Chief Manufacturing Engineer

Job Summary

Together We Rise
Its great to know youre making a difference to the future of aviation! Whatever part you play youll be helping us deliver operational excellence to our customers. Based at our Luton manufacturing plant youll 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 Airbus A320 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 Chief Manufacturing Engineer reporting to the Head of Engineering & Technology you will be responsible for leading the Planning Development Commissioning and Industrialisation of Manufacturing Systems & Processes for the Luton manufacturing site (and potential support for other sites within the Defence business line). This applies to but not limited to; New Product Introductions (NPI) Work Transfers Technology Insertions CAPEX delivery projects and addressing Critical Quality issues.

The Chief Manufacturing Engineer directly manages and leads a small team of Industrialisation engineers the deployed Manufacturing Engineering (ME) team to deliver manufacturing systems in compliance with identified requirements (Produceability Productivity Cost Schedule Regulatory/Customer/HSE requirements) and adherence to Zero Defect Manufacturing (ZDM) standards.

This role may have up to eight direct and indirect reports depending on the deployment and requires flexibility to travel to customers and suppliers when required nationally and occasional international travel. Core operational hours at our Luton site are: 07:30 - 16:30 Monday to Thursday & 07:30 - 12:30 Friday.

Job Responsibilities

• NPI - the CME is responsible for Planning Development Commissioning of the Manufacturing System and Processes for New Product Introductions LG0->LG7. Working with the Design Chief Engineers (for Design and Build contracts) and Programme management 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 - the CME is responsible for governance of the CAPEX portfolio 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. The CME is further responsible for oversight of the site automation strategy delivered by lead automation engineer covering equipment availability maintainability optimisation and process performance and capability.
• Leadership of Projects- Responsible for technical leadership of industrialisation projects including manufacturing system design equipment identification and specification implementation and deliver of APQP activities to ensure robust process capability and ongoing performance. This includes Program Management Planning Resource provisioning budgeting & Project EV reporting within functional and Enterprise standards.
• Leadership of Teams Accountable to the site E&T manager for the delivery for all ME and Industrialisation content through the leadership of the core industrialisation team and the deployed manufacturing engineering team.
• Quality Responsible for Product quality within the NPI ME function. Responsible for governing and improving the CAPEX process and ensuring adherence to business procedures. 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 and Business Development team be responsible for the technical ME content of bid work including Technical risk management ME work content and NRC/RC 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.
  

What Youll Bring

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

Essential:

• Technical expertise in Manufacturing Engineering with a relevant professional qualification / background (university degree) in Engineering (eg. Aerospace Mechanical Electrical Chemical)
• Experience of managing New Product / Process introduction (industrialisation) & existing production process improvements
• Ability to influence people build trust and establish effective working relationships within a global organisation
• Working knowledge of LEAN processes and practices
• Demonstrable experience in Manufacturing Engineering and/or Demonstrated ability in leadership position with evidence of delivering significant improvements in terms of cost/quality of a manufacturing system.
• Working knowledge of quality system models such as ISO9000 or AS9100
• Experience of being a primary contributor to Engineering Design Reviews (e.g. PDR CDR) and Life cycle reviews.

Desirable:

• Project / Program Management Professional Qualification
• Familiarity with AS9145 APQP process or equivalent
• Familiarity with appropriate digital opportunities for manufacturing systems
• Familiarity with managing large scale Industrialisation/CAPEX portfolios
• Understanding / Familiarity with automated systems and processes

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 The Chief Manufacturing Engineer will demonstrate leadership skills awareness 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 understand context of large organisations and is able to adapt between longer term strategic goals and short term tactical deployments.

Please note: 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).

What Well Offer

Once youre on board youll get the following perks and benefits:
Competitive salary dependent on experience
The opportunity to earn up to 15% bonus
Industry Leading Pension Scheme well 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
Free onsite parking
Local gym discount
50% off local travel card
Free airport Dart
Free airport parking
Enhanced family friendly leave
Discount for local nursery/preschool childcare setting
A collaborative dynamic working environment

As well as a competitive package well offer you a world of opportunity. We want to see your career fly! Well support your career progression by providing you with learning and development opportunities. Thats the beauty of being part of a global business once youre on board you never know where you career journey may take you!

Join us and keep the world moving click on the link below to apply

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