Chief Manufacturing Engineer (NPI)

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. Based at our Luton manufacturing plant you’ll 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.

We are excited to introduce a newly created opportunity to join our team as Chief Manufacturing Engineer - NPI, playing a key role in shaping the future of our manufacturing capability.

The Chief Manufacturing Engineer is responsible for leading the Industrialisation elements of New product development and/or transfer of work programmes from initial RFP response through to LCG7 within an IPT, working within a structured project / programme environment.

The Chief Manufacturing Engineer

holds technical accountability for project and programme deliverables, ensuing high standards and due diligence of industrialisation content. Specific responsibilities include generating manufacturing cost assessment for bids, creating and validating manufacturing system design and layouts, implementation and manufacturing system establishment including equipment, tooling, and methods to deliver a capable manufacturing system meeting programme Quality, Rate, and Manufacturing cost requirements (SQDC) utilising APQP tools and value stream design principles; as well as ensuring all regulatory, customer and internal GKN policy requirements are met.

This work also extends to advanced planning and contribution to Technology programmes to establish / evaluate manufacturing methods for emerging technologies up to and including to TRL6.Specific outcomes. The CME NPI directly manages and leads a team of Industrialisation engineers, Industrial Architects and process development Research engineers who are deployable to projects and programmes as required, and provides functional governance for resources seconded into NPI / ToW programmes.

This role is focussed on delivering solutions for the Luton manufacturing site for both Ice Protection systems and Transparencies product lines, however it is anticipated that collaboration with other sites and teams will be required to maximise impact and best practice learning.

Occasional national and international travel is required dependent on program need. Core working hours at our Luton site are 07:30–16:30 Monday to Thursday and 07:30–12:30 on Fridays.

Job Responsibilities

• NPI - the CME is responsible for Planning, Development, Commissioning of the Manufacturing System and Processes for New Product Introductions [LG0->LG7]. Working with the Design Chief Engineers (for Design and Build contracts) and Programme management, they are accountable for delivering a manufacturing system that fulfils all stakeholder requirements (Safety, Logistics, Quality, Produceability & Business case metrics), including development and maturity of Manufacturing processes and documentation.

Sustaining - the CME may lead or support site improvement projects, including shopfloor layout improvements, Value Stream optimisation and process re-engineering efforts. This includes Identification of new technologies and their development & exploitation, and benchmarking of processes across the GKN portfolio of products.

Leadership of Projects- Responsible for technical leadership of industrialisation projects including manufacturing system design, process requirements defintion, implementation and deliver of APQP activities to ensure robust process capability and ongoing performance. This includes Program Management, Planning, Resource provisioning, budgeting, & Project EV reporting within functional and Enterprise standards.

Leadership of Teams – Accountable to the site E&T manager for the delivery for all ME and Industrialisation content through the leadership of the core industrialisation team and the deployed manufacturing engineering team.

Quality – Responsible for Product quality within the NPI ME function. Expected to drive a quality mind-set within the deployed engineering team and ensure compliance to agreed Customer, Regulatory, Business and functional standards including AS9145 (ZDM).

Bids – Working closely with the Programme and Business Development team, be responsible for the industrialisation content of bid work including Technical risk management, cost estimation and implementation planning.

Relationships - Maintain positive, team relationships with internal and external customers, key stakeholders within the business. Foster and champion 5 principles within sphere of influence.

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:

• Technical expertise in Manufacturing Engineering, with a relevant professional qualification / background (university degree) in engineering (eg. 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

Familiarity with AS9145 APQP process or equivalent

Working knowledge of LEAN processes and practices

Demonstrable experience in Manufacturing Engineering and/or Demonstrated ability in leadership position with evidence of delivering significant improvements in terms of cost/quality of a manufacturing system.

Working knowledge of quality system models such as ISO9000 or AS9100

Experience of being a primary contributor to Engineering Design Reviews (e.g. PDR, CDR) and Life cycle reviews.

Experience of contributing to technical proposals and manufacturing cost assessment to support new business opportunities

Desirable

• Project / Program Management Professional Qualification
• Familiarity with appropriate digital opportunities for manufacturing systems
  
  

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.

Note: Some GKN programmes are subject to regulatory restrictions which may impact certain nationalities. As part of the application process you will be asked to declare when applying for this role.

The position requires UK National Security Vetting (UKNSV) Security clearance (SC) due to the nature and responsibilities of the work carried out. In 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 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 22.5% bonus and car allowance

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

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

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.