Chief Manufacturing Engineer-Remote

Company: GKN Aerospace Careers

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.

As part of GKN Aerospace Airframes E&T, Chief Manufacturing Engineers (CME) lead the development, industrialisation and improvement of Manufacturing Systems whilst serving as the customer-facing representatives of the ME function.

Day-to-day, a CME is focused on delivery of non-recurring engineering projects including New Product Introductions (NPI), Transfers of Work (ToW), Major Modifications (Mods), Technology Insertions and resolving manufacturing process related quality and delivery challenges together with production engineering teams.

When necessary, a CME may lead deployed ME resources to deliver these projects, ensuring compliance with identified requirements (e.g. Produceability, Productivity, Cost, Schedule, Regulatory) and adherence to Zero Defect Manufacturing (ZDM) standards.

Remote Role

This is a remote working position that requires frequent routine and occasional non-routine travel (up to 25-50%) to be on-site at GKN facilities and suppliers, including but not limited to;
Phoenix (AZ), Wichita (KS), Sumner (WA), Chihuahua (Mexico), Tallassee (AL).

Candidates must live in a location with strong transport links. This could be 1-2 hours drive (approx.) from a major international hub airport (e.g. Dallas, Atlanta, Houston) or locally to a regional airport with multiple flights per day to major hub airports.

• Bids–Accountable to validate and approve the proposed definition of the Manufacturing System and its associated performance targets which are submitted at LG3 (Programme Launch). Working closely with the Industrial Architect, the CME reviews output for technical risks and communicates these to the Programme. This may include process flow, bill of materials, proposed industrial setting, product cost estimates, requirements compliance or technology developments needed.
  
  The CME owns the Non-Recurring Engineering cost estimate for the ME technical content delivery.
• NPI– Accountable for delivering a Manufacturing System that fulfils all agreed stakeholder requirements (technical, quality, regulatory), business case metrics and system performance targets between LG3 (Programme Launch) and LG7 (Steady State Production) whilst ensuring that planning, development and commissioning is completed on-schedule and on-cost.
• Sustaining – Accountable for the governance and oversight of a portfolio of Manufacturing Systems, delivered through regular review of system KPIs and Industrial Review assessments. Takes corrective action to ensure Manufacturing Systems continue to perform in-line with the productivity & quality targets set.
• Leadership of Projects- Accountable for delivery of the non-recurring ME activities within a given programme or project. Responsible to provide technical leadership and direction using project management fundamentals: planning & estimating, resourcing & budgeting and reporting on project performance (earned value) to internal business standards.
• Leadership of Teams – Accountable to the Programme and…