Senior Materials Engineer

Company description:
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, were inspired by the opportunities to innovate and break boundaries. Were proud to play a part in protecting the worlds democracies. And were committed to putting sustainability at the centre of everything we do, opening up and protecting our planet.

With over 16,000 employees globally, across 33 manufacturing sites in 12 countries we serve over 90% of the worlds aircraft and engine manufacturers. There are no limits to where you can take your career.

Job description:

Its great to know youre making a difference to the future of aviation! Whatever part you play youll be helping us deliver operational excellence to our customers. Based at our Luton manufacturing plant youll 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, Dream liner, 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. 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.

Were looking for a Senior Materials Engineer with a strong non-metallic materials engineering background, to join our materials and test team to support the production and development of next generation composite aero structures, ice protection and transparency products. The role will be based in the Materials and Test (M&T) team within the wider Engineering and Technology department and report to the Functional Team Leader.

The role as a Senior Materials Engineer will support the business and engineering team, with non-metallic, polymer materials science and processing knowledge and guidance. Concentrating on thin film coating technologies and transparency materials. The role will initially lead a transparency coatings validation project before moving onto site production support and material obsolescence projects. The role will require a knowledge of the interactions between processing parameters and material properties of Acrylics, Polycarbonates and Polymers, being able to guide new technology test plans and current production deviations.

You will support the work of the business to establish safe working practices and necessary level of documentation. You will be involved with projects from the planning / assembly / instrumentation / commissioning phase though to successfully performing and reporting the test. You will also be responsible for providing specialist support to existing programmes within your field of expertise, helping to resolve manufacturing issues and supporting continuous improvement efforts.

You will have a proven track record of leading and delivering technical work, with strong communication skills being confident working with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders, including non-technical audiences.

Job Responsibilities Development of manufacturing processes in relation to transparent polymer and adhesive materials Qualification of materials and processes to ensure they comply with the requirements Lead thin film polymer coatings projects Lead material obsolescence and REACh affected material replacement projects Interact with different levels of leadership across the business, reporting progress to senior managers and site leadership team. Work closely with Principle Materials Engineer to effectively manage the…