Principal Design Engineer EWIS - Components & Environmental Testing

GKN Aerospace Careers is looking for an ambitious engineer to contribute to the development of future Electrical Wiring Interconnection Systems (EWIS) for sustainable aircraft.

Within GKN Aerospace's EWIS solutions (Fokker Elmo), this role focuses on advancing Electrical Wiring Interconnection Systems for more electric, fully electric, and hybrid-electric aircraft, including High Voltage High Power (HVHP) EWIS developments and disruptive technologies for low-voltage data signal transmission. Electrical Wiring Interconnection Systems (EWIS) have become increasingly important as part of the More Electric Aircraft transition.

Job Summary
As an EWIS Principal Design Engineer, you will serve as the design authority within your specific area of expertise, leading the development, validation, and verification of EWIS components and constructions (component assemblies). In this role, you will define the technical direction for complex EWIS solutions, establish design strategies, and ensure robust, compliant, and high-quality engineering outcomes across multiple projects.

Your responsibilities include leading trade-off studies, defining component selection strategies, overseeing component and construction qualification, and delivering high-quality technical documentation. You will collaborate closely with the Engineering Design Team, acting as a key decision-maker and technical reference point for EWIS component design.

In this principal role, you will also mentor, coach, and technically guide Senior, Mid-level, and Junior Design Engineers, ensuring consistent engineering excellence, reviewing critical work packages, and fostering the development of advanced EWIS domain expertise within the team.

As GKN Aerospace continues to expand its capabilities in next-generation EWIS technologies for future aircraft platforms, you will play a key role in shaping the technical roadmap and maturing these advanced competencies.

You will report to the Centre of Competence Manager – EWIS Components and Environmental Testing (ECE). For project-specific activities, you will collaborate closely with the Technical Lead (Senior Engineer) and/or the Engineering Team Lead (ETL) within the Design team. In addition to receiving project direction, you will act as a design authority within your specific area of expertise, providing expert guidance, validating critical design decisions, and ensuring technical consistency across project deliverables.

What you'll do

Lead trade-off studies.

Define component selection strategies.

Oversee component and construction qualification.

Deliver high-quality technical documentation.

Collaborate closely with the Engineering Design Team as a key decision-maker and technical reference point for EWIS component design.

Mentor, coach, and technically guide Senior, Mid-level, and Junior Design Engineers.

Review critical work packages and foster the development of advanced EWIS domain expertise within the team.

Play a key role in shaping the technical roadmap and maturing advanced competencies in next-generation EWIS technologies for future aircraft platforms.

What you'll bring

10+ years of professional experience in a comparable engineering domain, ideally within aerospace, automotive, rail, or other high-reliability transportation industries.

Extensive system design background with proven leadership in complex, multidisciplinary aerospace and/or transportation system architectures.

Expert-level knowledge of electrical cable harness design, including deep component-level understanding of connectors, terminals, backshells, splices, shielding, grounding, protective coverings, and integration constraints.

Strong capability in defining and specifying parts, materials, and assemblies, with a clear understanding of component interactions, system-level impacts, and design trade-offs.

Proficiency in interpreting and applying industry standards such as DO-160, ARP
4754A, MIL-STD, and ISO standards, and translating them into practical design requirements.

Advanced documentation and requirements management skills, including experience with tools such as Codebeamer or equivalent systems.

Demonstrated ability to lead technical…