Senior Research Engineer - Process Development

GKN; United States; Hybrid; USD 73,000 - 113,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary dependent on exp.

Bonus up to 15%

Industry Pension + Life Assurance

185 holidays + bank holidays

Cycle To Work Scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Free onsite parking

EV salary sacrifice

Job summary

GKN Aerospace is seeking a Senior Research Engineer (Process Development) based at our Luton site. You will drive research activities across TRL1-6, manage budgets, schedules, and risks, and engage with internal and external stakeholders.

You’ll contribute to technology plans, funding proposals, and exploitation routes while advancing your own professional development within the TEF framework. Occasional national travel and limited home working are involved.

Qualifications

• Relevant accredited Engineering or Science degree or equivalent experience.
• Experience budgeting at work package level or smaller streams.
• Knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma and APQP/PPAP tools.

Responsibilities

• Deliver technical project outputs and meet research objectives.
• Lead or support hands-on development tests and trials.
• Capture data and document results with high quality reports.

Skills

Engineering leadership

Budget management

Cross-functional delivery

Communication

Education

Engineering or Science degree

Masters/EngD desirable

Tools

AS9145 APQP/PPAP

Lean/Six Sigma

Job description

As Senior Research Engineer (Process Development) you will draw on your diverse engineering background and product lifecycle awareness to progress a variety of research activity in the TRL1-6 range. You must have sound experience in leading technical work, including budgeting, schedule and risk management. You will be capable of achieving through others internally and externally, and you will be committed to development of your own skills and professional network. Your good communication skills shall enable you to confidently engage with a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders. Core operational hours at our Luton site are 07:#####:30, Monday to Thursday, and 07#####2:30 on Fridays. The role requires a willingness to undertake occasional national travel for customer meetings. There is also the opportunity to work from home for up to two days per week, subject to business needs.

Job Responsibilities

• Responsible for the technical delivery of allocated project deliverables, or project work packages, ensuring the research objectives have been satisfied.
• Support or lead any necessary 'hands on' development test work and development trials that are required to meet your Work Package/Work Stream delivery objectives.
• Support or lead the design of external work packages to be carried out by third parties to meet project research objectives.
• Responsible for accurately capturing and recording data and results from test work and development trials.
• Responsible for raising and issuing high quality and detailed technical documentation.
• Seek to understand the strategic direction of the target products or manufacturing process technologies being developed within your project(s).
• Contribute to Technology Development Plans and Technology Business Cases within your project(s).
• Contribute to multi-year planning and internal/external funding proposals as required.
• Suggest and explore exploitation routes, aligned with the guidance of the Work Stream Lead.
• You may support project stakeholder management with internal/external customers, and you may lead management of supply chain partners in some cases.
• Take an active role in creating a personal development plan linked to GKN's TEF and will be responsible for delivering on agreed objectives supported by your line manager.
• Ensure EHS policy and process adherence for your activities, and you will contribute to a proactive EHS culture in the wider team.
• Contribute to the development of GKN as a 'Great Place to Work', aligned with the core principles - safe, innovative, open & honest, care & respect, and ownership.

Qualifications and experience

• A relevant, accredited Engineering or Science based degree OR relevant industry experience
• Good general engineering/technology knowledge base and can demonstrate strategic thinking.
• Experience managing budgets on a work package level or smaller Work Streams.
• Good working knowledge of general industrial manufacturing processes, and an interest in understanding new and emerging techniques.
• Good working knowledge of AS9145 APQP/PPAP requirements and tools supporting Zero Defect Manufacturing approaches.
• Good working knowledge of Lean manufacturing philosophies and Six Sigma / Statistical techniques for process control and problem solving.
• Logical and methodical approach to work package planning and costing.
• A strong self-starter, competent to work with general goal-based direction as well as more specific task-based requirements.
• Experience managing deployed resources (people you lead but you are not their line manager).
• Experience engaging with production teams and you can identify operational requirements and incorporate in to your project(s) as appropriate and as agreed.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills, and can confidently translate complex information to a variety of audiences and you are able to represent your project(s) and GKN values in internal/external review meetings

Desirable

• A higher degree qualification such as a Masters, PhD or EngD
• Chartered Engineer with a relevant institution
• Experience in Composite Manufacturing Processes

We are looking for people who want to make a difference, talented members with the skills and passions to become the best of the future in what they do.

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, were inspired by the opportunities to innovate and break boundaries. Were proud to play a part in protecting the worlds democracies. And were committed to putting sustainability at the centre of everything we do, opening up and protecting our planet. With over 16,000 employees globally, across 33 manufacturing sites in 12 countries we serve over 90% of the worlds aircraft and engine manufacturers. There are no limits to where you can take your career.

Job Summary

Its great to know youre making a difference to the future of aviation! Whatever part you play youll be helping us deliver operational excellence to our customers. Based at our Luton manufacturing plant youll do just that. Established in 1993, GKN Aerospace in Luton is a world leader in commercial and military ice protection systems and transparencies. Offering a full range of capabilities; design, analysis, testing, certification and manufacture of electro-thermal ice protection, military fast jet canopies and flight deck windows to over 20 programmes including: Boeing 787, Dreamliner, Airbus A320, AgustaWestland, AW101, Eurofighter Typhoon and Lockheed, Martin F-22 Raptor. Our customers include Boeing, Airbus, Lockheed Martin, Bell Helicopters, Textron, BAE Systems, Pratt & Whitney, Leonardo. Our Luton site is home to 370+ employees and onsite facilities including onsite parking, food hub and vending machines.

What We'll Offer

• Competitive salary dependent on experience
• The opportunity to earn up to 15% bonus
• Industry Leading Pension Scheme = well match your contributions up to 8% on a 1 : 1.5 basis
• Life Assurance 8 x salary
• 185 hours holiday + bank holidays
• Income protection
• Shopping discounts
• Cycle To Work Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Virtual GP Clinic for you and immediate family
• Electric Vehicle (EV) salary sacrifice scheme (Insurance, servicing, maintenance, roadside assistance and more included)
• Free onsite parking
• Local gym discount
• Free airport parking
• Enhanced family friendly leave
• A collaborative, dynamic working environment

As well as a competitive package well offer you a world of opportunity. We want to see your career fly! Well support your career progression by providing you with learning and development opportunities. Thats the beauty of being part of a global business, once youre on board you never know where your career journey may take you!

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 weve created a culture where everyone feels welcome to contribute. Its 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. ?