Senior Manufacturing Engineer – Composites

Prattwhitney; Kilkeel; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days Annual Leave

Private Medical Insurance

Pension Scheme

Life Assurance

Group Income Protection

Onsite parking

Wellness Programs

Employee Assistance Programme

Discounted gym membership

Flex benefits

Opportunities for progression

Staff Discounts

Job summary

Collins Aerospace Kilkeel, NI, is seeking a Senior Manufacturing Engineer - Composites to join on-site. You will lead development of composite manufacturing solutions, build cost models, and drive improvements across teams with a focus on quality, cost and delivery.

The role requires at least 2 years in a similar position, CAD experience, and a strong background in composites costing and process development.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years' experience in a comparable professional role.
• 1 year's working experience in use of CAD.
• Experience in should costing of composites manufacturing processes and materials.
• Third-level qualification in Engineering or a related discipline, or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Develop innovative composite manufacturing solutions to complex problems that improve product performance, quality, cost and competitiveness.
• Establish solid cost models for new composite concepts and manufacturing solutions to support Business Case decisions.
• Identify opportunities to improve manufacturing performance and organisational profitability and lead proposals to deliver these improvements.
• Evaluate and introduce new composite materials, manufacturing processes and external capabilities to improve efficiency, quality and performance.
• Act as a key Composites Manufacturing Engineering contact when working with customers and regulatory authorities on advanced manufacturing methodologies.
• Lead the development of new composite products from initial concept and prototyping through to production and industrialisation.
• Collaborate with cross-functional Engineering and Manufacturing teams to deliver projects within agreed cost, quality and schedule requirements.
• Provide technical direction on assigned projects, ensuring engineering activities align with wider programme and business objectives.
• Lead and mentor engineers on new projects, promoting industry best practice and innovative manufacturing approaches.
• Support product testing and validation activities, balancing technical performance with weight, cost and schedule requirements.
• Promote technical collaboration and knowledge sharing across teams, departments and sites.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related discipline

Tools

CAD

Job description

Date Posted: 2026-09-07 Country: United Kingdom Location: Kilkeel, Newry, Mourne and Down Position Role Type: Onsite

Do you want to be part of a team developing innovative composite solutions that help shape the future of air travel? If so, Collins Aerospace is looking for a Senior Manufacturing Engineer - Composites to join our team onsite in Kilkeel, Northern Ireland. At Collins Aerospace Kilkeel, we push the boundaries of innovation, prioritise safety and continually look for opportunities to improve product performance, quality and cost. As a global leader in aviation interior products and services, we partner with airlines and original equipment manufacturers to deliver outstanding travel experiences.

What You Will Do

• Develop innovative composite manufacturing solutions to complex problems that improve product performance, quality, cost and competitiveness.
• Establish solid cost models for new composite concepts and manufacturing solutions to support Business Case decisions.
• Identify opportunities to improve manufacturing performance and organisational profitability and lead proposals to deliver these improvements.
• Evaluate and introduce new composite materials, manufacturing processes and external capabilities to improve efficiency, quality and performance.
• Act as a key Composites Manufacturing Engineering contact when working with customers and regulatory authorities on advanced manufacturing methodologies.
• Lead the development of new composite products from initial concept and prototyping through to production and industrialisation.
• Collaborate with cross-functional Engineering and Manufacturing teams to deliver projects within agreed cost, quality and schedule requirements.
• Provide technical direction on assigned projects, ensuring engineering activities align with wider programme and business objectives.
• Lead and mentor engineers on new projects, promoting industry best practice and innovative manufacturing approaches.
• Support product testing and validation activities, balancing technical performance with weight, cost and schedule requirements.
• Promote technical collaboration and knowledge sharing across teams, departments and sites.

What You Will Learn

• Expand your expertise in advanced composite materials, manufacturing processes and emerging technologies.
• Develop broader experience taking composite products and manufacturing solutions from concept and prototyping through to industrialisation and production.
• Strengthen your commercial understanding through cost modelling, business cases and manufacturing improvement initiatives.
• Build experience working with customers, regulatory authorities and multidisciplinary engineering and manufacturing teams.
• Further develop your technical leadership, project management and mentoring capabilities.
• Strengthen your ability to solve complex engineering challenges while balancing technical, manufacturing, cost, quality and schedule requirements.
• Gain greater exposure to how manufacturing engineering contributes to wider programme and business strategy.
• Collaborate across functions and sites, building a broader understanding of composite manufacturing capabilities within a global aerospace organisation.

Essential Criteria

• Minimum 2 years' experience in a comparable professional role.
• 1 year's working experience in use of CAD.
• Experience in should costing of composites manufacturing processes and materials.
• Third-level qualification in Engineering or a related discipline, or equivalent.

Desirable Criteria

• 3 years' working experience of composite production techniques & processes.
• Experience of Aerospace procedures and regulations.
• Understanding of Lean manufacturing techniques.
• Knowledge of GD&T.
• 1 year project management experience.

What We Offer

• 25 days Annual Leave & 9 Public Holidays
• Attractive Compensation Package
• Private Medical Insurance
• Generous Employer Contribution Pension Scheme
• Life Assurance
• Group Income Protection
• Early finish on Fridays
• Flexible benefits tailored to you
• Discounted gym membership
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Staff Discounts
• Wellness Programs
• Free onsite parking
• Opportunities for progression and development

Collins Aerospace is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

RTX adheres to the principles of equal employment. All qualified applications will be given careful consideration without regard to ethnicity, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation or identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

RTX is an aerospace and defense company that provides advanced systems and services for commercial, military and government customers worldwide. It comprises three industry-leading businesses – Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon. Its 195,000 employees enable the company to operate at the edge of known science as they imagine and deliver solutions that push the boundaries in quantum physics, electric propulsion, directed energy, hypersonics, avionics and cybersecurity. The company, formed in 2020 through the combination of Raytheon Company and the United Technologies Corporation aerospace businesses, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.