Principal Materials 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, 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.

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’re looking for a Principal Materials Engineer

with a strong non-metallic materials engineering background, to join our materials and test team to support the production and development of next generation composite aero structures, ice protection and transparency products. The role will be based in the Materials, Coatings and Test (MCT) team within the wider Engineering and Technology department and report to the Functional Team Leader.

The role as a Principal Materials Engineer will support the business and engineering team, with non polymer materials science and processing knowledge and guidance. The role will provide a deep understanding of the interactions between processing parameters and material properties of composites, Acrylics, Polycarbonates and adhesives, being able to guide and make decisions on new technology test plans and current production deviations.

There will be occasional travel, national and international, required to support customer visits and other GKN sites. You will also support the work of the business to establish safe working practices and necessary level of documentation. You will be involved with projects from the planning / assembly / instrumentation / commissioning phase though to successfully performing and reporting the test. You will also be responsible for providing specialist support to existing programmes within your field of expertise, helping to resolve manufacturing issues and supporting continuous improvement efforts.

You will have a proven track record of leading and delivering technical work, with strong communication skills being confident working with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders, including non-technical audiences.

Job Responsibilities

• Development of manufacturing processes in relation to polymer, composite and adhesive materials

Troubleshooting and production support on Materials Issues (e.g. Composites, polymers, bonding, surface treatments).

Maintaining contacts with suppliers regarding alternative/new products.

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.

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:

• Composite or Polymer Materials Science based Degree (or related)
• Experience in Polymer and Composite material science and processing; familiarity with REACh environmental legislation
• Significant relevant experience within an industrial engineering discipline, preferably within an Aerospace/Automotive/Marine/Energy sectors
• Experience with quality systems, specifications, standards, etc. with the ability to oversee the broader field
• Excellent reporting and project management skills
• Good English language, both verbally and in writing,
  
  

Desirable

• Ability to plan work through formal project management processes, including scheduling and budgeting and lead a team to ensure successful delivery of required outcomes.
• An awareness of aerospace certification requirements.
• A higher degree qualification such as a Masters, PhD or EngD within Aerospace/Automotive/Marine/Energy sectors
  
  

The successful candidate should have a broad interest in non-metallic material technologies & testing and characterisation techniques. You should want to mentor people in a technical environment. You’ll be able to adapt to changing priorities to meet business priorities handling multiple enquires at once.

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 and external stakeholders, including operations and other business functions.

The successful candidate should be adaptable in their approach to work, and be able to adapt to potentially dynamic priorities. As a Principal Materials Engineer, the candidate will be naturally curious and seek to increase/deepen their own technical knowledge through study, collaborative working, hypothesis testing and experimentation.

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 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
• 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 com

mitted 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.