Manufacturing Engineering Manager

GKN Aerospace; West of England; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus up to 15%

EV salary sacrifice

Pension matched up to 8%

Life Assurance 8x salary

25 days holiday

Flexible hours

Cycle To Work

EAP

Virtual GP

Job summary

GKN Aerospace in Filton is seeking a Manufacturing Engineering Manager to lead a multi-disciplined team focused on process control and Zero Defect Manufacturing. You will deliver robust process technology for materials, tooling and assembly while driving Lean improvements and project execution.

The role requires technical expertise in Manufacturing Engineering, leadership of engineers, and experience with quality standards and industrialisation.

Qualifications

• Technical expertise in Manufacturing Engineering.
• Experience leading a multi-engineer team on projects.
• Project and program management capabilities.
• Industrialisation and process improvement experience.
• LEAN knowledge and global collaboration skills.
• Familiar with ISO9000/AS9100 or D1-9000 quality models.
• NADCAP process and procedure experience.
• Heat Treatment and Metallurgy knowledge.
• REACH regulations awareness.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a multi-disciplinary engineering team to deliver production and development programs.
• Deploy Zero Defect Manufacturing (ZDM) and process-control initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with safety, quality, and productivity standards.
• Introduce robust manufacturing process technology for materials, tooling, and assembly.
• Drive Lean improvements across production processes.
• Coordinate tooling deployment and production planning end-to-end.
• Manage quotes for new products and first article development.
• Maintain strong internal/external customer relationships.

Skills

Leadership

Project Mgmt

LEAN Manufacturing

Industrial Engineering

Quality Systems

Surface Treatments

Education

Chemical Engineering Degree

Industrial Engineering Degree

Job description

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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

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.

At our GKN Filton site, we specialise in the design and manufacture of large complex structural wing assemblies, detailed metallic componentsand wing systems for a combination of both civil and military aircraft.

We have an new exciting and career defining opportunity for a Manufacturing Engineering Manager within our Chemical Processes & Surface Treatments team who will be Responsible for leading a multi-disciplined, process control focused engineering team that eliminate waste through deployment of a Zero Defect Manufacturing (ZDM) methodology and productivity focused initiatives.

The successful applicant will manage a team of around 8 engineers deploying engineering resources to Production & Development Programs and ensure compliance of these deployed teams to the established functional processes. You will deliver robust, capable manufacturing process technology as it applies to both materials, tooling, part fabrication and assembly.

How You'll Contribute

• Exemplifying a safety-first mind-set and ensuring compliance with the GKN Aerospace Health, Safety and Environmental policies and standards
• Maintain and develop internal, customer and regulatory compliant processes and standards
• Develop technical solutions to complex problems. Delivery of a manufacturing system that fulfils all stakeholder requirements including; Safety, Quality, Productivity & Business case
• Lead engineering teams to deliver measurable, metrics driven results in line with Operational and Program goals
• Develop and deliver manufacturing engineering training strategy for the business. Lead capability & career development of the engineering team
• Build a culture of process control and Zero Defect Manufacturing (ZDM), through designing systems with high process capability
• Responsible for the implementation of tooling and or production planning, from original concept through to production
• Accountable for product development, new product quotes, tool fabrication quotes, first article development, configuration changes that involve cost estimation, schedule coordination, build process definition, and implementation
• Maintain positive, team relationships with internal and external customers, as well as co-workers
• Continuously improve production processes by implementing Lean initiatives

What You'll Bring

To help us make a difference, you’ll bring your passion and expertise/ talent for what you do along with the following skills, experience, qualifications and attributes:

Technical expertise in Manufacturing Engineering, with a professional qualification / background in engineering, ideally a Chemical or Industrial Engineering Degree

• Experience leading a team of engineers in execution of projects & operational support
• Project / Program Management
• 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
• Working knowledge of quality system models such as ISO9000, AS9100, or D1-9000

• Knowledge in Surface Treatments; for example Anodising, Conversion Coating, Passivation, Painting and Shot peening
• Familiarity with AS9145 APQP process or equivalent
• Auditor qualification
• NADCAP process and procedure experience
• Heat Treatment and Metallurgy
• Experience with REACH – Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals

What We'll Offer

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

• Competitive salary dependent on experience
• Up to 15% Bonus
• Access to a salary sacrifice EV scheme giving tax and national insurance savings
• Industry Leading Pension Scheme = we’ll match your contributions up to 8% on a 1 : 1.5 basis (Employer max contribution 12% - totalling up to 20% contribution)
• Life Assurance 8 x salary
• 25 days holiday + bank holidays
• Flexible working hours including the ability to finish at 12noon on a Friday
• Income protection
• Cycle To Work Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Virtual GP Clinic for you and immediate family
• 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 you 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 arethe place where human dreams, plus humanendeavour, shape the future of aerospace innovation and technology.