Manufacturing Engineering Director, Site

GKN Aerospace company; Tallassee (AL); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

GKN Aerospace is seeking a Site Head of Manufacturing Engineering in the United States to lead the ME organization, drive Zero Defect Manufacturing, and ensure on‑time delivery while improving year‑on‑year conversion cost productivity.

You will own the budget for ME, Facilities & Maintenance, partner with Program teams to meet customer requirements, advance APQP processes, and foster a safety‑first culture across the site.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, or related Engineering discipline.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive Manufacturing Engineering experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of leadership experience overseeing engineering teams within a regulated manufacturing environment.
• Experience managing new product introduction (NPI), process industrialization, and continuous improvement initiatives within a manufacturing environment.
• Fluent in English, US Person under ITAR requirements.

Responsibilities

• Exemplifying a safety-first mindset and ensuring compliance with Health, Safety and Environmental policies.
• Building and leading a high-performance Manufacturing Engineering organization across Facilities & Maintenance.
• Budgetary ownership for the site Manufacturing Engineering, Facilities & Maintenance team.
• Delivering annual quality improvement targets for the site and enabling cost target realization.
• Delivering Facilities & Maintenance performance in line with budget and strategic plan.
• Developing the Zero Defects Manufacturing mindset via ZDM tools and APQP processes.
• Developing close relationships with Program teams to deliver ME solutions per customer requirements.
• Sustaining and improving Program & Product ME systems per business case expectations.

Skills

Manufacturing Eng

Leadership

Lean principles

Quality systems

NPI

APQP

Education

Bachelors in Aerospace/Mechanical/Electrical/Chemical Engineering

Advanced Business degree

Tools

APQP tools

Job description

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Manufacturing Engineering Director, Site

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 member of the site leadership team the Site Head of ME role is accountable for delivering Manufacturing Engineering solutions to the Programs and Operations organizations. This will include creating a Zero Defect culture through the application of the Zero Defect Manufacturing (ZDM) tool suite to ensure industry leading quality performance, guaranteeing on time delivery. The role will also be accountable for delivering year on year conversion cost productivity targets in collaboration with the site leadership team.

Job Responsibilities

• Exemplifying a safety-first mindset and ensuring compliance with the GKN Aerospace Health, Safety and Environmental policies and standards.
• Building and leading a high performance, multi-disciplined Manufacturing Engineering organization encompassing the whole ME perimeter including Facilities & Maintenance. This includes managing talent selection, training, development, engagement, ongoing performance and succession planning.
• Budgetary ownership for the site Manufacturing Engineering, Facilities & Maintenance team.
• Accountable for delivering annual quality improvement targets for the site, enabling year on year conversion cost target realization.
• Accountable for delivering Facilities & Maintenance performance results in accordance with Site Budget and Strategic Plan.
• Developing the Zero Defects Manufacturing (ZDM) mindset and culture into the site Manufacturing Engineering organisation through implementation of standard ZDM tool suite and APQP process.
• Developing close relationships with Program teams to deliver manufacturing engineering solutions in line with customer requirements and expectations.
• Accountable for sustaining and improving Program & Product manufacturing engineering systems in line with business case expectations.

Job Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, or related Engineering discipline and demonstrated technical expertise in Manufacturing Engineering.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive Manufacturing Engineering experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of leadership experience overseeing engineering teams within a regulated manufacturing environment (e.g., aerospace, defense, automotive, medical device, or similar industries).
• Experience managing new product introduction (NPI), process industrialization, and continuous improvement initiatives within a manufacturing environment.
• Ability to influence stakeholders, build trust, and establish effective working relationships within a global organization.
• Working knowledge of Lean manufacturing principles and practices.Working knowledge of quality management systems such as ISO 9001, AS9100, or equivalent.
• Fluent in English, both written and verbal.
• Must be a U.S. Person, as defined by ITAR, to comply with export control requirements.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Project / Program Management
• Familiarity with AS9145 APQP process or equivalent
• Advanced Business degree
• Prepared to travel domestically and occasionally internationally; Expected travel <5% of year.
• GKN Aerospace experience

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.