Research Engineer - Additive Manufacture

GKN Aerospace; West of England; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Pension scheme

Life assurance

25 days holiday

Flexible hours

Income protection

Discounts

Cycle to work

Employee assistance programme

Virtual GP

Job summary

GKN Aerospace's Global Technology Centre is seeking a Research Engineer to join the Additive Manufacturing team. You will support the development and industrialisation of AM technologies, materials and processes across TRL 3-6, delivering hands-on work and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams on future aerospace applications.

Essential: accredited engineering qualification or equivalent experience; aerospace experience; awareness of AM technologies; and a delivery‑focused, proactive

Qualifications

• Accredited engineering qualification or demonstrable equivalent experience.
• Experience in aerospace or a regulated industry.
• Knowledge of additive manufacturing technologies, materials and industrialisation.
• Logical, methodical problem solving with a delivery-focused mindset.
• Able to work across multidisciplinary teams and share knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Develop AM technologies, roadmaps and process improvements.
• Support work package planning, budgeting and scheduling.
• Coordinate AM operations to ensure safe execution and on-time delivery.
• Undertake development trials and demonstrations to mature AM materials.
• Capture results in high-quality reports and presentations.
• Collaborate with suppliers, academia and internal teams to meet objectives.
• Support technology exploitation and IP development.

Skills

Accredited engineering qualification

Aerospace industry experience

Additive manufacturing knowledge

Problem solving

Delivery-focused

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication skills

Safety-conscious mindset

Education

Engineering degree

MEng/MSc preferred

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

As a Research Engineer within the Additive Manufacturing team at our Global Technology Centre, you will support the development and industrialisation of additive manufacturing technologies, materials, and processes across the TRL 3-6 range. Applying a structured, hands‑on approach to problem solving, you will deliver technical work to plan, contribute to innovation and technology development programmes, and collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams to support future aerospace applications.

How You'll Contribute

The Research Engineer will contribute to the following:

• Develop an understanding of additive manufacturing technologies, capability roadmaps, and aerospace requirements to support technology development activities.
• Support work package planning, budgeting, scheduling, and delivery activities.
• Contribute to technology roadmaps, Technology Development Plans, business cases and process improvement initiatives.
• Support and coordinate additive manufacturing operations as directed by the Additive Operations Lead, ensuring safe execution, on‑time delivery, product conformity, and compliance with project requirements.
• Undertake development trials, experimental programmes, and technology demonstrations to mature AM materials, processes, and applications.
• Manage configuration and change control of materials, specifications, documentation, and manufacturing processes, ensuring complete traceability, product conformity, and compliance with aerospace standards and customer requirements.
• Capture, analyse, and communicate technical results through high‑quality reports and presentations.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, suppliers, and academic partners to achieve project objectives.
• Support technology exploitation, industrialisation, innovation and intellectual property generation activities.
• Drive EH&SS compliance through the effective implementation of risk assessments and safe working instructions, fostering a proactive culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Contribute to the growth of the Additive Manufacturing capability while demonstrating GKN's values of Safe, Ownership, Innovative, Open & Honest, and Care & Respect.

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:

Skills & Experience

Essential:

• Relevant accredited engineering qualification, or demonstrable equivalent experience, in Engineering, Materials Science, Manufacturing, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrable experience of working in the Aerospace, or a similar regulated, industry.
• Awareness of additive manufacturing technologies, materials, process development, and industrialisation challenges.
• Logical and methodical approach to technical problem solving, with a delivery-focused mindset.
• Self‑motivated and proactive, with the ability to deliver technical activities against agreed objectives and timescales.
• Able to work collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams and achieve project objectives through effective engagement and knowledge sharing.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, capable of presenting technical information and supporting internal and external project reviews.
• Demonstrates behaviours aligned with GKN's values of Safe, Ownership, Innovative, Open & Honest, and Care & Respect.

Desirable:

• Higher degree qualification (MEng, MSc) in a relevant engineering or manufacturing discipline.
• Understanding of project planning, budget management, and schedule delivery within a research and technology environment

What We’ll Offer

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

• Competitive salary dependent on experience
• Industry Leading Pension Scheme = we'll match your contributions up to 8% on a 1 : 1.5 basis
• 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
• Shopping discounts
• Cycle To Work Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Virtual GP Clinic for you and immediate family
• A collaborative, dynamic working environment

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.