Manufacturing Engineer - Materials & Processes (Special Process Auditor)

GKN Aerospace; East Cowes; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

GKN Aerospace in the United Kingdom is seeking a Supplier Quality Auditor to oversee supplier performance from a process perspective. You will monitor quality metrics, conduct assessments, and drive improvements in collaboration with engineering teams to maintain compliance.

You will act as primary liaison for supplier queries, support audits, handle non-conformances, and travel up to half the time to sites, ensuring alignment with AS9100 standards and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Relevant qualification in Material Science or engineering field.
• Auditing experience, specifically AS9100, ideally as external auditor.
• Knowledge of metallics-based quality environment and quality tools.
• Strong communication and problem-solving abilities.
• Willingness to travel nationally and internationally up to 50%.

Responsibilities

• Maintain contact with suppliers to monitor adherence to requirements.
• Support supplier approvals through audits and assessments.
• Handle supplier non-conformance with root cause investigation, containment, and corrective action.
• Participate in supplier work transfers including initial evaluation and ongoing monitoring.
• Support the Supplier First Article review process.

Skills

AS9100 auditing

Quality auditing

Root cause analysis

Problem solving

Strong communication

Travel up to 50%

Education

BSc./HND in Materials Science or engineering

Tools

Quality tools

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

To maintain appropriate oversight and auditing of suppliers from a process perspective.
Regularly monitor the quality performance of suppliers. Take appropriate actions based on the root cause of any issues (e.g. assessments, problem solving activities) to maintain continuous compliance.
Manage the quality performance of suppliers, serve as the primary liaison for suppliers for special process queries, identify and suggest process improvements and collaborate with other engineers in a team environment.

Job Responsibilities

Typical Responsibilities Will Include

• Maintain frequent contact with suppliers to monitor adherence to requirements and assist suppliers to understand the requirements where required.
• Support supplier approvals, through audits and assessments as applicable
• Handle supplier non-conformance, including root cause investigation, containment, and corrective action.
• Participate in supplier work transfers including initial evaluation and ongoing monitoring
• Support the Supplier First Article review process
  

Job Qualifications

Suitable candidates will be able to demonstrate:

• Relevant qualification (BSc., HND etc.) in Material Science (or an engineering-related subject supported by significant experience of this type of work)
• Experience gained in an auditing capacity (specifically AS9100), ideally in an external auditor capacity.
• Relevant knowledge and experience gained within a Metallics-based Quality environment, with a solid understanding of quality tools, standards, and practices
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to convey information clearly and build effective working relationships at all levels
• Proficiency in root cause analysis and corrective action, with hands‑on experience applying structured problem‑solving methods
• A high level of dedication, motivation, responsibility, and flexibility, including a willingness to roll up your sleeves and get actively involved when required
• Ability to travel nationally (and occasionally internationally), up to 50% of the time to support business and supplier requirements.
  

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.