Chief Manufacturing Engineer

Sitting across our three business lines; Civil, Defence and Engines our East Cowes manufacturing plants established in 1901 are one of our older production sites with a workforce of cira 800 employees. Our East Cowes plants, Isle of Wight are where we design, manufacture, test and repair high performance structures and systems. We have two facilities on the Island; Falcon Yard, Ferry Road and Osborne Site, Saunders Way. Both locations employ the company's distinct competencies in major assemblies and composite structures for the global aerospace market. Our customer base includes Airbus, Astronics, BAE Systems, Boeing, Bombardier Aerospace, Cessna, Cobham, Honeywell, Leonardo, Lockheed Martin, Rolls Royce and Triumph. The Chief Manufacturing Engineer, based at either our East Cowes sites will be responsible for leading the Planning, Development, Commissioning and Industrialisation of Manufacturing Systems within GKN's Civil business. This applies to, but not limited to; New Product
Introductions (NPI), Work Transfers, Technology Insertions and addressing Critical Quality issues. The CME directly manages and leads the deployed Manufacturing Engineering (ME) team, to deliver manufacturing systems in compliance with its identified requirements (Produceability, Productivity, Cost, Schedule, Regulatory/Customer/HSE requirements) and adherence to Zero Defect Manufacturing (ZDM) standards.

For the initial training period of between 3-4 months, you will be based fully on-site in our Global Technology Centre, Bristol. After which you can take advantage of our hybrid working policy depending on business requirements. This role may have up to ten direct and indirect reports depending on the deployment and involves reasonable travel a couple times a month nationally, occasional travel within Europe once every 8-10 weeks and potential ad-hoc travel to the USA.,

• New Product Introductions (NPI) - Responsible for Planning, Development, Commissioning of Manufacturing System for New Product Introductions [LG3->LG7]. Working with the Design Chief Engineers (for Design and Build contracts) and Industrial Architects they are accountable for delivering a manufacturing system that fulfils all stakeholder requirements (Safety, Logistics, Quality, Produceability & Business case metrics), including development and maturity of Manufacturing processes and documentation.


• Sustaining - Responsible for Oversight of the portfolio of Manufacturing Systems through regular review of system KPIs and Lifecycle (Industrial review) Gate assessments and their evolution (as required) to ensure productivity & quality targets are continually evolving. This includes Identification of new technologies and their development & exploitation, and benchmarking of processes across the GKN portfolio of products.


• Leadership of Projects- Responsible for technical leadership of ME activities including Program Management, Planning, Resource provisioning, budgeting, & Project EV reporting within functional and Enterprise standards.


• Leadership of Teams - Accountable to the Program Manager/Director for delivering ME content of tasks through direct Operational Management and Leadership of deployed manufacturing engineering team.


• Quality - Responsible for Product quality within the NPI ME function. Expected to drive a quality mind-set within the deployed engineering team and ensure compliance to agreed Customer, Regulatory, Business and functional standards including AS9145 (ZDM).


• Bids - Working closely with the Programme team and Industrial Architects, be responsible for the technical ME content of bid work including Technical risk management, ME work content and NRC budgeting.


• Relationships - Maintain positive, team relationships with internal and external customers, key stakeholders within the business. Foster and champion 5 principles within sphere of influence.


How You'll Contribute


• Degree qualified in technical subject


• Experience in the aerospace industry


• Experience of managing Manufacturing Systems and their industrialisation (Principal, Manager, Lead positions)


• Experience in liaising & Reporting to customers and managing business relationships


• Fluent in English language, both written and spoken


Desirable:

• Experience managing substantial projects improving productivity &/or Industrialisation in an aerospace/automotive environment


• Project / Program Management Professional Qualification


• Familiarity with AS9145 APQP process or equivalent


• Familiarity with appropriate digital systems for manufacturing systems


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 will demonstrate leadership skills in terms of awareness and maturity to drive to the right business goals in complex multisite environments. You will have the ability to lead and influence people, build trust and establish effective working relationships within a global organisation. The successful candidate will understands context of large organisations and is able to adapt between longer term strategic goals and short term tactical deployments.

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


• Competitive salary dependent on experience


• £5,500 car allowance per annum


• Opportunity to earn up to 22.5% bonus


• Hybrid working - giving you the opportunity to balance home and office working


• Industry Leading Pension Scheme = we'll match your contributions up to 8% on a 1 : 1.5 basis


• Life Assurance 8 x salary


• 25 days holiday + bank holidays


• Income protection


• Shopping discounts


• Cycle To Work Scheme


• Employee Assistance Programme


• 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!

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' last year. 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.