Team Lead - Test & Instrumentation
Date: Dec 12, 2025
Location: East Cowes, 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
GKN Aerospace's mission is to be the most trusted and sustainable partner in the sky. This opportunity embodies this mission, without Testing and Instrumentation engineering we would not be able to prove our this to our valued customers.
The Functional Team Lead is responsible to lead a teams of an engineers to deliver testing of large aerostructures..
A Functional Team Lead reports hierarchically and functionally to the respective Head of Function and operationally to either Programme Chief Engineer (if leading guiding/directing multiple functional teams) or to the Engineering Team Leader.
What You'll Be Doing
As a Functional Team Lead working in our world class testing facility in Cowes, Isle of Wight you'll be leading a small group of professionals to test various aerostructures. This position will give you exposure to both civil and defence aircraft.
The role is accountable for the performance of the team under your control and specifically to deliver all programme engineering objectives on schedule, within budget, and to the defined technical requirements.
- Lead functional teams to deliver the assigned tasks.
- Provide technical functional oversight for engineering design solutions.
- Develop and implement methods plans, toolsets and solutions.
- Provide functional review of generated bids and proposals within assigned programmes/projects.
- Assess, manage, and mitigate overall technical risk within assigned programmes.
- Generate, sign, check, or approve all assigned project deliverables, documents, and reports.
- Implement capability strategies to manage training, mentoring, and development of engineers.
- Implement a lean continuous improvement culture and strategy.
- Create a positive workplace environment within the programme through regular meetings, engagement & coaching.
What You'll Bring
Essential
- Ability to manage the all operations of a test facility, including safety, equipment calibration and maintenance, and budget.
- Advance Experience of aerostructure structural testing campaigns.
- Deep technical expertise in quality compliance.
- Track record in delivering structural testing .
- Advance knowledge of quality management systems.
- Evidence of technical governance and record keeping in line with ISO17025 and AS9100.
Desirable
- Degree level qualification in a related discipline.
- Global perspective, capable of working across international teams and time zones.
Personal Attributes
- Strong Communication Skills
- Excellent Team Player
- Passion & Energy
- Execution
- Problem Solving
- (Self) discipline
What We'll Offer
Once you’re on board you’ll get the following perks and benefits:
- Competitive salary dependent on experience.
- Discretionary 15% company bonus.
- 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.
- Income protection.
- Shopping discounts.
- Cycle To Work Scheme.
- Employee Assistance Programme.
- Virtual GP Clinic for you and immediate family.
- 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.
