[Hiring] Chief Manufacturing Engineer @GKN Aerospace Careers

Role Description

Across GKN Aerospace, Chief Manufacturing Engineers (CME) lead the development, industrialisation and improvement of Manufacturing Systems whilst serving as the customer-facing representative of the ME function.

• Focus on delivery of non-recurring engineering projects, including:
• New Product Introductions (NPI)
• Transfers of Work (ToW)
• Major Modifications (Mods)
• Technology Insertions
• Resolving manufacturing process related quality and delivery challenges
• Lead deployed ME resources to deliver manufacturing systems in compliance with identified requirements (e.g. Produceability, Productivity, Cost, Schedule, Regulatory).
• Ensure adherence to Zero Defect Manufacturing (ZDM) standards.

Remote Role: Would prefer a candidate to live near Phoenix, Wichita or Dallas.

Role Accountabilities

• Bids: Validate and approve the proposed definition of the Manufacturing System and its associated performance targets submitted at LG3 (Programme Launch).
• NPI: Deliver a Manufacturing System that fulfills all agreed stakeholder requirements and system performance targets between LG3 and LG7.
• Sustaining: Governance and oversight of a portfolio of Manufacturing Systems through regular review of system KPIs and Industrial Review assessments.
• Leadership of Projects: Deliver non-recurring ME activities within a given programme or project, providing technical leadership and direction.
• Leadership of Teams: Effective utilisation of deployed manufacturing engineering resources while delivering ME content of projects.
• Quality: Deliver manufacturing systems that are ZDM capable through a focus on delivering APQP to the AS9145 standard during the NPI phase.
• Relationships: Maintain positive and functional working relationships with internal and external customers.

Qualifications

• Technical expertise in Manufacturing Engineering, with a professional qualification (university degree) in engineering (Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical) or 8 years of experience in a manufacturing engineer role.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in Manufacturing Engineering, working with quality system models such as ISO9000 or AS9100.
• Experience developing manufacturing systems for New Product Introduction (NPI) with emphasis on industrialisation through a lifecycle gate process.
• Demonstrated leadership skills to organise and drive technical projects to achieve business goals.
• Experience identifying and delivering industrial productivity improvements.
• Ability to lead and influence people, build trust and establish effective working relationships.
• Fluent in English language, both written and spoken.
• U.S. Persons per ITAR regulations to comply with export compliance and site.

Requirements

• Proven ability to lead change in a Manufacturing System with evidence of delivering significant improvements.
• Deep, expert knowledge and hands-on experience in one or more manufacturing process areas (e.g. machining, forming, welding, composites, assembly, metrology).
• Working knowledge of digital systems for manufacturing (PLM, MES, ERP).
• Project / Programme Management Professional Qualification.
• Experience with AS9145 APQP process or equivalent.
• Six Sigma Certification.

Travel Requirements

• Prepared to travel domestically and occasionally internationally (25-50%).
• Possibility for short to medium term deployments to GKN locations or key suppliers.

Benefits

• Fantastic challenges and amazing opportunities.
• Commitment to pushing the boundaries of the industry.
• Access to some of the best training on offer in the industry.

Company Description

We are the place where human dreams, plus human endeavour, shape the future of aerospace innovation and technology.