Senior Design Engineer

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 are looking for a Senior Design Engineer to join our Transparencies team to support new and existing programmes including Fast jet canopies, Helicopter Windscreens and Flight Deck Windows. This is more than a CAD role, as a Senior Design Engineer you will represent design in an integrated product team, and lead design activities/projects to support your product group including the creation and maintenance of product definition and ensuring ongoing product performance against requirements. 

Working across the product lifecycle you will be involved in:
• New product development activities including requirements management, geometric design, materials selection, tooling, manufacturing process development and assembly methods, specifications, product verification, qualification and certification testing. 
• Product sustaining activities including MRB, Customer concession management, manufacturing problem solving, Engineering change management and in service technical support to our customers as a part of an Integrated Programme Team.
• Continuous improvement of products, processes, tools and design handbooks to ensure the highest standards of quality and compliance to evolving customer, regulatory, and airworthiness requirements.
 
As a Senior Design Engineer within the Engineering and Technology Department you will also have the opportunity to contribute to high-impact research and development projects within your field of expertise.
 
You will have a track record of delivering high quality technical work, and have project management skills. You will have good written and oral communication skills, and be confident working with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders, including non-technical colleagues.

Core operational hours at our Luton site are Monday to Thursday, 07:30–16:30, and Friday, 07:30–12:30. Some flexibility may be available, subject to agreement with manager. There may also be an opportunity to work from home one day per week, depending on business needs. Occasional UK travel may be required to meet suppliers, customers, and visit other GKN Aerospace sites.

Job Responsibilities

• Analyse customer requirements and define technical solutions as input to bids and proposals within assigned programmes/ projects.
• Develop, check and approve technical solutions and compliance documentation for work packages to ensure they are compliant with all relevant customer, regulatory, and airworthiness requirements, within agreed programme, schedule, and manufacturing constraints.
• Identify and assess technical risks and propose mitigations relevant to the work package within assigned programmes/projects.
• Act as Lead Design Engineer in Integrated Program Teams (IPT) and Material Review Board (MRB)
• Define and validate test methods and/or alternate means of compliance (analysis/similarity) as required to demonstrate design solution complies with requirements.
• Create, check and approve documents such as permits, concessions, rework schemes and provide technical support by implementing solutions to address non-conforming products, designs, and compliance documentation.
• Lead design activities for internal and external technical reviews including formal gate reviews by creation and preparation of technical data and presentations of product design. You will be responsible for raising and issuing high quality and detailed technical documentation.
• Mentor, train and develop junior members of the team by providing technical guidance and support.
• You will 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.
 
You should have a good understanding of the product development lifecycle, design practices and an interest in manufacturing. This is a hands on role, and although product oriented the work will entail a high level of collaboration with Manufacturing Engineering and Operations as part of an integrated programme team to ensure both technical and programme objectives are met.

You should be adaptable in approach to work, and be willing to understudy other team members in their areas of responsibility to ensure overall department objectives are met. As a Senior Design Engineer, you will be naturally detail oriented and appreciate the need for procedural compliance to meet both regulatory requirements and maintain product safety. 

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 stakeholders. You should seek to increase/deepen own technical knowledge through study, training, collaborative working and continual professional development.

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:

• Hold an accredited relevant Engineering qualification at Bachelor level or equivalent.
• Naturally curious, and show a strong interest in aviation and aerospace engineering technology.
• Strong self-starter, able to execute tasks according to plan.
• Logical and methodical approach to task planning and be able to demonstrate an evidence-based approach to decision making and problem solving.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills, Able to work independently and as part of a multi-disciplinary team to meet objectives. 
• Possess good oral and written communication skills, able to create clear, concise and accurate technical content.
• Experience of creating models and drawings using CATIA V5.

Please note: Some GKN Aerospace programmes are subject to regulatory restrictions which may impact certain Nationalities, as such part of the application process you are asked to declare. 
 
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
• Electric Vehicle (EV) salary sacrifice scheme (Insurance, servicing, maintenance, roadside assistance and more included)
• Free onsite parking 
• Local gym discount 
• Free airport parking 
• 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

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