Design Engineer

Date: Aug 14, 2025

Location: Bristol, GB

Company: GKN Aerospace Careers

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

 

An exciting opportunity for a Sustaining Senior Design Engineer has become available at our Bristol sites. The role will be based at either of our Filton or Western Approach Sites.


The successful candidate will be providing Sustaining Design Engineering Support for Airbus Single Aisle, Long Range, (if based at Filton Site) or A350 and A400M Programs (if based at Western Approach Site).


In addition, it is intended the role will extend to provide support to both sites, as experience and operational needs develop.


It would be advantageous, if the successful applicant has previous experience of working in a Sustaining Engineering role.

Job Responsibilities

 

•    To work within a team to provide Sustaining Design Engineering Support for Concessions and Insignificant Non Conformances (Minor Deviations) for Filton Operations, Western Approach Operations and Supplier requests.
•    To develop appropriate technical solutions for operational non-conformances which are compliant with all relevant Customer Design Standards and Airworthiness Requirements, in conjunction with the mainstream Design and Stress teams as appropriate.
•    To work in co-operation with the wider team and other functional areas of the company to achieve local and overall business objectives.
•    Ensure that relevant stakeholders have the right information at the right time, through pro-active communication. Identify own training and development needs (and, where appropriate those of the wider team) to ensure current and future skill requirements are met and addressed, making recommendations for formal training.
•    Support Engineering continuous improvement plan and “Lean” initiatives to develop improved operating processes and procedures.
•    Ensure compliance to the company’s Health, Safety and Environmental policies.
•    Support the Functional Team Lead and Engineering Team Lead in all business activities.

 

How You'll Contribute

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:

 

Essential:

 

•    Hold relevant academic qualifications (HNC, Degree or equivalent) or relevant qualification through experience.
•    At least 5 years of relevant experience gained within an engineering discipline, within an aerospace environment and in multi-disciplinary engineering project teams (Design/CM, Analysis, M&P and Manufacturing).
•    It would be an advantage to have experience of design, manufacture, MRB support for Airbus Wing composite spar design, manufacture and assembly, and /or metallic detail parts, systems and assemblies. 
•    Working knowledge of Airbus Toolsets such as SAP PAC, AIRINA, AirNav X, SRM, AMM, IPC, A350 PASS / A400M Primes
•    Working knowledge of GKN Toolsets such as GKN SAP, Windchill
Working knowledge of CATIA, 3DVIA and / or other similar design tool packages.
•    Able to act under own initiative within defined functional procedures / governance.

What We'll Offer

Competitive salary dependent on experience
Industry Leading Pension Scheme = we’ll match your contributions up to 8% on a 1 : 1.5 basis
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 

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. ​