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 33 manufacturing sites in 12 countries we serve over 90% of the world’s aircraft and engine manufacturers and achieved sales of £3.35 bn.in 2023. There are no limits to where you can take your career.

Based in our thriving Manufacturing Centre of Excellence in East Cowes, and reporting into the Director of Manufacturing Engineering, this is a newly created role responsible for leading the ME Technical functions through Functional Leads and Technical Authorities supporting all site programs. These functions include, Materials & Processing, NDT, Industrial Engineering, Tooling & Metrology & CAM.

The Manufacturing Engineering Manager will be responsible for leading a diverse, multi-disciplined, process control focused, departmental engineering team that eliminates defects through deployment of GKN Aerospace Zero Defect Manufacturing (ZDM) tool suite. They will deploy engineering resources to Production & Development Programs and ensure compliance of these deployed teams to the established functional processes. They will deliver robust, capable manufacturing process technology as it applies to both materials, tooling, part fabrication and assembly.

With a wider team of over 40 engineering professionals (estimated 5-7 direct reports), this will predominantly be a people management role, so experience of successfully leading and developing performing teams will be a requisite, however there will also be a certain amount of technical support required, with a main focus on mat lab, so candidates with a background or understanding of material science will be of particular interest.

Relocaton allowance available for applicants currently based on the mainland.

Job Responsibilities

• Develop technical solutions to complex problems. Delivery of a manufacturing system that fulfils all stakeholder requirements including; Safety, Quality, Producibility & Business case
• Lead engineering teams to deliver measurable, metrics driven results in line with Operational and Program goals.
• Deliver class leading engineering solutions to solutions to complex problems
• Develop, deploy and maintain functional engineering standards.
• Develop and deliver manufacturing engineering training strategy for the business. Lead capability & career development of the engineering team.
• Build a culture of process control, Zero Defect Manufacturing (ZDM) mind-set in the manufacturing engineering team.
• Responsible for the implementation of tooling and or production planning, from original concept through to production. Design these processes with a high degree of process capability utilizing the GKN standard ZDM tool suite to demonstrate as such.
• Accountable for product development, new product quotes, tool fabrication quotes, first article development, configuration changes that involve cost estimation, schedule coordination, build process definition, and implementation
• Maintain positive, team relationships with internal and external customers, as well as co-workers.
• Continuously improve production processes by implementing Lean initiatives.
• Exemplifying a safety-first mind-set and ensuring compliance with the GKN Aerospace Health, Safety and Environmental policies and standards.

Job Qualifications

• Technical expertise in Manufacturing Engineering, with a professional qualification / background (university degree) in engineering (Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical)
• Experience of managing New Product / Process introduction (industrialisation) & existing production process improvements
• Ability to influence people, build trust and establish effective working relationships within a global organisation
• Working knowledge of LEAN processes and practices
• Significant previous experience within Manufacturing Engineering.
• Working knowledge of quality system models such as ISO9000, AS9100, or D1-9000
• Firs class communication skills
• Project / Program Management experience
• Familiarity with AS9145 APQP process or equivalent

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