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.
It’s great to know you’re making a difference to the future of aviation! Whatever part you play you’ll be helping us deliver operational excellence to our customers. Based at our Luton manufacturing plant you’ll 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, Dreamliner, AgustaWestland, 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.
As a member of the Manufacturing Engineering Team, the Manufacturing Engineer will report directly to the Manufacturing Engineer Manager, with day-to-day guidance and support provided by the ME Team Leader. Based at our Luton site and supporting Defence business lines, there may occasionally be a need to travel to equipment supplier locations. The Manufacturing Engineer will join a team focused on either Jet Canopies or Helicopters, contributing to the development of manufacturing processes as well as supporting daily operational activities.
Core operational hours at our Luton site are: 07:30 - 16:30 Monday to Thursday & 07:30 - 12:30 Friday, earlier finish on Friday to start the weekend.
- Develop, document and optimise new and existing manufacturing processes such as creation/amendment SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) and Process Specifications
- Create and update engineering documentation to maintain configuration control and help manage point of introduction activities, first article inspection and customer approval
- Lead structured problem solving projects linked to both project deliverables and day-to-day manufacturing issues
- Provide day-to-day support to manufacturing operations
- Provide MRB (Material Review Board) support to existing programmes to ensure any process deviation or product faults are reviewed and answered
- Reduce process driven scrap and rework and support continuous improvement activities
- Establish appropriate new process controls and improve existing ones
- Be compliant with the Company’s Environmental, Health & Safety and Energy procedures.
To help us make a difference, you’ll bring your passion and talent for what you do along with the following skills, experience, qualifications and attributes:
Essential:
- Minimum HND qualification (or equivalent) in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial or Manufacturing Engineering/Aerospace
- Demonstrable Manufacturing Engineering experience gained from ideally the Aerospace, Automotive, Yellow Goods industry
- Demonstrable experience of practical problem-solving techniques using A3 or 8D
- Experience of root cause analysis using Fishbone (Cause and Effect) Diagrams and 5 Whys (Five Whys) techniques
Desirable:
• Experience of Lean Manufacturing including process standardisation kaizen activities such as 5S
- Experience in lay-up processes for composite materials
- Specification interpretation experience
- Experience in APQP and PPAP standards including Process Flow Diagram, Process Failure Mode Effect Analysis, Process Control Plans, Measurement System Analysis and Process Capability
We are looking for people who want to make a difference, talented members with the skills and passions to become the best of the future in what they do. The Manufacturing Engineer will have the ability to communicate effectively at all levels within an organisation and be flexible in your approach. The successful person will have a hands-on, creative approach to collaborate with multiple departments to improve manufacturing processes.
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 will assess each case individually).
Once you’re on board you’ll get the following perks and benefits:
- Competitive salary dependent on experience
- Industry Leading Pension Scheme = we’ll match your contributions up to 8% on a 1 : 1.5 basis
- Life Assurance 8 x 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
- Electric Vehicle (EV) salary sacrifice scheme (Insurance, servicing, maintenance, roadside assistance and more included)
- Free onsite parking
- Local gym discount
- Free airport parking
- Discount with local nursery and preschool childcare setting
- Enhanced family friendly leave
- A collaborative, dynamic working environment
As well as a competitive package we’ll offer you a world of opportunity. We want to see your career fly! We’ll support your career progression by providing you with learning and development opportunities. That’s the beauty of being part of a global business, once you’re on board you never know where you career journey may take you!
Join us and keep the world moving …
#LI-ONSITE
#LI-CH1
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.
