Chief Manufacturing Engineer

Join our dynamic and international NH90 and Landing Gear Engineering team in Papendrecht as a Chief Manufacturing Engineer.

You’ll be responsible for leading the planning, development, commissioning and industrialisation of Manufacturing Systems within the business from LG3 to LG7. This includes, but is not limited to, New Product Introductions (NPI), work transfers, technology development and industrialisation, and addressing critical quality and delivery issues. The Chief Manufacturing Engineer leads the deployed Manufacturing Engineering team to deliver manufacturing systems in compliance with identified requirements including produceability, productivity, cost, schedule, and regulatory, customer and HSE requirements, while adhering to Zero Defect Manufacturing standards.

Job Summary

Be part of our journey as we seek a Chief Manufacturing Engineer to join our team.

Job Responsibilities

Your responsibilities

Bids – [LG0->LG3]

• Work closely with the Programme team and Industrial Architects and be accountable for the definition of the Manufacturing System and its associated performance targets.
• Validate the NRC planning associated with the technical Manufacturing Engineering content of the bid, any technology developments required, and associated technical risks.

NPI – [LG3->LG7]

• Be directly responsible for planning, development, and commissioning of the Manufacturing System for New Product Introductions.
• Work with the Design Chief Engineers, site teams and Industrial Architects to deliver a Manufacturing System that fulfils stakeholder requirements including safety, logistics, quality, produceability and business case metrics.

Sustaining

• Provide governance and oversight of the Non-Conformance dispositioning effort (MRB-E) through regular review of system KPIs and hands-on involvement.
• Ensure productivity and quality targets are continually met.

Leadership of Projects

• Take direct responsibility for the non-recurring Manufacturing Engineering activities within the programme’s influence.
• Provide technical leadership through program management, planning, resource provisioning, budgeting, and project EV reporting to functional and enterprise standards.

Leadership of Teams

• Be accountable to the Program Manager or Director for delivering Manufacturing Engineering content through direct operational management and leadership of the deployed manufacturing engineering team.

Quality

• Be responsible for product quality within the NPI Manufacturing Engineering function.
• Drive a quality mindset within the deployed engineering team and ensure compliance with agreed customer, regulatory, business and functional standards including AS9145 (ZDM).

Relationships

• Maintain positive team relationships with internal and external customers and key stakeholders within the business.
• Foster and champion the five principles within your sphere of influence.

Job Qualifications

What you'll bring

Essential

• Technical expertise in Manufacturing Engineering, with a relevant professional qualification or background and a university degree in engineering such as Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, or Chemical.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in Manufacturing Engineering.
• Experience developing Manufacturing Systems for New Product Introduction, with emphasis on industrialisation through a life cycle gate process including design, implementation, start-up and rate production.
• Leadership skills with the awareness and maturity to drive the right business goals in complex multisite environments.
• Ability to lead and influence people, build trust and establish effective working relationships within a global organisation.
• Working knowledge of industrial productivity improvements and monitoring their efficacy.
• Working knowledge of quality system models such as ISO9000 or AS9100.
• Fluent in English, both written and spoken.

Desirable

• Demonstrated ability to lead change in a Manufacturing System with evidence of delivering significant improvements in cost, quality or throughput.
• Project or Program Management professional qualification.
• Familiarity with AS9145 APQP process or equivalent.
• Six Sigma certification.
• Working knowledge of digital systems for manufacturing such as PLM, MES and ERP.

Travel requirements

• Prepared to travel domestically and occasionally internationally depending on program need.
• Opportunity for short- to medium-term deployments to GKN locations or key suppliers.

What we'll offer you

You will bring your passion and expertise, and in return you’ll have the opportunity to grow your career in a dynamic, international team of experts. As a Chief Manufacturing Engineer, you will benefit from the tools, experience and commitment to support your technical and personal development.

Here’s what awaits you:

• 8% holiday allowance.
• 42 paid holidays for full-time employment, aligned with the Collective Labor Agreement Metalektro.
• Excellent pension scheme (PME).
• Hybrid work policy.
• Profit sharing scheme.
• Informal and pleasant working environment.

Beyond the tangible perks, there are opportunities to support your career growth through ongoing learning and development initiatives.