Manufacturing Engineer (Early Careers)

GKN Aerospace; United States; On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

GKN Aerospace is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer to support both production and development programs, ensuring zero-defect manufacturing through robust process design and continuous improvement.

The role emphasizes implementing advanced manufacturing technologies across materials, tooling, fabrication, and assembly, with a requirement for a U.S. Person per ITAR.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field.
• 6+ months of aerospace composite manufacturing experience (fabrication, tooling, or autoclave/oven-cure).
• Working knowledge of composite materials and production methods (layup, bonding, cure).
• U.S. Person required per ITAR for export compliance.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement technical solutions for complex manufacturing challenges.
• Provide manufacturing engineer support for production integration and supplier issues.
• Lead root cause investigations and corrective actions for non-conformances.
• Design tooling and production plans using standard manufacturing engineering methodologies.
• Support product development activities including quoting, tooling design, configuration changes, and first article inspections.
• Deliver measurable results aligned with manufacturing program and value stream objectives.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with internal teams and external partners.
• Champion Lean initiatives and drive continuous improvement across processes.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Lean manufacturing

Leadership experience

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Materials Science, or related field

Tools

PFMEA

Control plans

SPC

NDI/NDT

Composite machining

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 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

As a Manufacturing Engineer, you’ll support both production and development programs, ensuring zero-defect manufacturing execution through robust process design and continuous improvement. This role focuses on implementing advanced manufacturing technologies across materials, tooling, fabrication, and assembly.

Job Responsibilities

• - What You’ll Do Develop and implement technical solutions for complex manufacturing challenges.
• - Provide manufacturing engineer support for production integration and supplier-related issues.
• - Lead root cause investigations and corrective actions to resolve non-conformances.
• - Design tooling and production plans using standard manufacturing engineering methodologies.
• - Support product development activities for manufacturing, which include quoting, tooling design, configuration changes, and first article inspections.
• - Deliver measurable results aligned with manufacturing program and value stream objectives.
• - Collaborate cross-functionally with internal teams and external partners.
• - Champion Lean initiatives and drive continuous improvement through various manufacturing processes.
• - Perform other duties as assigned.

Job Qualifications

• - Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field.
• - 6+ months of experience in aerospace composite manufacturing, including fabrication, tooling, or autoclave/oven-cure processes.
• - Working knowledge of composite materials and production methods such as layup, bonding, and cure.
• - Must be a U.S. Person per ITAR regulations to comply with export compliance requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• - GKN Aerospace experience
• - Proficiency with PFMEA, control plans, SPC, or other process‑control tools.
• - Experience with NDI/NDT techniques (ultrasonic, X‑ray, tap test).Familiarity with composite machining, trimming, secondary bonding, or assembly.
• - Leadership or mentoring experience in a manufacturing environment.Lean, Six Sigma, or related continuous‑improvement training.

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

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 are the place where human dreams, plus human endeavour, shape the future of aerospace innovation and technology.