Director, Engineering, Technology & Quality

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

As a member of the site leadership team the Director, Engineering, Technology & Quality role is accountable for functional leadership and delivering Manufacturing Engineering solutions to the Programs and Operations organizations. This will include creating a Zero Defect culture through the application of the Zero Defect Manufacturing (ZDM) tool suite to ensure industry leading quality performance, guaranteeing on time delivery. This role will have oversight and responsibility to develop and implement new manufacturing technologies through to production release and customer approval to enable a Center of Excellence. Functional leadership of Business, Quality Management and Engineering Systems and engineering support function, with indirect (dotted line) responsibility for MEs & QEs. 

Job Responsibilities

• Exemplifying a safety-first mindset and ensuring compliance with the GKN Aerospace Health, Safety and Environmental policies and standards.
• Building and leading a high performance, multi-disciplined Manufacturing Engineering, Technology and Quality organization. This includes managing talent selection, training, development, engagement, ongoing performance and succession planning. Direct leadership of the function, and indirect support and leadership of the ME/QEs deployed within the value streams.
• Budgetary ownership for the site Manufacturing Engineering, Technology & Quality functions.
• Accountable for delivering annual quality improvement targets for the site, enabling year on year conversion cost target realization.
• Accountable for supporting and creating Site Budget and Strategic Plan with relation to ETQ.
• Developing the Zero Defects Manufacturing (ZDM) mindset and culture into the site Manufacturing Engineering organisation through implementation of standard ZDM tool suite and APQP process.
• Developing close relationships with Program teams to deliver manufacturing engineering solutions in line with customer requirements and expectations.
• Drive implementation of required engineering systems to enable next gen platform compliance and contract award.
• Collaborate with customers on definition to enable ZDM and support new business capture activities.
• Accountable for sustaining and improving Program & Product manufacturing engineering systems in line with business case expectations.

Job Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelors Degree in Engineering (Aerospace, Manufacturing, Mechanical and/or related field)
• 5+ years of experience in Manufacturing Engineering Leadership and 10 years of manufacturing / quality engineering roles.
• 10+ years of hands on experience in aerospace manufacturing with fabrication and complex processes (NDT / machining / welding and understanding of chem-mill process).
• Technical expertise in Manufacturing Engineering
• 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
• Working knowledge of quality system models such as ISO9000, AS9100, or D1-9000
• Fluent in English language, both written and spoken
• US Citizen to comply with export compliance / defense technical access requirements

Preferred Qualifications:

• Project / Program Management
• Familiarity with AS9145 APQP process or equivalent
• Advanced Business degree

Compensation Range

The compensation range for this role is between $188,041 - $235,051.    

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?