Senior Design Engineer (Transparency Systems)

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.

Job Summary

The Luton Engineering & Technology team is focussed on developing product and manufacturing process technology related to aircraft ice protection systems, transparencies and coatings, and specialist structures for both civil and defence applications.

We are looking for a Senior Design Engineer to join our Transparencies team to support new and existing programmes including Fast jet canopies, Helicopter Windscreens and Flight Deck Windows. As a Senior Design Engineer you will be act as the design representative as part of an integrated product team, and lead design activities/projects to support your product group including the creation and maintenance of product definition and ensuring ongoing product performance against requirements.

Working across the product lifecycle you will be involved in:

• New product development activities including requirements management, geometric design, materials selection, tooling, manufacturing process development and assembly methods, specifications, product verification, qualification and certification testing.
• Product sustaining activities including MRB, Customer concession management, manufacturing problem solving, Engineering change management and in service technical support to our customers as a part of an Integrated Programme Team.
• Continuous improvement of products, processes, tools and design handbooks to ensure the highest standards of quality and compliance to evolving customer, regulatory, and airworthiness requirements.
  
  

As a Senior Design Engineer within the Engineering and Technology Department you will also have the opportunity to contribute to high-impact research and development projects within your field of expertise.

You will have a track record of delivering high quality technical work, and have project management skills. You will have good written and oral communication skills, and be confident working with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders, including non-technical colleagues.

Job Responsibilities

• Analyse customer requirements and define technical solutions as input to bids and proposals within assigned programmes/ projects.
• Develop, check and approve technical solutions and compliance documentation for work packages to ensure they are compliant with all relevant customer, regulatory, and airworthiness requirements, within agreed programme, schedule, and manufacturing constraints.
• Identify and assess technical risks and propose mitigations relevant to the work package within assigned programmes/projects.
• Act as Lead Design Engineer in Integrated Program Teams (IPT) and Material Review Board (MRB)
• Define and validate test methods and/or alternate means of compliance (analysis/similarity) as required to demonstrate design solution complies with requirements.
• Create, check and approve documents such as permits, concessions, rework schemes and provide technical support by implementing solutions to address non-conforming products, designs, and compliance documentation.
• Lead design activities for internal and external technical reviews including formal gate reviews by creation and preparation of technical data and presentations of product design. You will be responsible for raising and issuing high quality and detailed technical documentation.
• Mentor, train and develop junior members of the team by providing technical guidance and support.
• You will 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.
  
  

You should have a good understanding of the product development lifecycle, design practices and an interest in manufacturing. This is a hands on role, and although product oriented the work will entail a high level of collaboration with Manufacturing Engineering and Operations as part of an integrated programme team to ensure both technical and programme objectives are met.

You should be adaptable in approach to work, and be willing to understudy other team members in their areas of responsibility to ensure overall department objectives are met. As a Senior Design Engineer, you will be naturally detail oriented and appreciate the need for procedural compliance to meet both regulatory requirements and maintain product safety.

Your proactive nature will enable you to understand and adapt to new technology areas quickly. Your good communication skills shall enable you to confidently engage with a wide variety of internal stakeholders. You should seek to increase/deepen own technical knowledge through study, training, collaborative working and continual professional development.

Able to travel as required by the Position including internationally.

What You'll Bring

Essential

To help us make a difference, you’ll bring your passion and talent for what you do along with the following skills, experience, qualifications and attributes:

• You will be naturally curious, and show a strong interest in aviation and aerospace engineering technology.
• You will be a strong self-starter, able to execute tasks according to plan.
• You will have a logical and methodical approach to task planning and be able to demonstrate an evidence-based approach to decision making and problem solving.
• You will have good interpersonal and communication skills, Able to work independently and as part of a multi-disciplinary team to meet objectives.
• Possess good oral and written communication skills, able to create clear, concise and accurate technical content.
• Experience of creating models and drawings using CATIA V5.
• Hold an accredited relevant Engineering qualification at Bachelor level or equivalent.
  
  

What We'll Offer

Once you’re on board you’ll get the following perks and benefits:

• Competitive salary dependent on experience
• The opportunity to earn up to 15% bonus
• Industry Leading Pension Scheme = we’ll 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
• Free onsite parking
• Local gym discount
• 50% off local travel card
• Free airport Dart
• Free airport parking
• Discount with local nursery and preschool childcare setting
• Enhanced family friendly leave
• A collaborative, dynamic working environment
  
  

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

Join us and keep the world moving … click on the link below to apply

Closing Date

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.