Manufacturing Engineering Manager (Technical Manager)

GKN Aerospace; Tallassee (AL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

GKN Aerospace in Tallassee, Alabama, is seeking a Manufacturing Engineering Manager to lead manufacturing engineering for aerospace programs. You will guide a team of engineers, drive process excellence, and ensure manufacturing systems meet stringent quality and safety standards.

The role partners with customers, suppliers, and cross-functional teams to deliver operational success and continuous improvement across the value stream. Strong leadership and AS9100/QMS experience are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Manufacturing Engineering (Master’s or MBA preferred).
• 7+ years of experience in manufacturing, ideally in aerospace and composites.
• Proven experience as a technical lead or authority in Manufacturing Engineering.
• Strong understanding of industry standards (AS9100, ISO9001, NADCAP, etc.).
• Familiarity with systems like SIOP, MES, MRB, QMS, and production planning tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of Manufacturing Engineers supporting key aerospace programs.
• Represent Manufacturing Engineering in program reviews, technical discussions, and customer meetings.
• Deliver manufacturing systems that meet stakeholder needs, balancing safety, quality, cost, and delivery.
• Develop solutions to complex technical challenges and drive continuous improvement across the value stream.
• Champion a Zero Defect Manufacturing (ZDM) mindset and build a culture of process control.
• Oversee tooling and production planning from concept through launch, ensuring high process capability.
• Support new product development, quoting, configuration changes, and first article builds.
• Collaborate across departments to align engineering efforts with program and operational goals.
• Drive Lean initiatives and help shape the future of our engineering standards and training.

Skills

Team leadership

Manufacturing engineering

Aerospace

Quality systems

Stakeholder mgmt

Education

Bachelor’s in Aerospace/Mechanical/Manufacturing Engineering

Tools

SIOP

MES

MRB

QMS

Job description

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Manufacturing Engineering Manager (Technical Manager)

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

Join us as a Manufacturing Engineering Manager to lead our manufacturing engineering efforts in support of aerospace programs at our Tallassee, Alabama site. In this role, you'll guide a team of talented engineers, drive process excellence, and ensure our manufacturing systems meet the highest standards of quality, safety, and performance. You'll serve as the primary technical leader for Manufacturing Engineering, partnering with customers, suppliers, and cross-functional teams to deliver operational success.

Job Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of Manufacturing Engineers supporting key aerospace programs.
• Represent Manufacturing Engineering in program reviews, technical discussions, and customer meetings.
• Deliver manufacturing systems that meet stakeholder needs, balancing safety, quality, cost, and delivery.
• Develop solutions to complex technical challenges and drive continuous improvement across the value stream.
• Champion a Zero Defect Manufacturing (ZDM) mindset and build a culture of process control.
• Oversee tooling and production planning from concept through launch, ensuring high process capability.
• Support new product development, quoting, configuration changes, and first article builds.
• Collaborate across departments to align engineering efforts with program and operational goals.
• Drive Lean initiatives and help shape the future of our engineering standards and training.

Job Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Manufacturing Engineering (Master’s or MBA preferred).
• 7+ years of experience in manufacturing, ideally in aerospace and composites.
• Proven experience as a technical lead or authority in Manufacturing Engineering.
• Strong understanding of industry standards (AS9100, ISO9001, NADCAP, etc.).
• Familiarity with systems like SIOP, MES, MRB, QMS, and production planning tools.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with OEMs like Boeing, Airbus, Lockheed Martin, or Bell.
• Background in APQP, new product launches, and cost estimation.
• Experience managing direct reports and leading cross-functional teams.
• Lean or Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or higher preferred).
• Extensive hands‑on experience in composite manufacturing.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to lead in a matrixed environment and influence without direct authority.

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.