Senior Engineer - Materials & Special Processes

GKN Aerospace; West of England; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Up to 15% Bonus

Pension Scheme

Life Assurance

25 days holiday

Flexible working hours

Employee Assistance Programme

Job summary

GKN Aerospace is seeking a Senior Engineer Materials & Processes to support both production activities and technology programmes across Bristol and the Western Approach. The role requires strong materials knowledge and hands-on experience with composites, with responsibility for process technologies, project leadership and customer interfacing.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in aerospace, a relevant degree, and a proactive, collaborative approach.

Qualifications

• BSc / MSc in Chemistry, Materials Science, or Aerospace Engineering.
• Knowledge or experience with composite materials, manufacturing processes and qualification.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in an aerospace environment.
• Experience with quality systems, specifications and standards.
• Team player with proactive attitude and ability to report to stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Support production and technology programs to enable zero-defect projects.
• Deliver robust manufacturing process technologies for materials, tooling, fabrication and assembly.
• Promote technical capability globally to customers and suppliers.
• Define tasks with deliverables, milestones and planning.
• Prepare tests and analyze data to substantiate specification changes.
• Provide troubleshooting and production support on composite parts.
• Interface with customers at M&P level and manage supplier relationships.
• Lead projects or work packages and support production activities.

Skills

Composite materials knowledge

Problem-solving

Team player

Education

BSc / MSc in Chemistry / Materials Science / Aerospace Engineering

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

The Materials and Processes Department (M&P) is an integral part of the Design Engineering function. Acting in cooperation with Design and Stress disciplines, the M&P department provides knowledge, expertise and support on materials and manufacturing processes to all engineering activities, along with support of product development and manufacturing activities.

For this role we are looking for an experienced professional who can support both production activities and technology programmes (approx. 50% each).

This is a key role that will support GKN sites in Bristol covering Western Approach as well as all related activities in our Global Technology Centre, dividing the working week between the two sites.

How You'll Contribute

As Senior Engineer Materials & Processes you will be responsible for the following:

• Support operational and development programs to enable and deliver zero defect projects utilising engineering and problem-solving skills
• Accountable for delivering robust, manufacturing process technologies as applied to materials, tooling, part fabrication and assembly
• Promote GKN’s technical capability globally to the broader technical eco-system, including customers, suppliers and steering groups
• Collect inputs, related to a task and take it through an identified process to produce an output / deliverable adhering to quality and schedule requirements
• Prepare and define tests/test plans; critical and systematic interpretation and analysis of test data, applying the outcome of tests for substantiation of specification changes
• Define activities in a project-oriented fashion with identification of deliverables, milestones and associated planning
• Provide troubleshooting and production support on composite materials part manufacturing
• Handle non-conformances related to the expertise area
• Interface with customers on a technical (M&P) level
• Maintain contacts with suppliers regarding alternatives/new products
• Write, review and approve M&P documentation including tease and qualification plans and reports
• Advise on the selection, testing, evaluation and qualification of materials and processes
• Lead projects or work packages
• Support production activities

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:

• BSc /MSc in one of the following skill areas: Chemistry/ Materials Science / Aerospace Engineering
• Knowledge of or experience in composite materials (manufacturing processes, qualification, handling of production deviations)
• Minimum of 5 years relevantexperience within an aerospace environment
• Experience with quality systems, specifications and standards
• Team player at all levels in the Industrial, pro-active attitude, but also capable of acting on an individual basis and reporting back to the relevant parties within GKN

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
• Industry Leading Pension Scheme = we’ll match your contributions up to 8% on a 1:1.5 basis (Employer max contribution 12%)
• 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

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.