Senior Cryogenic EWIS Research Engineer

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 GKN Fokker Elmo Research & Technology (R&T) department is looking for an ambitious Senior Research Engineer/Specialist who wants to apply their theoretical background to the development of future Electrical (Wiring) Interconnection Systems for sustainable aircraft. Electrical Wiring Interconnection Systems (EWIS) is becoming increasingly prevalent as a key part of the journey to full electric aircraft. GKN Aerospace, including GKN Fokker Elmo, is a forerunner in the development of cutting-edge cryogenic electrical power systems to be used within Hydrogen-electric aircraft.

What you'll do

A full-time position in the Research & Technology (R&T) department of Fokker Elmo, part of GKN Aerospace. You will participate within a European consortium including a number of cryogenic build & test companies, universities, knowledge institutes, and aerospace companies, working at the forefront of innovation to develop the first Hydrogen-electric aircraft propulsion system. In this position, you will be establishing requirements, performing conceptual and detail construction design, manage partners/suppliers, and verifying cryogenic-electrical aerospace products through functional and environmental testing.

You will report to the Technology Team Lead. The R&T department currently consists of 10-15 Technologists and will grow up to 20-25. The place of work will at the GKN Fokker Aerospace site in Papendrecht, The Netherlands.

What you'll bring

Knowledge, experience and qualifications:

• Bachelor / Master degree in Engineering or Physics related to cryogenics or applied superconductivity;
• Experience in design and assembly of cryostats, including detail construction design & laboratory activities for verification testing and evaluation;
• Familiarity with electrical power distribution concepts and principles;
• Familiarity with multi-physics modelling (ANSYS, COMSOL) of thermal systems;
• Experience in safety / risk analyses of (cryogenic) systems and equipment;
• Experience in requirements definition & management;
• Experience in design verification (prepare and execute testing and/or analysis).

Skills:

• Ability to apply (cryogenic) engineering principles onto cryogenic electrical interconnection systems within the context of aircraft design, including the understanding of the mutual interdependencies and system-level thinking;
• Ability to operate within a multi-national consortium, and technically overseeing activities performed by partners/suppliers;
• Identify, follow, or define processes to come from requirements definition to verified prototypes;
• A self-starter with good communication skills is a must.

Core competences:

• Analytical ability: able to think at an abstract level and identify interrelationships;
• Innovative: has creative ideas to improve processes and products, and translating into action;
• Initiative: is proactive, i.e. assertive and takes the initiative to ensure performance and delivery;
• Self-learning: willing to learn and explore, share knowledge with colleagues and improve yourself;
• Cooperative: is a team-worker who is always willing to share their knowledge and capabilities amongst the team.

What we'll offer

We are committed to offer you a challenge but also a great opportunity to learn and grow. We want to offer you a career that can go to many directions thanks to our breadth of international opportunities. By being part of GKN Aerospace that has proven itself to be at the cutting edge of our industry, you will know that you will be working towards being the most trusted partner in the aerospace industry. We will support and promote your professional and personal development.

Furthermore, we will offer you:

• The role is in Grade L and according to the CLA Metalektro,
• 8% holiday allowance,
• 41 paid holidays for full-time employment in line with the Collective Labor Agreement Metalektro (29 holidays and 13 ADV days),
• An excellent pension scheme (PME) and travel allowance,
• Profit sharing scheme,
• A pleasant and informal working environment, in which we work together to achieve the best result for our customers.

Next to the attractive package, we will offer you a world of opportunities: we want to see your career fly! We will support your career progression by providing you with learning and development opportunities.

Who we are

Airspace
A leading player in the design, manufacturing and support for the Electrical Wiring Interconnection Systems (EWIS) for Aerospace and Defense programs. Their innovative tools and processes support customers and represent a Unique Selling Point.

GKN Aerospace is the world’s leading tier one aerospace supplier of systems and components. With over 15,000 employees across 38 manufacturing sites and 4 Global Technology Centers, they serve over 90% of the world’s aircraft and engine manufacturers with sales of £2.5bn. GKN Fokker Elmo employs >2200 employees worldwide.

GKN Aerospace is spearheading the design of a Hydrogen-electric powertrain that enables the cryogenic cooling of its power electronics and hyperconducting power feeders to achieve zero-emission flight with high efficiencies.

Journey
An innovative and international workplace in a company with a rich history in the field of aircraft construction. The company has a passion for technology and their staff is rightly proud of what they develop and build. At GKN Fokker Elmo, you will get every opportunity to build your career and work on your personal development!

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