Principal Manufacturing Engineer – Product & Planning – NPI

Overview

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  2023. There are no limits to where you can take your career.

Job Summary The Principal Manufacturing Engineer will provide technical expertise at a site and program level for operational and development Programs to enable and deliver zero defect projects utilizing engineering and problem solving skills. Accountable for delivering robust, capable manufacturing process technology as it applies to materials, tooling, part fabrication and assembly.

• Exemplifying a safety-first mind-set and ensuring compliance with the GKN Aerospace Health, Safety and Environmental policies and standards.
• Provide Technical expertise at a local project level in governance and deployment of manufacturing development and integration for new production as well as existing product within GKN Aerospace under the / Business line priority decision
• Lead and manage engineering teams to deliver measurable, metrics driven results in line with Operational and Program goals.
• Lead NPI projects and delta NPI products to production state for life cycle.
• Supporting the prep. & bid phase (IR1.0 to IR3.0) up to life cycle 7
• Supporting the team that is responsible for purchasing, procurement of machines, production preparation of hardware, configuration, tool and fixture development, process verification, etc.
• Develop and establish Processes & planning so that goals in accordance with the NPI process (Industrial review gates) are achieved from life cycle process ensuring quality product by developing robust manufacturing process selection, implementation & control of products to meet stakeholder requirements including;

• Zero Defect Manufacturing (ZDM) process
• AS9145 Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP)
• Production Part Approval Process (PPAP)

• Provides technical expertise to rapidly solve issues pertaining to quality, capability & control of product.
• Breaks down technical problems, risk, opportunities, in the correct order to create products and add value to GKN Aerospace through creating Zero Defects
• Leads positive, team relationships with internal and external customers, as well as co-workers
• Continuously improve production processes by implementing Lean initiative and driving towards automation technics and newer technology to advanced the product in quality & cost
• Provide project technical oversight for the development of manufacturing process solutions to complex problems.
• Design processes to a high level of process capability through utilizing the GKN standard Zero Defect Manufacturing (ZDM) tool suite.
• Implement the global process for product development, first article development, configuration changes, build process definition and implementation.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering (Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, Industrial) or 15 years of related experience in Manufacturing Engineering (recognized qualifications or experience in similar roles)
• 10+ years of experience in Manufacturing Engineering, Aerospace environment preferred
• Must be able to perform work subject to ITAR/EAR regulations and/or program requirements.
• Must be a US Citizen or Green Card Holder due to program security clearance requirements and/or SSA requirements.

Preferred Qualifications:

• GKN Experience
• Ability to work, and deliver, under own initiative.
• Expert Knowledge and experience in launching new product
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Participates in activities within a global technical community and understanding of the interface with broader business…