Senior Materials Engineer

GKN; Leigh; Presencial; GBP 65.000 - 90.000; Jornada completa

Ventajas ofrecidas por este puesto de trabajo

Competitive salary dependent on経験

Bonus up to 15% of salary

Industry Leading Pension Scheme

Life Assurance

28 days holiday plus bank holidays

Employee Assistance Programme

Free onsite parking

Descripción de la vacante

GKN Aerospace seeks a Senior Materials Engineer to advance non-metallic material technologies for aerospace applications. You will guide testing, support production, and manage obsolescence projects across acrylics, polycarbonates and polymers while collaborating with global teams.

You will lead validation of transparency coatings, develop test plans, and ensure compliance with customer, regulatory, and airworthiness requirements. Strong communication and problem-solving are essential.

Formación

• Broad non-metallic materials expertise for aerospace applications.
• Experience with polymer materials science and processing.
• Strong ability to guide test plans and interpret test data.
• Excellent written and verbal communication with diverse stakeholders.

Responsabilidades

• Develop manufacturing processes for transparent polymers and adhesives.
• Lead thin film polymer coatings projects.
• Lead material obsolescence and REACh replacement projects.
• Interact with leadership and suppliers; report progress to senior managers.

Conocimientos

Non-metallic materials science

Polymer materials processing

Thin film coatings

Strong communication

Educación

Chemistry / Materials Science (BSc / MSc)

Herramientas

Testing & QA methods

Descripción del empleo

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. We're looking for a Senior Materials Engineer with a strong non-metallic materials engineering background, to join our materials and test team to support the production and development of next generation composite aero structures, ice protection and transparency products. The role will be based in the Materials and Test (M&T) team within the wider Engineering and Technology department and report to the Functional Team Leader. The role as a Senior Materials Engineer will support the business and engineering team, with non-metallic, polymer materials science and processing knowledge and guidance. Concentrating on thin film coating technologies and transparency materials. The role will initially lead a transparency coatings validation project before moving onto site production support and material obsolescence projects. The role will require a knowledge of the interactions between processing parameters and material properties of Acrylics, Polycarbonates and Polymers, being able to guide new technology test plans and current production deviations. You will support the work of the business to establish safe working practices and necessary level of documentation. You will be involved with projects from the planning / assembly / instrumentation / commissioning phase though to successfully performing and reporting the test. You will also be responsible for providing specialist support to existing programmes within your field of expertise, helping to resolve manufacturing issues and supporting continuous improvement efforts. You will have a proven track record of leading and delivering technical work, with strong communication skills being confident working with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders, including non-technical audiences.

Job Responsibilities

• Development of manufacturing processes in relation to transparent polymer and adhesive materials
• Qualification of materials and processes to ensure they comply with the requirements
• Lead thin film polymer coatings projects
• Lead material obsolescence and REACh affected material replacement projects
• Interact with different levels of leadership across the business, reporting progress to senior managers and site leadership team.
• Work closely with Principle Materials Engineer to effectively manage the Material Obsolescence process
• Collect inputs, related to a task and take it through an identified process to produce an output / deliverable adhering to quality and schedule requirements.
• Exemplifying a safety-first mind-set and ensuring compliance with the GKN Aerospace Health, Safety and Environmental policies and standards.
• Supporting production material related queries and issues, regarding re-life, testing and investigations.
• Developing, optimizing and maintaining specifications and handbooks related to non-metallic polymers; ensuring they are compliant with all relevant customer, regulatory, and airworthiness requirements.
• Preparing and defining tests/test plans; critical and systematic interpretation and analysis of test data, applying the outcome of tests for substantiation of specification changes.
• Defining activities in a project-oriented fashion with identification of deliverables, milestones and associated planning.
• Troubleshooting and production support on Materials Issues (e.g. Polymers and bonding).
• Interfacing with customers on a technical (M&T) level.
• Maintaining contacts with suppliers regarding alternative/new products.
• Integration into the wider, global engineering function, collaborating with other sites around the world.
• Contribute to the development of GKN as a 'great place to work', aligned with the core principles - safe, innovative, open & honest, care & respect, and ownership.
  Chemistry / Materials Science / aerospace engineering education, BSc / MSc level
• Knowledge of / experience in Polymer material science and processing
• Significant relevant experience within an industrial engineering discipline, preferably within an aerospace environment
• Experience with quality systems, specifications, standards, etc., with the ability to oversee the broader field
• Excellent reporting and project management skills; Good command of the English language, both verbally and in writing,
• Team player at all levels in the company, pro-active attitude, but also capable of acting on an individual basis and reporting back to the relevant parties within GKN.
• Desirable:
• Ability to plan work through formal project management processes, to ensure successful delivery of required outcomes.
• You will have an awareness of aerospace certification requirements.
• Knowledge of / experience in Transparent thin film coatings

As Senior Materials Engineer you should have a broad interest in Aerospace engineering with a high level of understanding in non-metallic material technologies & testing and characterisation techniques. You'll be able to adapt to changing priorities to meet business priorities handling multiple enquiries at once. 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 and external stakeholders, including operations and other business functions. The successful candidate should be adaptable in their approach to work, and be able to adapt to potentially dynamic priorities. As a Senior Materials Engineer, you will be naturally curious and seek to increase/deepen their own technical knowledge through study, collaborative working, hypothesis testing and experimentation.

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 globally, across 33 manufacturing sites in 12 countries we serve over 90% of the world's aircraft and engine manufacturers. There are no limits to where you can take your career., 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.

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

• Competitive salary dependent on experience
• The opportunity to earn up to 15% bonus
• Industry Leading Pension Scheme = we'll 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
• Electric Vehicle (EV) salary sacrifice scheme (Insurance, servicing, maintenance, roadside assistance and more included)
• Free onsite parking
• Local gym discount
• Free airport parking
• Enhanced family friendly leave
• A collaborative, dynamic working environment

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.