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 are committed to putting sustainability at the centre of everything we do. 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.
Job Summary
Based at our Luton manufacturing plant, you will help deliver operational excellence to our customers. As a Principal Design Engineer in the Transparencies team you will lead complex product development, drive technical strategy, and ensure engineering excellence across multiple programmes. Your responsibilities span the full lifecycle: advanced concept development, requirements definition, geometric design, materials and process selection, tooling design, manufacturing development, qualification, and in‑service support.
Job Responsibilities
- Act as the technical authority for transparency design across multiple programmes, ensuring design integrity, safety, and compliance with customer, regulatory, and airworthiness requirements.
- Lead the definition of design standards and engineering best practices for transparency systems and approve design solutions, specifications, concessions, rework schemes, and compliance documentation.
- Provide expert guidance on requirements management, materials selection, structural performance, optical performance, manufacturing processes and qualification methods.
- Represent the Design function in MRBs and serve as the primary escalation point for all MRB‑related queries, exercising technical authority to determine and approve the disposition of non‑conforming parts.
- Define and validate test methods and/or alternate means of compliance (analysis/similarity) as required to demonstrate design solution complies with requirements.
- Act as a senior technical interface with customers, suppliers, regulatory bodies and internal stakeholders; communicate complex technical information clearly to both technical and non‑technical audiences.
- Lead major technical reviews, gate reviews and customer design reviews, ensuring high quality technical data and presentations.
- Identify, assess and manage technical risks across programmes, proposing mitigation strategies and influencing programme direction.
- Support capability development within the Transparency Systems team including training, knowledge capture and succession planning.
- Contribute to 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
Essential
- Degree in Aerospace, Mechanical or a related discipline.
- Experience in Aerospace design or aerospace product development.
- Deep understanding of the full product lifecycle, design practices, manufacturing processes and airworthiness requirements.
- Proven ability to lead complex engineering work packages and solve complex technical problems using evidence‑based, methodical approaches.
- Familiarity with digital engineering and model‑based design preferably using CATIA V5.
- Excellent communication skills, able to create clear, concise, and accurate technical content and present to senior stakeholders.
Desirable
- Expert user of CATIA V5 for complex modelling and drawing creation.
- Chartered Engineer status (CEng).
- Experience working with defence customers and regulatory authorities.
- Experience in transparencies, composites, or specialist structures/systems.
What We’ll Offer
- Competitive salary dependent on experience.
- The opportunity to earn up to 15 % bonus.
- Industry‑leading pension scheme – we’ll match your contributions up to 8 % on a 1 : 1.5 basis.
- Life assurance 8 × salary.
- 185 hours holiday + bank holidays.
- Income protection.
- Shopping discounts.
- Cycle‑to‑Work scheme.
- Employee Assistance Programme.
- Virtual GP clinic for you and immediate family.
- Free onsite parking.
- Local gym discount.
- Free airport parking.
- Enhanced family‑friendly leave.
- A collaborative, dynamic working environment.
Note: Some GKN programmes are subject to regulatory restrictions which may impact certain nationalities. As part of the application process you will be asked to declare when applying for this role.
The position requires UK National Security Vetting (UKNSV) Security clearance (SC) due to the nature and responsibilities of the work carried out. In order for us to obtain an SC you usually need to have been resident in the UK for a minimum of 5 years to current date (but we do assess each case individually).
We are also committed to providing an accessible recruitment process; if you require reasonable adjustments at any stage during our recruitment process please let us know.
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