Job Description
Job description
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 +0% of the world’s aircraft and engine manufacturers and achieved sales of £3.35 bn.in 2026. There are no limits to where you can take your career.
Job Summary
“Together We Rise”
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 1++3, 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 a member of the Manufacturing Engineering Team, the Manufacturing Engineer will report to the Manufacturing Engineer Manager and be based at our Luton site, occasional travel to visit suppliers will be required. The Manufacturing Engineer will work on several value streams within the IPS (Ice Protection Systems) programmes developing new and existing manufacturing processes whilst supporting the day-to-day operations team at Luton.
Job Responsibilities
• Develop, document and optimise new and existing manufacturing processes such as creation/amendment SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) and P spec (Process Specification)
• 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
Core operational hours at our Luton site are: 07:30 - 16:30 Monday to Thursday & 07:30 - 12:30 Friday.
How You'll Contribute
Essential
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:
• Minimum HND (or equivalent) in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial or Manufacturing Engineering/Aerospace
• Manufacturing Engineering experience gained from the Aerospace, Automotive or FMCG industries
• 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
• Experience of Lean Manufacturing including process standardisation kaizen activities such as 5S or Value Stream Mapping
Desirable
• Experience in lay-up processes for composite materials
• Experience of Material Review Board
• Customer specifications experience
• Aerospace industry standards interpretation experience
• Experience in APQP and PAPP 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/can-do attitude to collaborate with multiple departments to improve manufacturing processes.
What We'll Offer
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
• Free onsite parking
• Local gym discount
• 50% off local travel card
• Free airport Dart
• Free airport parking
• Enhanced family friendly leave
• A collaborative, dynamic working environment
Join us and keep the world moving … click on the link below to apply
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.
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 +0% of the world’s aircraft and engine manufacturers and achieved sales of £3.35 bn.in 2026. There are no limits to where you can take your career.
Job Summary
“Together We Rise”
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 1++3, 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 a member of the Manufacturing Engineering Team, the Manufacturing Engineer will report to the Manufacturing Engineer Manager and be based at our Luton site, occasional travel to visit suppliers will be required. The Manufacturing Engineer will work on several value streams within the IPS (Ice Protection Systems) programmes developing new and existing manufacturing processes whilst supporting the day-to-day operations team at Luton.
Job Responsibilities
• Develop, document and optimise new and existing manufacturing processes such as creation/amendment SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) and P spec (Process Specification)
• 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
Core operational hours at our Luton site are: 07:30 - 16:30 Monday to Thursday & 07:30 - 12:30 Friday.
How You'll Contribute
Essential
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:
• Minimum HND (or equivalent) in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial or Manufacturing Engineering/Aerospace
• Manufacturing Engineering experience gained from the Aerospace, Automotive or FMCG industries
• 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
• Experience of Lean Manufacturing including process standardisation kaizen activities such as 5S or Value Stream Mapping
Desirable
• Experience in lay-up processes for composite materials
• Experience of Material Review Board
• Customer specifications experience
• Aerospace industry standards interpretation experience
• Experience in APQP and PAPP 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/can-do attitude to collaborate with multiple departments to improve manufacturing processes.
What We'll Offer
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
• Free onsite parking
• Local gym discount
• 50% off local travel card
• Free airport Dart
• Free airport parking
• Enhanced family friendly leave
• A collaborative, dynamic working environment
Join us and keep the world moving … click on the link below to apply
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.
💡 Quick Summary
Seeking a career-building opportunity? The Manufacturing Engineer position is now open for candidates interested in the Manufacturing Jobs sector. This role in Luton offers a professional environment and growth potential.
Requirement Snapshot: Candidates should possess basic communication skills, a proactive attitude, and the ability to work in a team. Experience in Manufacturing Jobs is a plus.
