Research Specialist Special Coatings Technology

JR United Kingdom; Luton; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

An aerospace company in Luton is seeking a Research Specialist in Special Coatings Technology. This role involves developing high-performance polymer coatings while ensuring innovative and robust research outputs. The ideal candidate will have a relevant degree, experience in coating development, and excellent communication skills. Unique perks include competitive salary, pension scheme, and opportunities for career advancement in a dynamic environment.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Industry Leading Pension Scheme

Life Assurance 8 x salary

185 hours holiday + bank holidays

Income protection

Shopping discounts

Cycle To Work Scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Virtual GP Clinic

Free onsite parking

Local gym discount

50% off local travel card

Free airport transport

Discounts with local nursery

Qualifications

• Experience in coating development and application technology.
• Knowledge of materials testing and laboratory conditions.
• Good reporting and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Deliver technical project tasks and ensure research objectives are met.
• Lead hands-on development test work and trials.
• Support stakeholder engagement activities and customer presentations.

Skills

Coating development

Materials testing

Experimental design

Communication skills

Education

Relevant degree in Chemistry/Materials

Higher degree (Masters/PhD)

Job description

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Research Specialist Special Coatings Technology, luton, bedfordshire

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Client:

GKN Aerospace

Location:

luton, bedfordshire, United Kingdom

Job Category:

Other

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EU work permit required:

Yes

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Job Views:

3

Posted:

08.08.2025

Expiry Date:

22.09.2025

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Job Description:

Company 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, were inspired by the opportunities to innovate and break boundaries. Were proud to play a part in protecting the worlds democracies. And were committed to putting sustainability at the centre of everything we do, opening up and protecting our planet. With over 16,000 employees globally, across 33 manufacturing sites in 12 countries we serve over 90% of the worlds aircraft and engine manufacturers. There are no limits to where you can take your career.

Company 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, were inspired by the opportunities to innovate and break boundaries. Were proud to play a part in protecting the worlds democracies. And were committed to putting sustainability at the centre of everything we do, opening up and protecting our planet. With over 16,000 employees globally, across 33 manufacturing sites in 12 countries we serve over 90% of the worlds aircraft and engine manufacturers. There are no limits to where you can take your career.

Job description:

Job Summary

Together We Rise
Its great to know youre making a difference to the future of aviation! Whatever part you play youll be helping us deliver operational excellence to our customers. Based at our Luton manufacturing plant youll 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 onsite 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 and coatings, and specialist structures for both civil and defence applications.

Were 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) 17. Youll be responsible for ensuring that all research outputs are technically robust, innovative, and aligned with our broader engineering and sustainability goals.

You will also be responsible for providing support to existing programmes within your field of expertise, helping to resolve manufacturing issues and supporting continuous improvement efforts.

You will have a track record of delivering high quality technical work, with experience of working within a project environment. You will have good written and oral communication skills, and be confident working with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders, including non-technical colleagues.

As this is a research role we are looking for a hands on innovative thinker, your work should push the boundaries of conventional coating technologies, application and evaluation/testing techniques.

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 the research objectives have been 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 you may lead management of supply chain partners activities in some cases.
Ensure EHS policy and process adherence for your activities, and you will contribute to a proactive EHS culture in the wider team.

Profile description:

What You'll Bring

To help us make a difference, youll bring your passion and talent for what you do along with the following skills, experience, qualifications and attributes:
Essential:
A relevant, accredited Chemistry / Materials 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).

The successful candidate should have a broad interest in Aerospace engineering with an understanding of Polymer materials chemistry & processing, ideally from coatings development perspective, and with technical experience of working within a laboratory environment.

Your proactive nature will enable you to understand and adapt to new technology areas quickly. Your good communication skills shall enable you to confidently engage with a wide variety of internal stakeholders.

The successful candidate should be adaptable in their approach to work, and be willing to understudy other team members in their areas of expertise to ensure project objectives are met. As a Research Engineer, the candidate will be naturally curious and seek to increase/deepen their own technical knowledge through study, collaborative working, hypothesis testing and experimentation.

We offer:

What We'll Offer

Once youre on board youll get the following perks and benefits:
Competitive salary dependent on experience
Industry Leading Pension Scheme = well match your contributions up to 8% on a 1 : 1.5 basis
Life Assurance 8 x 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 Dart
Free airport parking
Discount with local nursery and preschool childcare setting
Enhanced family friendly leave
A collaborative, dynamic working environment

As well as a competitive package well offer you a world of opportunity. We want to see your career fly! Well support your career progression by providing you with learning and development opportunities. Thats the beauty of being part of a global business, once youre on board you never know where you career journey may take you!

Join us and keep the world moving click on the link below to apply

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 weve created a culture where everyone feels welcome to contribute. Its 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.

Were 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. ?

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