Senior Research Engineer - Composite Manufacturing Processes

Senior Research Engineer - Composite Manufacturing Processes

Date: May 21, 2026

Location:Bristol, GB

Company: GKN Aerospace Careers

Fantastic challenges. Amazing opportunities.

GKN Aerospace is reimagining air travel: going further, faster and greener! Fuelled by great people whose expertise and creativity sets the standards in our industry, we’re inspired by the opportunities to innovate and break boundaries. We’re proud to play a part in protecting the world’s democracies. And we’re committed to putting sustainability at the centre of everything we do, opening up and protecting our planet. With over 16,000 employees across 33 manufacturing sites in 12 countries we serve over 90% of the world’s aircraft and engine manufacturers and achieved sales of £3.35 bn.in 2023. There are no limits to where you can take your career.

Job Summary

We are looking for a Senior Research Engineer – with a background in advanced composite manufacturing process development and with specialist knowledge in Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM).  You will be an integral member of the GTC technology team based in Bristol leading development of advanced composite manufacturing processes for current and future wing applications. We are looking for people who want to make a difference, talented individuals with the skills and passion to be leaders in what they do.

As a Senior Research Engineer you will draw on your diverse engineering background and product lifecycle awareness to progress a variety of research activity in the TRL3-6 range. You will have sound experience in leading technical work, including budgeting, schedule and risk management. You will be capable of achieving through others internally and externally, and you will be committed to development of your own skills and professional network. Your good communication skills shall enable you to confidently engage with a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders.

How You'll Contribute

The Senior Research Engineer will have the following responsibilities:

• You will have developed an understanding of the strategic direction of target products in your project(s), and you will contribute to the development of your project(s) strategy, reconciling strategic input from multiple specialist areas.
• You may have budget accountability for a Work Stream or Work Package
• You will contribute to multi-year planning and internal/external funding proposals as required
• You will be responsible for preparation of the Technology Development Plans and Technology Business Cases within your project(s).
• You will ensure all planning documentation in your responsibility is regularly updated, accurate, and delivery is on track. You may also have schedule accountability for your project(s)
• You will support or lead development trials and test work applicable to your Work Package or Work Stream.
• You will be responsible for raising and issuing high quality and detailed technical documentation.
• You may be responsible for line management of core Technology Team members assigned to your Work Stream or project, or management of deployed team members.
• You will drive project(s) toward exploitation, identifying and supporting industrialisation scenario development.
• You will support project stakeholder management with internal/external customers, and you may lead management of supply chain partners.
• You will be accountable for adherence to GKN EH&S policies and procedures in your projects, teams and associated working areas including monitoring and reporting of key health and safety metrics. By leading by example, you will contribute to a proactive 'safety first' EH&S culture.
• You will contribute to the development of GKN as a 'Great Place to Work', aligned with the core principles - safe, innovative, open & honest, care & respect, and ownership.

What you'll Bring

To help us make a difference, you’ll bring your passion and expertise/talent for what you do along with the following skills, experience, qualifications and attributes:

Essential:

• In-depth technical knowledge in the development of Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM) processes (incl. HP-RTM, VARTM, CRTM) for medium to large-scale aerospace applications with relevant experience from other industries also welcomed
• Have contributed to the technology development and delivery for medium to large scale RTM structures, including development of tooling concepts, forming technologies, in-mould sensoring and monitoring tools, and resin injection equipment.
• Good understanding of process control, repeatability, and statistical variation in composite manufacturing.
• Experience collaborating with tooling engineers on RTM mould design, resin distribution strategies, and thermal management.
• Familiarity with defect mechanisms in RTM (e.g. dry spots, voids, race tracking) and mitigation strategies.
• Hands-on experience supporting RTM manufacturing in a production or industrial R&D environment.
• Detailed knowledge of a variety of Carbon fibre materials and associated processing options, both manual and automated.
• Strong understanding of aerospace-grade composite materials, including fibres, resins, and core materials.

Education:

Essential

• A relevant, accredited engineering degree or experience of demonstrable equivalence 

What We'll Offer

Once you’re on board, you’ll get the following perks and benefits:

• Competitive salary dependent on experience
• Up to 15% Bonus
• Industry Leading Pension Scheme = we’ll match your contributions up to 8% on a 1: 1.5 basis (Employer max contribution 12%)
• Life Assurance 8 x salary
• 25 days holiday + bank holidays
• Hybrid Working
• Flexible working hours including the ability to finish at 12noon on a Friday
• Income protection
• Shopping discounts
• Cycle To Work Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Virtual GP Clinic for you and immediate family
• A collaborative, dynamic working environment

We’ll offer you fantastic challenges and amazing opportunities. This is your chance to be part of an organisation that has proven itself to be at the cutting edge of our industry; and is committed to pushing the boundaries even further.  And with some of the best training on offer in the industry, who knows how far you can go?

A Great Place to work needs a Great Way of Working

Everyone is welcome to apply to GKN.  We believe that we can only achieve our ambitions through a coming together of diverse minds who enjoy collaborating in an inspirational environment. Through our commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging and by living our five powerful principles we’ve created a culture where everyone feels welcome to contribute.  It’s a culture that won us ‘The Best Workplace Culture Award’.  By embracing and celebrating what makes us unique we encourage everyone to bring their full self to work.

We’re also committed to providing an accessible recruitment process, so if you require reasonable adjustments at any stage during our recruitment process please get in touch and let us know.

We are the place where human dreams, plus human endeavour, shape the future of aerospace innovation and technology.​
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