Senior Research Engineer - Additive Manufacturing
Date: Nov 7, 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
We’re looking for a Senior Research Engineer to join our Additive Manufacturing team at our Global Technology Centre in Bristol. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in shaping the future of additive manufacturing within aerospace.
As a Senior Research Engineer you will draw on your diverse engineering background and product lifecycle awareness to progress a variety of research activity in the TRL1-6 range, along with planning for industrial implementation.
This is a full time permanent opportunity for a motivated individual to join a team of 12 research engineers, overseeing up to 3 direct reports.
Job Responsibilities
- Working within the broader team, you will own aspects of ongoing development work, focusing on the path to industrial implementation of the technology
- You will have budget accountability for a Work Stream or Work Package within the development programme
- You will contribute to multi-year planning and internal/external funding proposals as required
- You will be responsible for preparation of Technology Development Plans and Technology Business Cases within your project(s)
- You will support or lead any necessary 'hands on' development test work and development trials that are required to meet your Work Package/Work Stream delivery objectives
- You will be responsible for line management of core Technology Team members assigned to your Work Stream (1-3). You will be responsible for the yearly PDP process for your direct reports and ensuing that all team members have a robust development plan linked to GKN's TEF
What You'll Bring
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:
- Experience within the aerospace sector (or a highly regulated industry), ideally within an AS9100 qualified site
- An Engineering degree (Or suitable relevant experience)
Desirable:
- Direct experience in technology implementation
- Experience with metal additive manufactring (ideally (DED) or other specialist processes
- Experience managing budgets on a work package level or smaller work streams
- You will have a growing network in Aerospace or Technology areas relevant to the role, and you will be able to identify and engage in the development of collaboration opportunities
- You will have experience engaging with production teams and you can identify operational requirements and incorporate into your project as appropriate and as agreed
What We'll Offer
Once you’re on board you’ll get the following perks and benefits:
- Competitive salary dependent on experience
- Opportunity to earn up to 15% bonus
- Hybrid working – giving you the opportunity to balance home and office working
- Industry Leading Pension Scheme = we’ll match your contributions up to 8% on a 1 : 1.5 basis (Up to 20% Total contribution)
- Life Assurance 8 x salary
- 25 days holiday + bank holidays
- Income protection
- Shopping discounts
- Cycle To Work Scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme
- 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.
