Engineering Team Leader (Sustaining)

GKN Aerospace; East Cowes; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking company at the forefront of aerospace innovation! As an Engineering Lead, you will tackle exciting challenges related to turbo fan nacelles, ensuring design excellence and compliance with industry standards. This role offers a unique opportunity to lead a talented engineering team, collaborate with diverse stakeholders, and drive continuous improvement initiatives. With a commitment to sustainability and a culture that values diversity and inclusion, this organization provides a dynamic and supportive environment where your career can truly soar. Embrace the chance to shape the future of air travel while enjoying a range of competitive benefits and opportunities for professional growth!

Benefits

Competitive salary

Bonus up to 15%

Hybrid working

Industry Leading Pension Scheme

Life Assurance 8 x salary

185 hours holiday + bank holidays

Income protection

Shopping discounts

Cycle To Work Scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Qualifications

• 10+ years in aerospace design or 20+ years without a degree.
• Experience in RCCA projects and managing engineering teams.

Responsibilities

• Act as primary contact for engineering issues and oversee project performance.
• Ensure compliance with customer specifications and airworthiness regulations.

Skills

Aerospace Design

Composite Structures

Metallic Structures

Project Management

Root Cause Analysis

Team Collaboration

Education

Degree in Engineering

Project Management Certification (e.g., Prince II)

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 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

The Engineering Lead – Sustaining plays a crucial role in supporting design issues for in-service products manufactured at Cowes, post-Life Cycle Gate 7. This position focuses on turbo fan nacelles, incorporating composite and metallic structures, as well as engine and pylon interface systems.

As a key member of the Programme Core Team, the Engineering Lead manages overall engineering activities within the program, ensuring alignment with business and program objectives under the guidance of the Chief Engineer.

How You'll Contribute

• Act as the primary technical point of contact for external customers, addressing and resolving engineering issues.
• Oversee engineering support for selected programs, collaborating with Program Managers to define schedules, resources, and budgets while monitoring performance against cost and schedule targets.
• Ensure all engineering deliverables comply with customer specifications, technical requirements, and airworthiness regulations.
• Provide regular reports to engineering leadership, tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) related to quality, compliance, risk, cost, and schedule.
• Develop and execute engineering plans that align with business quality objectives and program/site cost targets, focusing on reducing scrap and concession activities.
• Support program risk management by identifying technical risks and implementing mitigation strategies.
• Lead and support a high-performing engineering team, fostering collaboration, professional growth, and operational excellence.
• Work closely with design teams to incorporate modifications and changes in line with business management system (BMS) and quality management system (QMS) standards.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement by identifying and implementing process enhancements.
• Maintain clear and effective communication within the team and with external stakeholders.
• Serve as the focal point for quality investigations, including root cause and corrective action (RCCA) activities, and lead investigations when necessary.
• Ensure all engineering activities adhere to internal processes and regulatory requirements, supporting both internal and external audits as needed.

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:

• Extensive experience in aerospace design or analysis of composite and metallic structures, typically gained over 10+ years with a degree or 20+ years without.
• Experience in root cause and corrective action (RCCA) projects with a history of implementing corrective actions.
• Background in working within multi-disciplinary engineering teams, including Design, Analysis, Materials & Processes, and Manufacturing.
• Experience managing engineering projects using recognized project management methodologies.
• Experience working with Operations, Senior Leadership, Customers, and Suppliers in an aerospace environment.
• Demonstrated experience in generating and approving non-conformance dispositions.

Desirable:

• Project Management certification such as Prince II
• Ability to mentor and coach Engineers in the Delivery of their specific Task and supporting their professional Growth.
• Experience gained from working in an aerospace manufacturing environment.
• Previously held technical approval authority (i.e. is recognized as having appropriate technical seniority for Design or Analysis).

What We'll Offer

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

• Competitive salary dependant on experience
• Opportunity to earn up to 15% bonus
• Hybrid working – giving you the opportunity to balance home and office working
• 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
• 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!

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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