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
“Together We Rise”
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, Airbus A320, 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 Manufacturing Engineering Manager you will be based at our Luton Manufacturing site and working across both our Civil and Defence Business Lines. You will be responsible for leading a multi-disciplined, process control focused, Manufacturing Engineering team that eliminates defects through deployment of GKN Aerospace Zero Defect Manufacturing (ZDM) tool suite. Reporting to the Head of Manufacturing Engineering and leading a team of Manufacturing Engineers and Apprentices you will deploy engineering resources to Production & Development Programmes and ensure compliance of these deployed teams to the established functional processes. You will deliver robust, capable manufacturing process technology as it applies to both materials, tooling, part fabrication and assembly.
This is a full-time position and core operational hours at our Luton site are: 07:30 - 16:30 Monday to Thursday & 07:30 - 12:30 Friday. While this position does not require frequent travel we do ask for flexibility to travel for business need if required.
Job Responsibilities
- Exemplifying a safety-first mind-set and ensuring compliance with the GKN Aerospace Health, Safety and Environmental policies and standards.
- Develop technical solutions to complex problems. Delivery of a manufacturing system that fulfils all stakeholder requirements including; Safety, Quality, Producibility & Business case
- Lead engineering teams to deliver measurable, metrics driven results in line with Operational and Programme goals.
- Deliver class leading engineering solutions to solutions to complex problems
- Develop, deploy and maintain functional engineering standards.
- Develop and deliver manufacturing engineering training strategy for the business. Lead capability & career development of the engineering team.
- Build a culture of process control, Zero Defect Manufacturing (ZDM) mind-set in the manufacturing engineering team.
- Responsible for the implementation of tooling and or production planning, from original concept through to production. Design these processes with a high degree of process capability utilizing the GKN standard ZDM tool suite to demonstrate as such.
- Accountable for product development, new product quotes, tool fabrication quotes, first article development, configuration changes that involve cost estimation, schedule coordination, build process definition, and implementation
- Maintain positive, team relationships with internal and external customers, as well as co-workers
- Continuously improve production processes by implementing Lean initiatives
How You'll Contribute
Essential
To help us make a difference, you’ll bring your passion and talent for what you do along with the following skills, experience, qualifications and attributes:
- A professional qualification HND/Degree (or equivalent) in Engineering (Aerospace, Mechanical, or similar)
- Technical expertise in Manufacturing Engineering
- Experience of Process introduction (industrialisation) & existing production process improvements
- Experience of leading a team of Manufacturing Engineers
- Working knowledge of quality system models such as ISO9000, AS9100, or D1-9000
Desirable
- Working knowledge of LEAN processes and practices
- Experience of managing New Product introduction
- Experience in CAPEX (Capital expenditure)
- Experience of Project / Program Management
- Familiarity with AS9145 APQP process or equivalent
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 Manufacturing Engineering Manager will be able to influence people, build trust and establish effective working relationships within a global organisation. With good communication skills both written and spoken you will collaborate and work cross functionally with colleagues within Operations, Design and Finance departments. The successful person will have the ability to be agile and shift focus to meet the needs of the business while working to tight customer deadlines.
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
- Free onsite parking
- Local gym discount
- 50% off local travel card
- Free airport Dart
- Free airport parking
- 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.
