Manufacturing Engineering Manager - Change Management

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

It’s great to know you’re making a difference to the future of aviation! Whatever part you play you’ll be helping us deliver operational excellence to our customers.

At our GKN Filton site, we specialise in the design and manufacture of large complex structural wing assemblies, detailed metallic components and wing systems for a combination of both civil and military aircraft.

We have an new exciting and career defining opportunity for a Manufacturing Engineering Manager leading our change management team.

The role is responsible for leading a multi-disciplined project engineering team that manage internal and external changes across the business, leading the manufacturing engineering introduction of new PLM and ERP systems.

The successful applicant will manage a team of around 15 engineers deploying engineering resources to Production & Development Programs and ensure compliance of these deployed teams to the established functional processes. You will deliver robust, capable manufacturing process technology as it applies to both materials, tooling, part fabrication and assembly.

How You'll Contribute

• Champion a safety-first culture, ensuring full compliance with GKN Aerospace Health, Safety and Environmental standards
• Lead and embed robust, compliant manufacturing engineering processes, aligned to internal, customer and regulatory requirements
• Own and deliver end-to-end change management (customer-driven and internal), ensuring effective governance, clear communication and controlled execution
• Drive excellence in engineering change and configuration control, ensuring full visibility of impacts across cost, quality and delivery
• Lead engineering teams to deliver measurable, performance-driven results, aligned with functional priorities and business objectives
• Act as a key interface with customers and internal stakeholders, ensuring manufacturing solutions are aligned to requirements and successfully integrated into operations
• Build strong cross-functional relationships to enable seamless delivery of change across engineering, operations, quality and supply chain
• Lead the development and deployment of PLM capabilities, strengthening data integrity, configuration control and effective use of the digital thread
• Own engineering readiness for ERP transformation, ensuring alignment of data, processes and ways of working to support successful implementation
• Define and deliver the manufacturing engineering capability strategy, including workforce planning, skills development and training
• Lead, coach and develop a high-performing team, fostering accountability, engagement and continuous improvement
• Drive sustained improvements in manufacturing performance through Lean and digital initiatives, enhancing productivity, quality and cost

What You'll Bring

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

Essential

• Strong background in Manufacturing Engineering, supported by a relevant engineering degree (Industrial, Aerospace, Mechanical or equivalent)
• Proven experience leading engineering teams across both operational delivery and transformation programmes
• Demonstrated track record of delivering complex change, including both customer-driven and internal improvements
• Experience managing industrialisation (NPI) and in-service production change, with a strong understanding of manufacturing lifecycle and configuration control
• Experience with PLM systems and engineering data management, including driving adoption and improving process integration
• Experience supporting or preparing for ERP transformation, including alignment of engineering and operational master data
• Strong stakeholder management capability, with the ability to influence, engage and build trust across functions and at senior levels
• Working knowledge of Lean principles and continuous improvement methodologies
• Strong experience with quality management systems (e.g. AS9100, ISO9001)

Desirable

• Experience in digital transformation within manufacturing environments
• Knowledge of APQP / AS9145 or equivalent structured industrialisation processes
• PRINCE2 Practitioner (or equivalent project management qualification)
• CM2 (or equivalent configuration management methodology)
• Strong experience with PLM platforms (e.g. PTC Windchill)
• Strong experience with ERP systems (e.g. SAP)

What We'll Offer

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

• Competitive salary dependent on experience
• Up to 15% Bonus
• Access to a salary sacrifice EV scheme giving tax and national insurance savings
• Industry Leading Pension Scheme = we’ll match your contributions up to 8% on a 1 : 1.5 basis (Employer max contribution 12% - totalling up to 20% contribution)
• Life Assurance 8 x salary
• 25 days holiday + bank holidays
• Flexible working hours including the ability to finish at 12noon on a Friday
• Income protection
• Shopping discounts
• Cycle To Work Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Virtual GP Clinic for you and immediate family
• 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!

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.