United Spinal Association Jobs

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

Based in our Global Technology Centre (GTC) in Filton, Bristol is a £32m state of the art technology research and manufacturing process development facility which is a hub for world-class innovative technology for the next generation of fuel-efficient aircraft. It includes a collaborative space for research and development with universities, the UK’s CATAPULT network and GKN Aerospace’s UK supply chain, to help strengthen aerospace technology and support the UK’s Industrial strategy.

As a Principal Research Engineer – Materials & Testing (Metallics), you will draw on your diverse engineering background and good business awareness to shape and manage research and development projects in the TRL1-6 range. You will bring a proven track record in leading innovative technical work, effectively managing budgets, schedules, and risks, and you will provide functional leadership to the Materials and Testing team.

Job Responsibilities

• Develop strong understanding of strategic direction of target products within your projects

• Support Technology Strategy development by integrating strategic input from multiple specialist areas

• Accountable for project budgets, typically for a Work Stream

• Identify future budget requirements and contribute to securing funding through effective internal and external positioning

• Prepare Technology Development Plans and Technology Business Cases

• Deliver Technology Readiness Levels and ensure schedules are maintained, with accurate and regularly updated planning documentation

• Oversee development trials and testing applicable to your projects or Work Stream, ensuring high-quality outcomes

• Produce high-quality, detailed technical documentation, ensuring clarity and precision

• Drive projects towards successful exploitation, integrating technologies to mature product offerings and industrialisation scenarios

• Lead project stakeholder management, including interactions with internal/external customers and the supply chain

• Provide line management for core Technology Team members assigned to your Work Stream or project

• Manage the deployed team, oversee the yearly PDP process, and ensure robust development plans for all team members aligned with GKN's TEF.

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

• Extensive experience in one or more core metallic manufacturing or testing technologies

• Experience of managing a technical or project team

• Experience of delivering collaborative projects with both internal and external partners.

Desirable:

• A higher degree qualification such as a Masters, PhD or EngD

• Chartered Engineer with a relevant institution

• Experience in Aerospace industry

• Experience of managing and leading material test and qualification campaigns

We are seeking a proactive individual who can leverage their influence both internally and externally to drive project success. This person excels in taking initiative, transforming ambiguity into clarity, and translating high-level goals into actionable plans. They thrive with minimal direction, requiring only general strategic guidance to achieve objectives. With excellent interpersonal and communication skills, they are adept at conveying information to both technical and non-technical audiences. Confident and poised, they are capable of representing projects and embodying GKN's values in executive-level internal and external review meetings. Additionally, they are skilled in diplomatically resolving conflicts, ensuring smooth project progression.

What We'll Offer

Once you’re on board you’ll get the following perks and benefits:

• Competitive salary dependant on experience

• Opportunity to earn up to 15% 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’. 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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