Associate Materials Engineer (Composites)

Gkn Aerospace; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

GKN Aerospace in Birmingham seeks an Associate Materials Engineer (Composites) to join its manufacturing centre of excellence. You will monitor composite production, ensure robust processes, and deliver solutions across development and production, contributing to zero-defect manufacturing goals.

The role offers exposure to advanced materials engineering within a leading aerospace environment, with emphasis on problem solving, process capability, and collaboration with customers and suppliers.

Qualifications

• Material Science degree or significant related industry experience.
• Sound background in composite materials engineering and processing methods in composites manufacturing.
• Experience of continuous improvement and Lean management.
• Proactive in regard to new developments of expertise.
• Good interpersonal skills with customers and suppliers.
• Proven ability to work and deliver under own initiative.
• Ability to manage and coordinate internal/external customer requirements.

Responsibilities

• Monitor composite production by test and audit to ensure robust process selection and control.
• Support delivery of robust, repeatable composite manufacturing processes meeting business and customer needs.
• Develop and deploy technical solutions using ZDM tools.
• Provide technical support of manufacturing development and integration for production.
• Use root cause analysis to reduce non-conformances and drive improvements.
• Maintain positive relationships with customers and co-workers; apply Lean initiatives.

Skills

Material science

Composite materials

Lean management

Team work

Problem solving

MS Office

Education

Material Science degree

Tools

MS Office

Job description

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 32 manufacturing sites in 12 countries we serve over 90% of the world’s aircraft and engine manufacturers and achieved sales of £3.6bn in 2025. There are no limits to where you can take your career.

Job Summary

Based in our thriving manufacturing centre of excellence, the Associate Materials Engineering will join a busy team specialising in providing composite manufacturing engineering capability to operational and developmental programmes to enable and deliver zero defect projects utilising engineering and problem solving skills, whilst being accountable for delivering robust, capable manufacturing process technology as it applies to materials and processes.

This could be an ideal opportunity for someone with the right skills and educational background to develop a very rewarding career within the Aerospace Manufacturing Industry

Job Responsibilities

The post holder will be specifically responsible for monitoring of composite production, by both test and audit, ensuring robust process selection, implementation & control. They will support the delivery and deployment of a robust, repeatable and reliable composite manufacturing process that meets all the requirements of the Business and our customers.

• Authorised Stamp Holder (MLSR).
• Responsible for the implementation of materials & process methods and solutions, from original concept through to production.
• Deploy these processes with a high degree of process capability utilizing the GKN standard Zero Defect Manufacturing (ZDM) tool suite to demonstrate as such.
• Responsible for technical support of manufacturing development and integration for production. Resolve issues pertaining to vendor quality.
• Provide specialist knowledge to production activities with the ultimate goal of improving efficiency, product quality and the reduction of non-conforming parts.
• Exemplifying a safety-first mind-set and ensuring compliance with the GKN Aerospace Health, Safety and Environmental policies and standards.
• Responsible for the development of technical solutions to complex problems within GKN Aerospace, our customers and suppliers.
• Deliver technical support of manufacturing process development and integration for production.
• Utilise root cause analysis, preventative and corrective action to reduce/eliminate non-conformances.
• Maintain positive, team relationships with internal and external customers, as well as co-workers
• Continuously improve production processes by implementing Lean initiatives.

Job Qualifications

• Material Science degree (or equivalent) or significant related industry experience
• A sound background in composite materials engineering and in working on complex projects, including knowledge of processing methods in composites manufacturing;
• Experience of continuous improvement and Lean management.
• Proactive in regard to new developments of expertise required.
• Good interpersonal skills, with effective team working and the capability of interfacing professionally with customers and suppliers.
• Proven ability to work and to deliver under own initiative
• Ability to manage and to coordinate internal/external customer requirements.
• Achieving delivery to time cost and quality.
• PC literate – MS office programs
• Self-motivated, resourceful, strong minded and committed.
• Flexible and capable of working in a complex 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.

Associate Materials Engineer (Composites) Birmingham, GB