Senior Manufacturing Engineer

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

It’s great to know you’re making a difference to the future of aviation! Whatever part you play you’ll be helping us deliver operational excellence to our customers. Based at our Luton manufacturing plant you’ll do just that. Established in 1993, GKN Aerospace in Luton is a world leader in commercial and military ice protection systems and transparencies. Offering a full range of capabilities; design, analysis, testing, certification and manufacture of electro-thermal ice protection, military fast jet canopies and flight deck windows to over 20 programmes including: Boeing 787, Dreamliner, AgustaWestland, AW101, Eurofighter Typhoon and Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor. Our customers include Boeing, Airbus, Lockheed Martin, Bell Helicopters, Textron, BAE Systems, Pratt & Whitney, Leonardo. Our Luton site is home to 370+ employees and onsite facilities including onsite parking, food hub and vending machines.

As part of the Manufacturing Engineering team, the Senior Manufacturing Engineer will report directly to the Manufacturing Engineering Manager, with day-to-day guidance and support provided by the ME Team Leader. Based at our Luton site and supporting Defence business lines, there may occasionally be a need to travel to equipment supplier locations. The Senior Manufacturing Engineer will join a team focused on either Jet Canopies or Helicopters, contributing to the development of manufacturing processes as well as supporting daily operational activities.

Core operational hours at our Luton site are: 07:30 - 16:30 Monday to Thursday & 07:30 - 12:30 Friday, earlier finish on Friday to start the weekend.

Job Responsibilities

• Local project technical lead for the implementation of production planning, from original concept through to production.

• Design high capability manufacturing processes using GKN’s Zero Defect Manufacturing (ZDM) tool suite, (APQP Core Tools).

• Develop, document and optimise manufacturing processes such as creation/amendment SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) and Process Specifications

• Create and update engineering documentation, manage point of introduction activities.

• Lead structured improvement activities to reduce process driven scrap and rework

• Provide MRB (Material Review Board) support to existing programmes to ensure any process deviation or product faults are reviewed and answered

• Make presentations at senior level internally and externally demonstrating ability to clearly communicate to the audience

• Identify, anticipate and offer solutions to technical problems

• Establish & improve production process controls

• Comply with company Environmental, Health, Safety and Energy procedures.

What You'll Bring

Essential

• Minimum HND qualification (or equivalent) in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial or Manufacturing Engineering/Aerospace

• Demonstrable Manufacturing Engineering experience gained from ideally the Aerospace, Automotive, Yellow Goods industry

• 6Sigma Greenbelt qualification

• Experience in APQP standards including Process Flow Diagram, Process Failure Mode Effect Analysis, Process Control Plans, Measurement System Analysis and Process Capability

• Experience of root cause analysis using Fishbone (Cause and Effect) Diagrams and 5 Whys (Five Whys) techniques

• Demonstrable experience of practical problem-solving techniques using A3 or 8D

Desirable

• Experience Leading Lean Manufacturing including process standardisation kaizen activities such as 5S

• Experience in lay-up processes for composite materials

• Specification interpretation experience

We are looking for people who want to make a difference, talented members with the skills and passions to become the best of the future in what they do. The Senior Manufacturing Engineer will have the ability to communicate effectively at all levels within an organisation and be flexible in their approach. The successful person will have a hands-on, creative approach to collaborate with multiple departments to improve manufacturing processes.

Note: Some GKN programmes are subject to regulatory restrictions which may impact certain nationalities. As part of the application process you will be asked to declare when applying for this role.

The position requires UK National Security Vetting (UKNSV) Security clearance (SC) due to the nature and responsibilities of the work carried out. In order for us to obtain an SC you usually need to have been resident in the UK for a minimum of 5 years to current date (but we will assess each case individually).

What We'll Offer

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

• Competitive salary dependent on experience

• The opportunity to earn up to 15% bonus

• Industry Leading Pension Scheme = we’ll match your contributions up to 8% on a 1 : 1.5 basis

• Life Assurance 8 x salary

• 185 hours holiday + bank holidays

• Income protection

• Shopping discounts

• Cycle To Work Scheme

• Employee Assistance Programme

• Virtual GP Clinic for you and immediate family

• Electric Vehicle (EV) salary sacrifice scheme (Insurance, servicing, maintenance, roadside assistance and more included)

• Free onsite parking

• Local gym discount

• Free airport parking

• Discount with local nursery and preschool childcare setting

• Enhanced family friendly leave

• A collaborative, dynamic working environment

As well as a competitive package we’ll offer you a world of opportunity. We want to see your career fly! We’ll support your career progression by providing you with learning and development opportunities. That’s the beauty of being part of a global business, once you’re on board you never know where you career journey may take you!

Join us and keep the world moving … click on the link below to apply

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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