Manufacturing Engineer - Product & Planning

GKN Aerospace; El Cajon (CA); On-site; USD 91,083 - 113,853; Full time

Job summary

GKN Aerospace in El Cajon, California, is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer to lead cross-functional activities for equipment and process qualification. This role involves ensuring alignment between Operations and Engineering, managing planning and execution of test pieces, and supporting adherence to project timelines.

The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering and a minimum of 2 years in manufacturing engineering or 7+ years of equivalent experience. The position offers a competitive salary range of $91,083 – $113,853, reflecting the complexity and responsibilities of the role.

Qualifications

• 2 years of manufacturing engineering experience or 7+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering.
• Ability to analyze situations and identify appropriate resolutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate project activities focusing on equipment and process qualification.
• Act as primary interface between Operations and Engineering.
• Compile and communicate qualification and test data to engineering teams.

Skills

Manufacturing engineering experience

Technical problem solving

Project management

Team coordination

Knowledge of ITAR/EAR regulations

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering

Job description

Job Summary

GKN Aerospace is a global engineering business that designs, manufactures and services systems and components for OEMs worldwide. We continuously evolve, pioneer new technologies and reinvent existing ones to improve everything we do.

About the opportunity

GKN Aerospace plays an integral role in the aviation industry, enabling most commercial flights through our systems and components. We are committed to sustainability, innovation, and protecting the world’s democracies.

What you’ll do

You will lead and coordinate cross‑functional activities to support project execution, with a strong emphasis on equipment and process qualification. Acting as the key liaison between Operations and Engineering, you will align priorities, resolve scheduling conflicts, and ensure efficient machine utilisation. You will manage the planning and execution of engineering test pieces alongside production work, track their progress through manufacturing, and ensure timely completion without disrupting production commitments. In this role you will compile and communicate qualification data, support adherence to project timelines, and proactively identify and mitigate risks.

Job Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate activities required to projects, with a strong focus on completing equipment and process qualification.
• Act as the primary interface between Operations and Engineering, aligning priorities and resolving conflicts related to machine availability, scheduling, and workload.
• Ensure engineering test pieces are planned, prioritised, and executed alongside production and revenue‑generating parts.
• Coordinate and secure machine time to support qualification activities without significantly impacting production commitments.
• Track and manage the flow of test parts through the manufacturing process to avoid delays.
• Compile, organise, and communicate qualification and test data to engineering teams to support validation and decision‑making.
• Support the process engineering team in adhering to project timelines and milestones, ensuring alignment with the overall project plan.
• Identify risks to project execution and proactively drive mitigation actions to maintain schedule.
• Review, interpret, and validate technical documentation, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
• Develop clear and concise technical reports and documentation to support qualification, process definition, and project closure.

Job Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering and 2 years of manufacturing engineering experience or 7+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering.
• Must be able to perform work subject to ITAR/EAR regulations and/or program requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• 3‑5 years of experience in Manufacturing Engineering.
• GKN experience and/or Aerospace Industry experience.
• Experience in an MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) organisation is strongly preferred.
• Increasingly able to provide technical input at all levels of work.
• Identifies and anticipates technical problems and offers solutions.
• Drives to complete the job on time and continually searches for better ways of doing things.
• Understands situations by analysing them logically and uses information in a systematic way to identify appropriate courses of action for resolution. Ability to apply complex and non‑routine analysis.
• Applies knowledge and skills to a range of activities.
• Understands the formal and informal structure of the business.

Compensation Ranges

The compensation range for this role is between $91,083 – $113,853.

This position is designated as safety‑sensitive under Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations and is subject to random drug and alcohol testing.