Senior Research Engineer

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Senior Research Engineer - Composite Manufacturing Processes

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

Situated within our £32m state of the art Global Technology Centre in Filton, Bristol and as a result of internal promotion and continued growth across our programmes, a position has arisen for a Senior Research Engineer in Composite Manufacturing Processes, with a background in  advanced composite manufacturing process development  to join us andhelp shape the future of flight. You will be an integral member of the GTC technology team working on developing advanced composite manufacturing processes for current and future wing applications. We are looking for people who want to make a difference, talented individuals with the skills and passion to become future leaders in what they do.

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. You must have sound experience in leading technical work, including budgeting, schedule and risk management. You will be capable of achieving through others internally and externally, and you will be committed to development of your own skills and professional network. Your good communication skills shall enable you to confidently engage with a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders.

The Programme

ASCEND is a cross-sector composite Technology and Supply-Chain development programme, joining the Aerospace & Automotive supply chains and led by GKN Aerospace, alongside support with a further 15 Partners.

ASCEND is focused on developing composite and adjacent technologies that will allow the UK aerospace & automotive industries to meet the future high-rate production manufacture needs of the growing civil aircraft & future mobility markets through:

• Automation
• Design for Manufacture
• Skills Development

Whilst sustainably reducing the Cost of Manufacture and Carbon Footprint

This is an exciting time to join the programme which is in it's final stages concluding with it's launch in March 2025; the outputs to achieve:

• TRL6 - Automated preforming, deposition and RTM – Wingtip
• TRL5 - High rate thermoset press forming - Rib structure

Job Responsibilities

• Contribute to the development of your project(s) strategy, reconciling strategic input from multiple specialist areas.
• Budget accountability for a Work Stream or Work Package
• Contribute to multi-year planning and internal/external funding proposals as required
• Responsible for preparation of Technology Development Plans and Technology Business Cases within your project(s)
• Ensure all planning documentation in your responsibility is regularly updated, accurate, and delivery is on track. You may also have schedule accountability for your project(s)
• 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.
• Responsible for raising and issuing high quality and detailed technical documentation.
• Support for line management of core Technology Team members assigned to your WS or project or management of deployed team members; to include PDP process for any direct reports and ensuing that all team members have a robust development plan linked to GKN's TEF.
• Drive project(s) toward exploitation, identifying and supporting industrialisation scenario development.
• Support project stakeholder management with internal/external customers, and you may lead management of supply chain partners in some cases.
• Accountable for adherence to GKN EH&S policies and procedures in your projects, teams and associated working areas including monitoring and reporting of key health and safety metrics. By leading by example, you will contribute to a proactive 'safety first' EH&S culture.
• 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.

What We're Looking For:

In order to be successful in this role you will bring the following experience and attributes:

• A relevant, accredited engineering degree or experience of demonstrable equivalence in composite process development, preferably in the aerospace sector
• Knowledge and/or experience of composite materials and manufacturing methods, including detailed technical knowledge of a variety of Carbon fibre materials and associated processing options; both manual and automated, bagging and preparation of composite components for cure, tool design, handling and preparation and cleaning.
• Aerospace composite product design requirements with a Design for Manufacture thought process
• Possess a good general engineering/technology knowledge base and can demonstrate strategic thinking.
• Experience managing budgets on a work package level or smaller Work Streams.
• Experience managing either direct reports (normally interns and apprentices etc.) or deployed resources (people you lead but you are not their line manager).
  
  
• Experience of programming of ovens / autoclaves, including thermocouple set-up and monitoring.
• Operation of resin mixing and injection equipment and of ply cutter / preform cutting tools.
• Experience with laser ply projection equipment (set-up and use) and automated composite processing; AFP, ATL, Pick and Place.
• Experience in the post-processing of cured composite structures; machining, hand finishing, drilling etc.
• Knowledge of standard metrology and part verification techniques and previous experience with manual NDT techniques.
• Experience of RTM, resin infusion and traditional prepreg techniques.
• Aerospace background preferred but relevant experience from other industries is welcomed .

What We'll Offer:

Once you’re on board you’ll get the following perks and benefits:

• 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
• 25 days holiday + bank holidays
• Income protection
• 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.

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