Senior Research Engineer - Composite Manufacturing Processes

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

Job Summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Principal Research Engineer with a background in advanced composite manufacturing process development and with specialist knowledge in Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM). Based at our GTC Site, Bristol you will be an integral member of the technology team leading development of advanced composite manufacturing processes for current and future wing applications. We are looking for people who want to make a difference, talented individuals with the skills and passion to be leaders in what they do. As a Principal Research Engineer, you will draw on your diverse engineering background and good business awareness to shape and manage research and development projects in the TRL3‑6 range. You will have a strong track record in leading technical work, managing budgets, schedule and risk. Your strategic outlook and critical thinking will enable you to adapt the direction of the work, and the team you lead, for the best value outcome. Your exceptional communication skills shall enable you to confidently engage with a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders. You will have demonstrated leadership behaviours which are in line with GKN’s cultural values and principles.

How you'll contribute

Principal Research Engineer will have the following responsibilities

• Technology Readiness Level and schedule accountability for your project(s), ensuring planning documentation is regularly updated, accurate, and delivery is on track.
• Accountability for development trials/test work applicable to your project or work stream.
• Responsible for line management of core technology team members assigned to your work stream or project or management of deployed team members. You will be responsible for the yearly PDP process for your direct reports and ensuring that all team members have a robust development plan linked to GKN’s Technical Excellence Framework.
• Drive project(s) toward exploitation, integrating technologies to mature the product offering and industrialisation scenarios, with a clear view on internal/external value chain in alignment with the technology business case.
• Take the lead in project stakeholder management, including internal/external customers and the supply chain.
• Lead in the development of GKN as a “Great Place to Work”, aligned with the core principles—safe, innovative, open & honest, care & respect, and ownership.

What you’ll bring

To help us make a difference, you’ll bring your passion and expertise/talent for what you do along with the following skills, experience, qualifications and attributes:

• Experience and knowledge of composite materials and manufacturing methods, including in-depth technical knowledge in the development and optimisation of Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM) processes (incl. HP‑RTM, VARTM, CRTM), for medium to large-scale aerospace applications and relevant experience from other industries is welcomed.
• Have taken a leading role in the technology development and delivery for medium to large scale RTM structures, including developing novel tooling concepts, forming technologies, in‑mould sensing and monitoring tools, and resin injection equipment.
• Strong understanding of process control, repeatability, and statistical variation in composite manufacturing.
• Experience collaborating with tooling engineers on RTM mould design, resin distribution strategies, and thermal management.
• Familiarity with defect mechanisms in RTM (e.g. dry spots, voids, race tracking) and mitigation strategies.
• Hands‑on experience supporting RTM manufacturing in a production or industrial R&D environment.
• Detailed technical knowledge of a variety of carbon fibre materials and associated processing options, both manual and automated.
• Strong understanding of aerospace‑grade composite materials, including fibres, resins, and core materials.

Education

Essential

• A relevant, accredited engineering degree or experience of demonstrable equivalence.

Desirable

• A higher degree qualification such as a Masters, PhD or EngD.
• Chartered Engineer with a relevant institution.

What we’ll offer

• Competitive salary dependent on experience.
• Up to 15% bonus.
• Industry leading pension scheme: we’ll match your contributions up to 8% on a 1: 1.5 basis (employer max contribution 12%).
• Life assurance 8 × salary.
• 25 days holiday + bank holidays.
• Hybrid working.
• Flexible working hours including the ability to finish at 12:00 noon on a Friday.
• Income protection.
• Shopping discounts.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Employee assistance programme.
• Virtual GP clinic for you and immediate family.
• A collaborative, dynamic working environment.

We’ll offer you fantastic challenges and amazing opportunities. This is your chance to be part of an organisation that has proven itself to be at the cutting edge of our industry and is committed to pushing the boundaries even further. And with some of the best training on offer in the industry, who knows how far you can go?

A great place to work needs a great way of working

Everyone is welcome to apply to GKN. We believe that we can only achieve our ambitions through a coming together of diverse minds who enjoy collaborating in an inspirational environment. Through our commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging and by living our five powerful principles we’ve created a culture where everyone feels welcome to contribute. It’s a culture that won us ‘The Best Workplace Culture Award’. By embracing and celebrating what makes us unique we encourage everyone to bring their full self to work.

We’re also committed to providing an accessible recruitment process, so if you require reasonable adjustments at any stage during our recruitment process please get in touch and let us know.

We are the place where human dreams, plus human endeavour, shape the future of aerospace innovation and technology.

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