also Chief Engineer for Historic Aircraft, where he leads a team of engineers who support the Lancaster in the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight fleet.

Elsewhere, Paul is also a BAE Systems Global Engineering Fellow, Trustee and a Fellow of the Institute of Engineering and Technology.

Paul continues to have strong links to academia via The University of Huddersfield, where he completed his BAE Systems funded, part-time PhD in 2008 in the Aerospace Design for Manufacture.

At Huddersfield, Paul went on to become an Honorary Doctor in 2022 and is now a Visiting Professor in the School of Computing and Engineering.

Despite all his engineering and academic achievements, Paul continues to be passionate about promoting achievement through vocational experience, regardless of a person’s background, academic qualifications or experiences.

He continues to supervise ongoing PhDs at the University of Huddersfield and also acts as a mentor for younger engineers in BAE Systems and across the UK, as a way of encouraging those striving to achieve in the engineering.

Paul said: “It goes without saying that being elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering is the biggest honour and thrill I've experienced, and I am looking forward to working with the Royal Academy in future.

"It will likely be the crowning achievement in my career and one I never imagined as a young man from Oldham walking on to the shop floor for the first time back in 1985.

“I hope it might serve as inspiration to others from similar backgrounds to myself- those who didn’t take the traditional academic route.

"There are many entry points to becoming an engineer, but in my experience the key is to keep learning and have a “can-do” positive outlook.”

Stephen Wynd, Engineering Director for BAE Systems Air, said “We’re exceptionally proud of Paul and his elected fellowship at the Royal Academy of Engineers.

"His combined dedication and contribution to BAE Systems throughout his career, especially on the F-35 programme, is completely invaluable and he deserves such decorated recognition.

"He’s a world-class engineer and an inspiration to his peers and without doubt, our world-class engineers of tomorrow too.”

BAE Systems is a long-term partner with the Royal Academy of Engineering and works with the organisation to help shape engineering policy in the UK.

This includes supporting projects that seek to address the shortage of engineers and change the perception of STEM careers and improve diversity within the UK’s engineering population.

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