Research Engineer - Composites Manufacturing Process Development (Bristol, GB)

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

GKN Aerospace is a global leader in the aerospace industry, known for its innovative engineering solutions and commitment to shaping the future of flight. We specialise in designing and manufacturing advanced aerospace systems and components, serving major aircraft manufacturers and operators worldwide.

We are seeking a Research Engineer with expertise in advanced composite manufacturing process development to help shape the future of flight. As a key member of the GTC technology team, you will work on developing advanced composite manufacturing processes for current and future aircraft wing applications. We are looking for individuals who are passionate about making a difference and have the skills and drive to become future leaders in their field.

In this role, you will leverage your broad engineering knowledge and understanding of the product lifecycle to tackle a variety of research tasks within the TRL1-6 range. You will execute tasks according to plan, demonstrating a logical and methodical approach to problem-solving. Your proactive nature will enable you to quickly grasp and adapt to new technology areas. Additionally, your strong communication skills will allow you to confidently engage with a diverse range of internal stakeholders.

How You'll Contribute

Understand the strategic direction of target products within your project(s). Manage Work Package or small Work Stream budgets as needed. Contribute to multi-year planning and funding proposals. Support the development of Technology Plans and Business Cases. Maintain accurate and up-to-date planning documentation to ensure project delivery stays on track. Lead or support hands-on development tests and trials to meet project objectives. Capture, record, and report test data and results accurately. Produce high-quality technical documentation. Achieve project goals through collaboration with others. Explore and propose exploitation routes, aligned with Work Stream guidance. Support stakeholder and supply chain management as required. Ensure compliance with EH&S policies and foster a proactive safety culture. Contribute to making GKN a 'Great Place to Work' by upholding core values: safety, innovation, openness, respect, and ownership.

What You'll Bring

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:

A relevant, accredited engineering degree OR Equivalent experience in the engineering field (typically at least 4 years if no degree) Hands on experience of composite manufacturing methods

Desirable:

Experience of programming of ovens / autoclaves, including thermocouple set-up and monitoring. Operation of resin mixing and injection equipment and of ply cutter / preform cutting tools. Experience with laser ply projection equipment (set-up and use) and automated composite processing; AFP, ATL, Pick and Place. Experience in the post-processing of cured composite structures; machining, hand finishing, drilling etc. Knowledge of standard metrology and part verification techniques and previous experience with manual NDT techniques. Familiarity with composite component / tooling design and manufacture processes. Experience of RTM, resin infusion and traditional prepreg techniques. Material and process (M&P) background or experience Knowledge or experience of bonding composites and metallic substrates

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. To be successful in this role you should be a self-starter, capable of executing tasks effectively while building a professional network within the aerospace technology and engineering sector. Strong communication and interpersonal skills are essential, as you will contribute to internal and external reviews, collaborate with stakeholders, and, where applicable, support the development of placements and interns. Above all, you should be able to achieve results through teamwork and collaboration.

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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