Senior Materials Engineer

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 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.

The Luton Engineering & Technology team is focussed on developing product and manufacturing process technology related to aircraft ice protection systems transparencies and coatings and specialist structures for both civil and defence applications.

Were looking for a Senior Materials Engineer with a strong non-metallic materials engineering background to join our materials and test team to support the production and development of next generation composite aero structures ice protection and transparency products. The role will be based in the Materials and Test (M&T) team within the wider Engineering and Technology department and report to the Functional Team Leader.

The role as a Senior Materials Engineer will support the business and engineering team with non-metallic polymer materials science and processing knowledge and guidance. Concentrating on thin film coating technologies and transparency materials. The role will initially lead a transparency coatings validation project before moving onto site production support and material obsolescence projects. The role will require a knowledge of the interactions between processing parameters and material properties of Acrylics Polycarbonates and Polymers being able to guide new technology test plans and current production deviations.

You will support the work of the business to establish safe working practices and necessary level of documentation. You will be involved with projects from the planning / assembly / instrumentation / commissioning phase though to successfully performing and reporting the test. You will also be responsible for providing specialist support to existing programmes within your field of expertise helping to resolve manufacturing issues and supporting continuous improvement efforts.

You will have a proven track record of leading and delivering technical work with strong communication skills being confident working with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders including non-technical audiences.

Development of manufacturing processes in relation to transparent polymer and adhesive materials
Qualification of materials and processes to ensure they comply with the requirements
Lead thin film polymer coatings projects
Lead material obsolescence and REACh affected material replacement projects
Interact with different levels of leadership across the business reporting progress to senior managers and site leadership team.
Work closely with Principle Materials Engineer to effectively manage the Material Obsolescence process
Collect inputs related to a task and take it through an identified process to produce an output / deliverable adhering to quality and schedule requirements.
Exemplifying a safety-first mind-set and ensuring compliance with the GKN Aerospace Health Safety and Environmental policies and standards.
Supporting production material related queries and issues regarding re-life testing and investigations.
Developing optimizing and maintaining specifications and handbooks related to non-metallic polymers; ensuring they are compliant with all relevant customer regulatory and airworthiness requirements.
Preparing and defining tests/test plans; critical and systematic interpretation and analysis of test data applying the outcome of tests for substantiation of specification changes.
Defining activities in a project-oriented fashion with identification of deliverables milestones and associated planning.
Troubleshooting and production support on Materials Issues (e.g. Polymers and bonding).
Interfacing with customers on a technical (M&T) level.
Maintaining contacts with suppliers regarding alternative/new products.
Integration into the wider global engineering function collaborating with other sites around the world.
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.

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:
Chemistry / Materials Science / aerospace engineering education BSc / MSc level
Knowledge of / experience in Polymer material science and processing
Significant relevant experience within an industrial engineering discipline preferably within an aerospace environment
Experience with quality systems specifications standards etc. with the ability to oversee the broader field
Excellent reporting and project management skills; Good command of the English language both verbally and in writing
Team player at all levels in the company pro-active attitude but also capable of acting on an individual basis and reporting back to the relevant parties within GKN.

Desirable:
Ability to plan work through formal project management processes to ensure successful delivery of required outcomes.
You will have an awareness of aerospace certification requirements.
Knowledge of / experience in Transparent thin film coatings

As Senior Materials Engineer you should have a broad interest in Aerospace engineering with a high level of understanding in non-metallic material technologies & testing and characterisation techniques. Youll be able to adapt to changing priorities to meet business priorities handling multiple enquires at once. Your proactive nature will enable you to understand and adapt to new technology areas quickly. Your good communication skills shall enable you to confidently engage with a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders including operations and other business functions.

The successful candidate should be adaptable in their approach to work and be able to adapt to potentially dynamic priorities. As a Senior Materials Engineer you will be naturally curious and seek to increase/deepen their own technical knowledge through study collaborative working hypothesis testing and experimentation.

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 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 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
Electric Vehicle (EV) salary sacrifice scheme (Insurance servicing maintenance roadside assistance and more included)
Free onsite parking
Local gym discount
Free airport parking
Enhanced family friendly leave
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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