Manufacturing Operator
Date: Oct 2, 2025
Location: Luton, 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
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.
Continued growth in our programmes has created a number of new exciting opportunities for Manufacturing Operators to join us to work at our Luton manufacturing facility in our Ice Protection Systems department.
There will be full training in all areas of the role.
You’ll report into one of our Team Leaders, who will provide you with development and training across a wide range of manufacturing processes within our production area. You’ll follow fixed actions and drawings as you play a key part in our product delivery utilising the following skills:
• Reading diagrams, following route cards
• Following quality processes; stamp your work when complete
• Duties may include: cutting and masking, metal spraying, automation, quality control
• Comply with Health and Safety directives
• Support continuous improvement activities
The initial training period follows a rotating double day shift pattern, alternating weekly between:
• Shift A: Monday to Thursday, 6:00 AM – 2:00 PM; Friday, 6:00 AM – 11:00 AM
• Shift B: Monday to Thursday, 2:00 PM – 10:00 PM; Friday, 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Post-Training Schedule:
Upon successful completion of the training period, the role transitions to a 12-hour continental day shift pattern (6:00 AM – 6:00 PM), which includes weekend work.
What You'll Bring
To help us make a difference, you’ll bring your passion and talent for what you do along with any of the following skills, experience and attributes:
Essential:
• Thorough and able to pay attention to detail
• Quality Awareness
• The ability to work with hand tools
• Commitment to Quality
• Be able to work as part of a team
• Great communication skills
Desirable:
• Aircraft or general manufacturing experience
• Inspection of components background
• Experience in Automation, paint spraying or clean room environments
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.
What We'll Offer
Once you’re on board you’ll get the following perks and benefits:
• Starting basic salary of £27,776.00 per annum
• Additional shift allowance of 20% for double day shift
• Additional shift allowance of 33.3% for 12 hour continental day shift pattern
• Working week average of 42 hours with built in pay enhancement
• 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
• 50% off local travel card
• Free airport Dart
• 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
Closing date: 16.10.25 - Please note we may close applications earlier, to avoid disappointment, we recommend submitting your application as soon as possible.
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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.
