Manufacturing Engineer - Product & Planning

GKN; East Cowes; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading aerospace manufacturer in East Cowes is seeking an experienced Manufacturing Engineer to enhance production processes for high-performance aerospace structures. This role involves solving complex engineering problems in a composites-based environment, ensuring safety compliance, and implementing lean initiatives. The ideal candidate will have a minimum HNC in Engineering and a strong background in manufacturing engineering with experience in the aerospace sector.

Benefits

Career development opportunities

Diversity and inclusion culture

Qualifications

• Minimum HNC qualification or equivalent in an Engineering-related subject.
• Demonstrable experience in a Manufacturing Engineering role within a composites-based environment.
• Experience with large aerostructures.

Responsibilities

• Develop manufacturing process solutions to complex problems.
• Accountable for production planning from concept through to production.
• Deliver technical support for manufacturing process development.

Skills

Composites experience

Problem solving

Change management

Lean initiatives

Education

HNC qualification or equivalent in Engineering

Tools

ERP system

APQP tools

ISO9000

AS9100

Job description

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. Sitting across our three business lines; Civil, Defence and Engines at our East Cowes manufacturing plants you'll do just that. Established in 1901, one of our older production sites with a workforce of circa 800 employees. Our East Cowes plants, on the beautiful Isle of Wight, are where we design, manufacture, test and repair high performance aerospace structures and systems. We have two facilities on the Island; Falcon Yard and Osborne; both locations employ the Company's distinct competencies in major assemblies and composite structures for the global aerospace market. Our customer base includes Airbus, Astronics, BAE Systems, Boeing, Bombardier Aerospace, Cessna, Cobham, Honeywell, Leonardo, Lockheed Martin, Rolls Royce and Triumph. Due to an exciting period of growth, we are now seeking experienced Manufacturing Engineers to join our thriving Product & Planning Team. Based at our East Cowes site and reporting into the Manufacturing Engineer Manager, the Manufacturing Engineer will be working across both our Civil and Defence Business lines, providing engineering proficiency to operational and development programmes to enable and deliver zero defect projects, utilising engineering and problem‑solving skills. You will be accountable for delivering robust, proficient manufacturing process technology as it applies to materials, tooling, part fabrication and assembly. The successful candidate will need to be flexible for limited ad‑hoc travel, nationally and internationally, and will be joining an Engineering department typically between 6-10 Manufacturing Engineers.

Key Responsibilities

• 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 manufacturing process solutions to complex problems through;
• Accountable for the implementation of production planning, from original concept through to production, designing these processes to a high level of process capability through utilizing the GKN standard Zero Defect Manufacturing (ZDM) tool suite;
• Accountable for product development, first article development, configuration changes, build process definition and implementation;
• The development of technical solutions to complex problems within GKN Aerospace, our customers and suppliers;
• Delivering technical support of manufacturing process development and integration for production;
• Utilising root‑cause analysis, preventative and corrective action to reduce/eliminate non‑conformances;
• Maintaining positive team relationships with internal and external customers, as well as co‑workers;
• Continuously improving production processes by implementing Lean initiatives;
• Awareness and application of APQP tools (set of tools used for problem solving).

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum HNC qualification (or equivalent) within an Engineering related subject, OR an ONC‑level engineering qualification supplemented by suitable amount of workplace experience;
• Demonstrable previous experience in a Manufacturing Engineering role, gained within a composites‑based manufacturing environment;
• Composite Experience (hand‑lay, prepreg processes) and/or Assembly Experience (typical large aerostructures);
• Previous experience of working within the Aerospace (or similar) manufacturing;
• Typical ME skills (generation of work instructions, problem solving, change management etc.).

Desirable

• Working knowledge of quality system models such as ISO9000, AS9100, or D1‑9000;
• Experience of Project / Programme Management;
• Familiarity with AS9145 APQP process or equivalent;
• Understanding and use of an ERP system;
• Green Belt Certified.

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 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. 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?

Culture & Inclusion

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.