Associate Materials Engineer (Composites)

GKN; Blackwater; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

GKN Aerospace in the United Kingdom is seeking an Associate Materials Engineer to join a busy composite manufacturing engineering team. The role focuses on providing capability across operational and development programmes to enable zero-defect projects.

You will monitor production, deploy robust processes, and support manufacturing development. You will apply root cause analysis and drive Lean improvements while collaborating with suppliers and customers.

Qualifications

• Experience in composites manufacturing and processing methods.
• Experience with continuous improvement and Lean management.
• Proactive in adopting new developments and technologies.
• Strong interpersonal skills and customer/supplier interfacing.
• Ability to work under own initiative and deliver.
• Ability to manage internal/external requirements and deadlines.
• Focus on delivering on time, cost and quality.
• Proficient PC skills including MS Office.
• Self-motivated, resourceful and adaptable in complex environments.

Responsibilities

• Monitor composite production through test and audit to ensure robust process selection and control.
• Support deployment of reliable composite manufacturing processes meeting business and customer requirements.
• Provide specialist knowledge to production activities to improve efficiency and reduce nonconforming parts.
• Apply root cause analysis and corrective actions to reduce defects.
• Deliver manufacturing process development and integration for production.
• Maintain positive relationships with internal/external customers and co-workers.
• Drive continuous improvement of production processes using Lean techniques.

Skills

Composite materials

Lean & CI

Proactive learner

Interpersonal skills

Independent delivery

Customer coordination

Delivery to cost & quality

MS Office

Problem solving

Flexibility

Education

Material Science degree (or equivalent)

Tools

MS Office

Job description

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

Job Responsibilities

• monitoring of composite production by both test and audit, ensuring robust process selection, implementation & control
• 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)
• 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
• 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
• 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

Qualifications

• Material Science degree (or equivalent) or significant related industry experience
• 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

About Us & Culture

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.

Fantastic challenges. Amazing opportunities.

About GKN Aerospace

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.