Senior Design Engineer

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 16000 employees across 33 manufacturing sites in 12 countries we serve over 90% of the worlds aircraft and engine manufacturers and achieved sales of 3.35 2023. 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.

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. This is more than a CAD role as a Senior Design Engineer you will represent design in 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.

Core operational hours at our Luton site are Monday to Thursday 07:3016:30 and Friday 07:3012:30. Some flexibility may be available subject to agreement with manager. There may also be an opportunity to work from home one day per week depending on business needs. Occasional UK travel may be required to meet suppliers customers and visit other GKN Aerospace sites.

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.

What Youll Bring

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

Hold an accredited relevant Engineering qualification at Bachelor level or equivalent.
Naturally curious and show a strong interest in aviation and aerospace engineering technology.
Strong self-starter able to execute tasks according to plan.
Logical and methodical approach to task planning and be able to demonstrate an evidence-based approach to decision making and problem solving.
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.

Please note: Some GKN Aerospace programmes are subject to regulatory restrictions which may impact certain Nationalities as such part of the application process you are asked to declare.

The position requires UK National Security Vetting (UKNSV) Security clearance (SC) due to the nature and responsibilities of the work carried order for us to obtain an SC you usually need to have been resident in the UK for a minimum of 5 years to current date (but we do assess each case individually).

What Well Offer

Once youre on board youll get the following perks and benefits:
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 you career journey may take you!

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

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Well 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 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.

Were 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.

Required Experience:

Senior IC

Employment Type : Full Time
Experience: years
Vacancy: 1