Manufacturing Engineering Manager Tooling

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 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, Dream liner, Airbus A320, Agusta Westland, 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. Based at our Luton Manufacturing site as the Manufacturing Engineering Manager Tooling you'll be working across both our Defence and Civil business lines.

You will provide and lead a team of Tooling and Cad Engineers in the design, manufacture and maintenance and control of all Site Tools. This will involve the technical capability to create and design tools as solutions to support the manufacturing operations. You'll be accountable for delivering robust, capable manufacturing process technology as it applies to materials, tooling, part fabrication and assembly.

The role involves the creation of significant tooling designs from initial concept through to production for the production of aircraft transparencies and Ice Protection Tooling, jigs and fixtures. Among other activities, this will include responsibilities for 4 large CNC machines on site and calibration of current and the development of new or existing tooling. Supporting Manufacturing Engineering teams may also be required.

The successful candidate will be experienced in a relevant engineering discipline and have a "hands on" approach, be able to prioritise jobs, be comfortable liaising with suppliers and other departments. Furthermore responsibilities for Manufacturing Engineering Configuration control, using SAP and more traditional documentation such as Specifications and Routings. The role will also provide leadership, coaching and mentoring to a small team of Tooling Engineers on the Luton site, supporting the Manufacturing Engineering Managers in matters of staff performance and development.

The role will also be responsible for the overall load and capacity management of the tooling team members and provide reports and updates on tooling work plans as required by the Manufacturing Engineering Managers and/or Site Head of ME. Core operational hours at our Luton site are: 07:30 - 16:30 Monday to Thursday & 07:30 - 12:30 Friday. There is the requirement for flexibility for occasional travel in the UK.

Job Responsibilities
• Exemplifying a safety-first mind-set and ensuring compliance with the GKN Aerospace Health, Safety and Environmental policies and standards.
• Responsible for the development and support with technical solutions to complex problems within GKN Aerospace environment, our customers and suppliers by utilizing root…