Chief 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

“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 Chief Manufacturing Engineer, reporting to the Head of Engineering & Technology, you will be responsible for leading the Planning, Development, Commissioning and Industrialisation of Manufacturing Systems & Processes for the Luton manufacturing site (and potential support for other sites within the Defence business line). This applies to, but not limited to; New Product Introductions (NPI), Work Transfers, Technology Insertions, CAPEX delivery projects and addressing Critical Quality issues.

The Chief Manufacturing Engineer directly manages and leads a small team of Industrialisation engineers, the deployed Manufacturing Engineering (ME) team to deliver manufacturing systems in compliance with identified requirements (Produceability, Productivity, Cost, Schedule, Regulatory/Customer/HSE requirements) and adherence to Zero Defect Manufacturing (ZDM) standards.

This role may have up to eight direct and indirect reports depending on the deployment and requires flexibility to travel to customers and suppliers when required nationally and occasional international travel. Core operational hours at our Luton site are: 07:30 - 16:30 Monday to Thursday & 07:30 - 12:30 Friday.

Job Responsibilities

• NPI: The CME is responsible for Planning, Development, Commissioning of the Manufacturing System and Processes for New Product Introductions [LG0->LG7]. Working with the Design Chief Engineers (for Design and Build contracts) and Programme management, they are accountable for delivering a manufacturing system that fulfils all stakeholder requirements (Safety, Logistics, Quality, Produceability & Business case metrics), including development and maturity of Manufacturing processes and documentation.
• Sustaining: The CME is responsible for governance of the CAPEX portfolio and their evolution (as required) to ensure productivity & quality targets are continually evolving. This includes Identification of new technologies and their development & exploitation, and benchmarking of processes across the GKN portfolio of products. The CME is further responsible for oversight of the site automation strategy, delivered by lead automation engineer, covering equipment availability, maintainability, optimisation and process performance and capability.
• Leadership of Projects: Responsible for technical leadership of industrialisation projects including manufacturing system design, equipment identification and specification, implementation and delivery of APQP activities to ensure robust process capability and ongoing performance. This includes Program Management, Planning, Resource provisioning, budgeting, & Project EV reporting within functional and Enterprise standards.
• Leadership of Teams: Accountable to the site E&T manager for the delivery for all ME and Industrialisation content through the leadership of the core industrialisation team and the deployed manufacturing engineering team.
• Quality: Responsible for Product quality within the NPI ME function. Responsible for governing and improving the CAPEX process and ensuring adherence to business procedures. Expected to drive a quality mind-set within the deployed engineering team and ensure compliance to agreed Customer, Regulatory, Business and functional standards including AS9145 (ZDM).
• Bids: Working closely with the Programme and Business Development team, be responsible for the technical ME content of bid work including Technical risk management, ME work content and NRC/RC budgeting.
• Relationships: Maintain positive, team relationships with internal and external customers, key stakeholders within the business. Foster and champion 5 principles within sphere of influence.

What You'll Bring

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:

Essential:

• Technical expertise in Manufacturing Engineering, with a relevant professional qualification / background (university degree) in Engineering (eg. Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical)
• Experience of managing New Product / Process introduction (industrialisation) & existing production process improvements
• Ability to influence people, build trust and establish effective working relationships within a global organisation
• Working knowledge of LEAN processes and practices
• Demonstrable experience in Manufacturing Engineering and/or Demonstrated ability in leadership position with evidence of delivering significant improvements in terms of cost/quality of a manufacturing system.
• Working knowledge of quality system models such as ISO9000 or AS9100
• Experience of being a primary contributor to Engineering Design Reviews (e.g. PDR, CDR) and Life cycle reviews.

Desirable:

• Project / Program Management Professional Qualification
• Familiarity with AS9145 APQP process or equivalent
• Familiarity with appropriate digital opportunities for manufacturing systems
• Familiarity with managing large scale Industrialisation/CAPEX portfolios
• Understanding / Familiarity with automated systems and processes

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. To be successful in this role The Chief Manufacturing Engineer will demonstrate leadership skills, awareness to drive to the right business goals in complex multisite environments. You will have the ability to lead and influence people, build trust and establish effective working relationships within a global organisation. The successful candidate will understand context of large organisations and is able to adapt between longer term strategic goals and short term tactical deployments.

Please note: 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 do 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
• Free onsite parking
• Local gym discount
• 50% off local travel card
• Free airport Dart
• Free airport parking
• Enhanced family friendly leave
• Discount for local nursery/preschool childcare setting
• 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 your career journey may take you!

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

#LI-ONSITE

#LI-CH1

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.