Tool Designer

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

Job summary

An aerospace innovation leader in East Cowes is seeking a Tool Designer to develop tooling solutions for high-performance aerospace components. You will design tooling for composite moulds and assembly jigs, utilizing CAD software like Catia V5 and ensuring compliance with safety standards. Ideal candidates have an HNC qualification in Engineering and significant experience in tool design. A competitive salary and relocation support to the Isle of Wight are included in the offer.

Benefits

Competitive salary dependent on experience

Industry Leading Pension Scheme

Life Assurance 8 x salary

190 hours holiday + bank holidays

Income protection

Shopping discounts

Cycle To Work Scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

UK Relocation support

Qualifications

• HNC qualification in Engineering or equivalent required.
• Significant experience in Tool Design for composites essential.
• Experience with Catia V5 CAD software is a must.
• Familiarity with supply chain issues is important.

Responsibilities

• Develop tooling solutions from concept to production.
• Accountable for tool fabrication quotes and configuration changes.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety standards.
• Utilize root-cause analysis for non-conformance issues.
• Implement Lean initiatives to improve production processes.

Skills

Tool Design

Experience with Composite Moulds

CAD Software (Catia V5)

Design for Manufacture (DFM)

Supply Chain Issue Resolution

Education

HNC in Engineering or equivalent

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 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 15,000 employees across 41 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.

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. Sitting across our three business lines; Civil, Defence and Engines at our East Cowes manufacturing plants you’ll do just that. Established in 1901, one of our older production sites with a workforce of circa 800 employees. Our East Cowes plants, Isle of Wight are where we design, manufacture, test and repair high performance structures and systems. We have two facilities on the Island; Falcon Yard, Ferry Road and Osborne Site, Saunders Way. Both locations employ the company’s distinct competencies in major assemblies and composite structures for the global aerospace market. Our customer base includes Airbus, Astronics, BAE Systems, Boeing, Bombardier Aerospace, Cessna, Cobham, Honeywell, Leonardo, Lockheed Martin, Rolls Royce and Triumph.

Due to an exciting period of growth, we are now seeking experienced Tool Designers to join our thriving team on the Isle of Wight.

Based at our East Cowes site and reporting into the Manufacturing Engineer Manager, the successful candidate will join our team of between 6-10 Manufacturing Engineers and will need to be flexible for very limited ad‑hoc travel, nationally and internationally.

For these opportunities we will provide a relocation support sum, within the UK, to the Isle of Wight, for successful applicants.

Job Responsibilities

• The development of tooling solutions (mould tools; 5 axis fixtures; assembly jigs; shop aids) to complex problems through the implementation of tooling, from original concept through to production.
• Designing tooling for high degree of process capability using Catia V5 utilizing the GKN standard Zero Defect Manufacturing (ZDM) tool suite to demonstrate as such.
• Accountable for tool fabrication quotes, tooling input for new product quotes, tooling configuration changes that involve cost estimation, schedule coordination & implementation.
• Exemplifying a safety‑first mind‑set and ensuring compliance with the GKN Aerospace Health, Safety and Environmental policies and standards.
• Utilizing root‑cause analysis, preventative and corrective action to reduce/eliminate non‑conformances.
• Continuously improve production processes by implementing Lean initiatives.

How You'll Contribute

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

• A HNC qualification within an Engineering related subject or equivalent
• Significant experience in Tool Design related to composite moulds and assembly jigs, Design for Manufacture (DFM)
• Demonstrable experience of CAD Software (ideally Catia V5)
• Experience of addressing issues within the supply chain; internal and external

Desirable

• Working knowledge of quality system models such as ISO9000, AS9100, or D1-9000
• Background in Aerospace industry
• Familiarity with AS9145 APQP process or equivalent
• Understanding and use of an ERP system
• Experience of interpreting aged drawings

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 x salary
• 190 hours holiday + bank holidays
• Income protection
• Shopping discounts
• Cycle To Work Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• UK Relocation support available (if applicable)
• A collaborative, dynamic working environment

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

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.