Functional Team Lead - Engineering - Design

Lead a Team of Design Engineers at GKN Aerospace

Company: GKN Aerospace Careers

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

We are looking for a Functional Team Lead – Design, based in our Papendrecht site, to lead a team of Design Engineers working on the NH90 Helicopter program.
The NH90 helicopter is a medium size, multi-role military helicopter developed by a collaboration of international European companies.This team of NH90 Design Engineers (approximately 6 FTE’s), designs modifications on the structure and the Landing Gear of the NH90 helicopter. These modifications accommodate new requirements of (new) customers and ensure optimal operation of the NH90 Helicopters in their challenging military environments.

What you will do

• Daily performance management (coaching/managing) of the NH90 Design team including managing team engagement, capability development through the management of performance development plans and other initiatives.
• Support technical and customer discussions and reviews, including formal gate reviews, the creation and preparation of technical data and presentations;
• Maintaining contacts with stakeholders in other departments in order to define work package scope and requirements and be able to deliver as agreed;
• Lead team to deliver the assigned tasks to achieve the program/project objectives through planning, work tasking, and execution of required engineering activities;
• Create and verify overall design definitions, including dimensions, materials, parts, process notes, assemblies, and tolerances which are aligned to all design requirements and objectives.
• Develop and implement methods plans, toolsets and solutions that are appropriate and compliant to achieve the design and program/project objectives;
• Ensure designs are cost effective using appropriate techniques for design such as manufacture and assembly (DFMA) and design to cost;
• Assess, manage, and mitigate overall technical risk of assigned activities;
• Generate, sign, check, or approve all assigned project deliverables, documents, and reports as required within limits of signature authorizations;
• Lead continuous improvement within the engineering team to improve quality and reduce waste, and establish the best practice is followed within the team;
• Ensure knowledge and data generated by the team is effectively captured, transmitted, and stored in compliance with applicable quality processes;
• Provide key performance indicators for team activities to drive continuous improvement and provide updates / reports, and standard measures to the senior management team, as required;

What you will bring

• A Bachelor or a Master Degree in (Aerospace) Engineering or equivalent working and thinking Level gained through experience;
• At least 8 years of relevant experience gained within an engineering discipline, ideally within an aerospace environment and in multi-disciplinary engineering project teams;
• Experience in dealing with related functions (Operations/Production, Sales/Customer Relationship Management, Supplier Management and Development);
• A strong technical background and knowledge of design principles;
• Able to hold (internal) technical approval authority within the function;
• Possess project management, planning and organizing skills based on recognized project management methods;
• A solid understanding of delivery and tracking of engineering tasks is essential;
• Have excellent judgement in considering when escalation is appropriate;
• Able to define challenging objectives and achieve them;
• Able to work effectively across functions to achieve engineering objectives;
• Able to clearly present data, reports and presentations to facilitate the decision making process at all levels of the business;
• Awareness of aerospace manufacturing techniques and methods
• Strong communication skills
• Speaking and writing fluently in English and preferable able to speak and understand Dutch;
• Able to work with CATIA V5 and experience with PLM systems
• You are strong minded, convincing and committed, focused on delivery, and you must be able to work under pressure and tight deadlines.

What we will offer

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 to 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!

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. ​

Contact: ioanna.dimitriadi@fokker.com