Manufacturing Engineer Tooling

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.

The Vacancy: Manufacturing Engineer Tooling

We are looking for a Manufacturing Engineer Tooling to join our Systems & Industrialization department, a strong engineering team dedicated to our Landing Gear division based in Papendrecht! We produce complex components for the landing gear of well-known helicopters and aircraft, including the Apache, NH90, F-35, and Bombardier Dash 8 Q400. Quality is our priority in every project and production process. Therefore, we are seeking a quality- and service-oriented Manufacturing Engineer Tooling to join our dynamic & international team.

As a Fixture Tooling Engineer, your goal will be the delivery of Tooling to NPI projects in a timely manner, the First Time Yield improvement as a result of tool life specification as well as cost optimization. You will work to deliver zero defect projects by utilizing engineering and problem-solving skills. You will be responsible for ensuring robust and capable manufacturing processes related to materials, tooling, part fabrication, and assembly. In this role, you will closely collaborate with CAM Engineers, the Tool Shop, Procurement and Operations.

As a member of the NPI team, you collaborate during process design with Product Architects, CAM Engineers and Product Assurance engineers on the optimal tooling solution for the production process. This is formalized with a Tool Requirements form submitted by CAM engineers to initiate your task. There are several NPI projects executing and your support in these projects are pivotal. You are the technical liaison with Tool suppliers to define optimal solutions.

Apart from the NPI projects, you will receive Requests for Assistance from Operations, where swift resolution is key to enable production continuity. As a business focusing on continuous improvement, your proposals for an optimized process are valued and our drive to eliminate process risk with the use of technology is a key element to achieve that objective.

The business has a catalogue of fixtures, jigs and specialized tools in a legacy system and your management of a burn-down plan will form part of Obsolescence Management.

Fokker Landing Gear

Landing Gear, part of GKN Fokker Aerospace, is a recognized specialist in landing gear and related systems. We focus on the design and development, production and assembly of complete landing gears, as well as the repair and reassembly of systems already in use. In doing so, we work on the most famous aircraft and helicopters; think of the Apache combat helicopter, the F-35 Lightning II (JSF), the Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 and the multipurpose NH90 maritime combat helicopter.

What You'll Do

• Design and develop fixtures, jigs, and specialized tools specifically for aerospace applications, including:
  • Complete fixtures for holding and positioning complex parts in e.g. milling, turn/mill and grinding machines.
  • Hoisting and transport equipment.
  • Shop aids / measuring and check tools / gauges.
  • Assembly jigs.
• Collaborate in multi-disciplinary teams (e.g. Manufacturing Engineers, CAM-programmers, Operators, Quality Engineers, Industrialization Engineers) to create specialized tooling solutions.
• Optimize existing tooling / jigs / fixtures to improve product quality and ease of use:
  • Poka-Yoke,
  • Form-Fit-Function,
  • Manufacturability,
  • Optimization / modification / standardization for various machines,
  • Compliant with Safety and ergonomics standard,
  • Calibration.
• Technical point of contact with suppliers for:
  • Creating technical data packages for Request for Quotation,
  • Coordinating with suppliers to ensure the precision and manufacturability.
• Check and coordinate the maintenance, inspection and repair of fixtures.
• Tooling Process owner: QMS responsible owner responsible for development, maintenance and improvement of the tooling process; procedures, forms, templates, standards, process manual, etc.
• Transfer and convert Tooling Data from legacy to current systems.

What You'll Bring

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a relevant discipline (e.g. Mechanical, Aerospace, Manufacturing Engineering),
• 3+ years' experience in tool design for complicated parts (e.g. Aerospace or Automotive),
• Experience using CATIA V5 is preferred,
• Knowledge of material properties, surface treatment and manufacturing methods,
• Experience in choosing appropriate materials for tool components based on factors such as strength, durability, and weight,
• Ability to consider compatibility with the materials and surface finish being processed,
• Experience in translating Tool Design Specifications into functional designs,
• Ability to prepare models, detailed drawings, specifications and comprehensive documentation for manufacturing and assembly,
• Full comprehension of GD&T to ISO and ASME standards and able to apply these in drawings,
• Excellent reporting and writing skills,
• Practical mindset and hands-on experience in:
  • Finding solutions in a short timespan to avoid downtime of production.
  • Design with the shop floor in mind (e.g. ease of use, Poka-Yoke).
• Highly proficient in spoken and written English. Basic command of the Dutch language is an advantage, but not necessary.
• Availability to work on-site in Papendrecht on a full-time basis.

What We'll Offer

• A challenging position in an innovative and international environment with a rich history in aircraft manufacturing. Our organization breathes passion for engineering and all our teams are justifiably proud of what they develop and build. As a Manufacturing Engineer Tooling, you will receive a fantastic range of benefits, including:
  • A gross salary up to €5.561,- per month, based on the CAO Metalektro (salary scale K) and depending on your experience and qualifications.
  • 40 paid holidays for full-time employment.
  • Working conditions according to the CAO Metalektro, including an excellent pension scheme and travel allowance.
  • A working environment, in which we work together to achieve the best result for our customers.
  • Every opportunity to build on your career and personal development.

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

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