Research Specialist Special Coatings Technology

GKN Aerospace; Luton; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading aerospace company is seeking a Research Specialist in Special Coatings Technology to support the development of high-performance coatings at their Luton facility. This role requires expertise in polymer coatings and offers competitive pay along with various employee benefits. Strong communication skills and a relevant degree are essential for success in this position.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Industry Leading Pension Scheme

185 hours holiday + bank holidays

Life Assurance

Cycle To Work Scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Local gym discount

Free onsite parking

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of coating application technologies.
• Logical approach to task planning.
• Good communication skills with diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Deliver technical project tasks and research objectives.
• Support hands-on development test work and trials.
• Engage with project stakeholders and contribute to plans.

Skills

Coating development

Materials testing

Test design execution

Report writing

Presentation skills

Education

Accredited Chemistry / Materials / Coatings degree

Higher degree (Masters, PhD, or EngD)

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 set 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

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. Based at our Luton manufacturing plant you’ll do just that. Established in 1993, GKN Aerospace in Luton is a world leader in commercial and military ice protection systems and transparencies. Offering a full range of capabilities—design, analysis, testing, certification and manufacture of electro‑thermal ice protection, military fast jet canopies and flight‑deck windows to over 20 programmes including: Boeing 787, Dreamliner, AgustaWestland, AW101, Eurofighter Typhoon and Lockheed/ Martin F‑22 Raptor. Our customers include Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Bell Helicopters, Textron, BAE Systems, Pratt & Whitney, Leonardo. Our Luton site is home to 370+ employees and onsite facilities including parking, food hub and vending machines.

The Luton Engineering & Technology team is focussed on developing product and manufacturing process technology related to aircraft ice protection systems, transparencies, coatings and specialist structures for both civil and defence applications.

We’re looking for a Research Specialist – Special Coatings Technology to join our coatings development team based at our Luton Manufacturing facility, to support the development of next‑generation high‑performance transparency polymer coatings, icephobic coatings and coating manufacturing processes.

As a Research Specialist you will bring your knowledge in polymer coatings development, processing, application and coating testing techniques to deliver high‑impact research and development across Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 1–7. You’ll be responsible for ensuring that all research outputs are technically robust, innovative and aligned with our broader engineering and sustainability goals.

In this research role you will provide support to existing programmes within your field of expertise, help resolve manufacturing issues and support continuous improvement efforts. You will have a track record of delivering high‑quality technical work within a project environment. Good written and oral communication skills and confidence working with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders, including non‑technical colleagues, are essential.

Core operational hours at our Luton site are: 07:30 – 16:30 Monday to Thursday & 07:30 – 12:30 Friday.

Job Responsibilities

• Responsible for the technical delivery of allocated project tasks, deliverables or project work packages, ensuring research objectives are satisfied.
• Support or lead any necessary hands‑on development test work and development trials that are required to meet project objectives.
• Contribute to Technology Development Plans, Project definitions and may support creation of Technology Business Cases and external funding proposals as required.
• Support project stakeholder engagement activities including customer presentations and reviews, and may lead management of supply‑chain partner activities in some cases.
• Ensure EHS policy and process adherence for your activities and contribute to a proactive EHS culture in the wider team.

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:

• Accredited Chemistry / Materials / Coatings based degree.
• Knowledge / experience of coating development, application technology and materials testing.
• Experience of test/experimental design and practical execution in laboratory or test facility conditions to defined standards.
• Logical and methodical approach to task planning.
• Good report writing and presentation skills.

Desirable:

• A higher degree qualification such as a Masters, PhD or EngD.
• An awareness of aerospace certification requirements.

The position requires UK National Security Vetting (UKNSV) Security clearance (SC) due to the nature and responsibilities of the work carried out. In order for us to obtain an SC you usually need to have been resident in the UK for a minimum of 5 years to current date (but we do assess each case individually).

Note: Some GKN programmes are subject to regulatory restrictions which may impact certain nationalities. As part of the application process you will be asked to declare when applying for this role.

What We’ll Offer

• 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 × salary.
• 185 hours holiday + bank holidays.
• Income protection.
• Shopping discounts.
• Cycle To Work Scheme.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Virtual GP Clinic for you and immediate family.
• Free onsite parking.
• Local gym discount.
• 50% off local travel card.
• Free airport kits and parking.
• Discount with local nursery and preschool childcare setting.
• Enhanced family friendly leave.
• 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!

About Us

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.