Senior Design Engineer EWIS - Components & Enviromental Testing

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

The Engineering department of GKN Aerospace's EWIS solutions (Fokker Elmo) is looking for an ambitious Engineer who wants to apply his/her theoretical background, experience, interests and ambitions to the development of future Electrical (Wiring) Interconnection Systems for sustainable aircraft. Electrical Wiring Interconnection Systems (EWIS) already became more prevalent as part of the More Electric Aircraft, however today the journey to full Electric and Hybrid-Electric aircraft adds a new chapter to its technology significance. This will include both High Voltage High Power (HVHP) EWIS developments as well as disruptive technologies for the transmission of low voltage data signals.

What you'll do

As an EWIS Senior Engineer, Component Design, you will play a key role in supporting the design, development, and validation & verification activities for Electrical Wiring Interconnection System (EWIS) components and constructions (component assemblies). Your responsibilities include performing trade‑off studies, advising on component selection, supporting component and construction qualification, preparing high‑quality technical documentation, and collaborating closely with the Engineering Design Team.

In this senior role, you will also mentor and guide (Junior) Design Engineers, providing technical direction, reviewing their work, and helping them develop strong engineering practices and domain expertise.

You will contribute to the creation of test plans, preparation of test samples, execution of tests in our in‑house laboratory, and the subsequent reporting of results. As we continue to expand our expertise in next‑generation EWIS technologies for future aircraft applications, you will play a central role in shaping and maturing these capabilities.

You will report to the Centre of Competence Manager – EWIS Components and Enviromental testing (ECE) but will take guidance and direction on project basis from the Technical lead (Sr. Engineer) and/or Principal Engineer(PE)/Engineering Team Lead (ETL) of the design engineering team. The place of work is based in Fokker Elmo, Papendrecht, The Netherlands.

What you'll bring

•    5–10 years of professional experience in a comparable engineering domain, preferably within aerospace, automotive, rail, or other major transportation industries.
•    Proven system design background with hands-on involvement in complex, multidisciplinary aerospace and/or transportation system architectures.
•    Strong knowledge of electrical cable harness design, including component‑level understanding of connectors, terminals, backshells, splices, shielding, grounding, and protective coverings.
•    Familiarity with defining and specifying parts, materials, and assemblies, including understanding of component interactions and system-level impacts.
•    Ability to interpret and apply industry standards (e.g., DO-160, ARP4754A, MIL-STD, ISO standards).
•    Strong documentation and requirements management skills, including experience with tools like Codebeamer or equivalent systems.
•    Demonstrated capability to lead technical reviews, resolve cross-functional issues, and support design assurance activities.
•    A proactive, analytical mindset, with the ability to troubleshoot complex system-level issues.
•    Experience with qualification processes, including communication and negotiation with suppliers and customers.

Soft skills:
•    Assertiveness: Willingness to learn and to broaden own knowledge; takes initiative to help improve processes and procedures;
•    Teamwork: Able to work constructively in a small (multicultural) team taking responsibility for assigned tasks and willing to support other team members in achieving team targets and deadlines;
•    Results-driven: Able to plan own work in line with project schedules, and report progress regularly and timely in the event of issues or delays;
•    Self-learning: Willing to learn and explore, share knowledge with colleagues and improve yourself;
•    Communication: Excellent communication skill