Principal Research Engineer - Cryogenics

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 32 manufacturing sites in 12 countries we serve over 90% of the world’s aircraft and engine manufacturers and achieved sales of 3.6bn in 2025. There are no limits to where you can take your career.

Job Summary The role of Principal Cryogenic Research Engineer provides a unique opportunity to work with one of the industry’s most respected minds:
Stephen Harrison, GKN Technical Fellow and Visiting Professor in cryogenics at the University of Bath.
The role of a Principal Cryogenic Research Engineer is to provide technical leadership and strategic direction for cryogenic power distribution within GKN Aerospace Hydrogen Systems. The role plays a critical part in advancing sustainable aerospace power and propulsion technologies by defining, developing, and integrating cryogenic systems that enhance overall system performance, efficiency, and capability.

This position leads the progression of cryogenic concepts from early-stage research through experimental validation and system integration, advancing technologies across Technology Readiness Levels (TRL 1–6). The role carries responsibility for setting technical vision, leading complex, multidisciplinary development activities, and ensuring robust translation of research into production-ready, system-level solutions.

The Principal Engineer will provide authoritative technical leadership across projects, drive capability growth within the organisation, mentor and develop engineers at all career stages, and champion engineering best practice, governance, and functional excellence.

The role requires extensive cross-functional engagement across disciplines including Electrical, Controls, Systems, and Prototyping to ensure cryogenic solutions are fully aligned with broader system architectures, requirements, certification pathways and production/delivery objectives.

How you'll Contribute The Principal Research Engineer - Cryogenics will contribute to the following:

Lead the definition and development of system architectures and concepts for MW-class cryogenic-electrical power distribution systems operating at temperatures down to 25 K, ensuring alignment with programme and business objectives.

Own the end-to-end development of system requirements, providing governance across requirements management, safety assessment, risk mitigation and compliance through design into a validated and certifiable physical product.

Define and govern design principles, material selections, and technology specifications, ensuring robust, scalable, and cost-effective solutions that meet performance, safety, and airworthiness expectations.

Lead validation, verification and qualification strategies, defining compliance routes through analysis, simulation, and test (e.g. DO-160) and providing technical leadership to certification planning and engagement.

Provide functional and technical leadership across multidisciplinary teams, chairing design and peer reviews, assuring technical quality of deliverables, and supporting capability growth through coaching and mentoring.

Generate and protect intellectual property, shaping cryogenic technology development in line with GKN Aerospace Hydrogen Systems’ long-term technology roadmaps.

What you'll Bring To help us make a difference, you’ll bring your passion and expertise/ talent for what you do along with the following skills, experience, qualifications and attributes:

Essential:

Technical

Skills:

Minimum

B.Eng degree or equivalent and qualified with 8 years relevant experience

Strong understanding of thermodynamic and mechanical principles, with the ability to apply first-principles engineering to real-world technical and manufacturing challenges.

Demonstrated…