Manufacturing Engineer: Zero-Defect & Lean Process Lead

GKN Aerospace; Papendrecht; Hybrid; EUR 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

8% holiday allowance

40 holidays per year

PME pension scheme

Travel allowance

Onsite with occasional hybrid model

Learning and development opportunities

Job summary

GKN Aerospace is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer - Product to support both operational and development programs. You will apply your engineering expertise to develop robust manufacturing processes, drive zero-defect execution, and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives.

You will lead manufacturing process solutions, plan production from concept to full-rate, maintain process documentation, and collaborate with customers and suppliers to deliver high-quality results in a hybrid onsite

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, or Chemical) with at least 3 years of experience.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Able to identify technical issues, propose solutions, and apply non-routine analysis.
• Provides technical input and represents the business with customers and suppliers.
• Quality system knowledge: ISO9000, AS9100, or D1-9000.
• Fluent in English.
• Familiarity with AS9145 APQP process or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate a safety-first mindset and ensure compliance with standards.
• Develop technical solutions to complex problems for GKN Aerospace, customers, and suppliers.
• Provide technical support for manufacturing process development and production integration.
• Apply root cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions to eliminate non-conformances.
• Maintain strong collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Drive continuous improvement through Lean manufacturing initiatives.
• Develop manufacturing process solutions for complex products.
• Lead production planning from concept through full-rate production using ZDM tools.
• Support product development, first article builds, configuration changes, and build processes.
• Own end-to-end process responsibility for the assigned manufacturing area.
• Maintain and update all process documentation.
• Oversee tooling, machinery, and material flow within the area.
• Manage gauges and measurement controls to ensure product quality.
• Lead Lean initiatives to improve efficiency and reduce waste.
• Identify and resolve day-to-day process issues.
• Drive improvement actions focused on labor, overhead, scrap reduction, quality, and productivity.
• Support innovation and advanced projects led by the Advanced Manufacturing Engineering team.

Skills

Problem solving

Analytical thinking

English fluency

Customer/supplier interaction

Quality system knowledge

Project/Program management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, or Chemical)

Job description

GKN Aerospace is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer - Product to support both operational and development programs. You will apply your engineering expertise to develop robust manufacturing processes, drive zero-defect execution, and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives.

You will lead manufacturing process solutions, plan production from concept to full-rate, maintain process documentation, and collaborate with customers and suppliers to deliver high-quality results in a hybrid onsite