Senior Engineer - Materials & Special Processes

Fantastic challenges. Amazing opportunities.

GKN Aerospace is reimagining air travel: going further, faster and greener! Fuelled by great people whose expertise and creativity set 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 Materials and Processes Department (M&P) is an integral part of the Engineering reporting unit, acting in cooperation with Design and Stress disciplines. M&P provides knowledge, expertise and support on materials and manufacturing processes to all engineering activities in support of product development and manufacturing activities, including:

• Development of manufacturing processes in relation to material development and surface technologies
• Exploration and following developments related to REACh activities; identifying how changes could impact the processes and related parts being processed in GKN
• Qualification of materials and processes to assure they comply with the requirements
• Defining, assuring and maintaining of material, process and standard parts specifications, creating the possibilities and limitations for the manufacture of aerospace certified parts
• Assessment of deviations from the specified materials and processes requirements to assure continued airworthiness

We are looking for people who want to make a difference, talented members with the skills and passions to become the best of the future in what they do.

Job Responsibilities

As our Senior Engineer Materials & Processes, you will:

• Support operational and development programs to enable and deliver zero defect projects utilizing engineering and problem solving skills.
• Be accountable for delivering robust, manufacturing process technologies as applied to materials, tooling, part fabrication and assembly.
• Promote GKN’s technical capability globally to the broader technical eco-system, including customers, suppliers and steering groups.
• Collect inputs related to a task and take it through an identified process to produce an output/deliverable adhering to quality and schedule requirements.
• Be based in Papendrecht (NL) and part of a team of 10 specialists, reporting to the Team Lead.
• Exemplify a safety-first mind-set and ensure compliance with the GKN Aerospace Health, Safety and Environmental policies and standards.
• Coordinate/project lead for REACh activities: identification of arising issues regarding the REACh legislation, providing support and advice locally and to other GKN sites concerning the impact of REACh.
• Develop, optimize and maintain specifications and handbooks related to surface process technologies and materials for corrosion protection and pre-treatments for structural bonding of metals; ensuring compliance with all relevant customer, regulatory, and airworthiness requirements.
• Prepare and define tests/test plans; critically and systematically interpret and analyze test data, applying the outcome of tests for substantiation of specification changes.
• Define activities in a project-oriented fashion with identification of deliverables, milestones and associated planning.
• Troubleshoot and provide production support on chemical processes (e.g. anodizing, chemical conversion coating, chemical milling, cleaning and pickling of metals). Handle NC’s related to the expertise area.
• Interface with customers on a technical (M&P) level.
• Maintain contacts with suppliers regarding alternative/new products.

Job Qualifications

• BSc or MSc in Chemistry, Materials Science, or Aerospace Engineering
• Knowledge of and experience in industrial chemical (surface) treatments of metallic substrates related to corrosion protection and bonding; familiarity with REACh environmental legislation
• Minimum of 5 years (10 years preferred) of relevant experience within an industrial engineering discipline, preferably within an aerospace environment
• Experience with quality systems, specifications, standards, etc., with the ability to oversee the broader field
• Excellent reporting and project management skills
• Good command of the English language, both verbally and in writing; Dutch language is an advantage
• Team player at all levels in the company, pro-active attitude, but also capable of acting on an individual basis and reporting back to the relevant parties within GKN.

What's in it for you?

Our organization demonstrates passion for innovation and our employees are rightly proud for what we engineer and build. This is truly a challenging work environment: a role where you contribute as an individual but also as a member of a diverse and international team of experts. At GKN Aerospace, we not only provide you with the tools to perform at the best of your capabilities, but we also support and promote your technical and personal development. Furthermore, we offer you:

• A gross monthly salary based on the CLA Metalektro Grade M and in line with your experience and qualifications
• 8% holiday allowance
• 42 paid holidays for full-time employment
• Working conditions according to the CLA Metalektro, including an excellent pension scheme (PME) and travel allowance
• A pleasant and informal working environment, in which we work together to achieve the best result for our customers in a pleasant atmosphere

Next to a competitive 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. That's the beauty of being part of a global business, once you are on board, you never know where your career journey may take you!

If you have any questions you can reach out to Ioanna Dimitriadi via ioanna.dimitriadi@fokker.com. 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 Fokker 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’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?

A Great Place to work needs a Great Way of Working

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