Lead Carbon Composites Manufacturing Engineer

At GE Aerospace we design, manufacture, repair and overhaul a range of propeller systems for Military and Civil applications. This is done from our new state of the art facility in Gloucestershire, UK.

In this role you will lead the Composite Production Manufacturing Engineering team. The Composite team provide the technical specialism, advanced problem solving and process expertise to support the production team in the ongoing manufacture of our carbon composite Dowty Propellor Systems. With a focus on ever evolving our manufacturing processes, reducing defects and developing a faster, more competitive, higher quality product you will steer the composite team with a deep expertise and motivating, engaging leadership style to month-on-month and year-on-year improvement.

To be successful in the role you will need to navigate regulatory requirements, comply with internal procedures and work with a broad range of internal stakeholders to support the shop floor day to day whilst keeping a firm grasp on longer term, transformational improvements.

Responsibilities

• Become a key figure in the manufacturing environment respected for a deep and insightful expertise in carbon composite and resin transfer molding processes.
• Be an engaging, supportive and motivational leader to a small but growing team of carbon composite manufacturing engineers.
• Champion and in some cases lead root cause analysis activities across the manufacturing landscape with data driven solutions to manufacturing engineering problems guided by structured problem solving methodologies (Six Sigma, Red X, 8D, Lean).
• Creating and developing production techniques from raw material to finished product placing Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, Inventory & productivity (SQDCIP) at the center of all decisions.
• Review and be the responsible approver for the publication of clear and concise manufacturing work instructions that align with technical specifications.
• Provide training and support to manufacturing operatives to support changes in work instructions and manufacturing techniques where required.
• Establishing control plans and the means for data collection to allow monitoring, gating and analysis of critical input variables at defined control points in the manufacturing process.
• Embedding a culture of Statistical Process Control across manufacturing and providing the equipment, systems and business procedures to enable this.
• Be a key signatory and approver for business procedures and documentation.
• Actively contribute to the achievement of year-on-year improvements in key manufacturing metrics such as Throughput, Yield, Cycle Time & Defects-Per-Unit.
• Stay abreast of changes in the aviation and propulsion industries as well as remaining informed and up to date on governing body regulations (i.e. CAA, EASA, FAA etc.).
• Represent the ME team in some wider forums.

Qualifications/Requirements

• Demonstrable, deep expertise in carbon composite manufacture, resin transfer molding and NDT techniques and common defect types.
• BSc/MSc/HND (or Level 6 equivalent) in a technical discipline or equivalent experience.
• Experience in a manufacturing or engineering function.
• An understanding of engineering statistics i.e. Process Capability, Hypothesis Testing, Design-of-Experiments, Statistical Process Control.
• Ability to influence up and down the organisation with a data driven approach.
• A pragmatic but can do, positive approach to manufacturing improvements.
• Experience of configuration control in a highly regulated industry.

Desired skills

• Experience within a tightly regulated industry, preferably aviation.
• Knowledge in the specification, installation and commissioning of robotics, automation and controls.
• Broad experience in a variety of manufacturing & engineering roles centered around product creation and delivery.
• Specialism in propulsion and propeller manufacture.
• Experience in facility design, commissioning and technical specification in an automated environment (automotive, FMCG, warehouse logistics etc.) highly valued.
• Experience with 3D Catia, 2D AutoCAD and/or another CAD package.
• Knowledge of 3D printing from CAD and part production.

Flexible Working

GE supports and encourages flexible working arrangements, where possible, and recognises the benefits to employees of having a positive work-life balance.

Total Reward

At GE Aviation we understand the importance of Total Reward. Our flexible benefits plan, called FlexChoice, gives you freedom, choice and flexibility in the way you receive your benefits, as well as giving you the opportunity to make savings where possible.

As a new joiner to GE we are pleased to be able to offer you the following as default in your benefit fund, which you then can tailor to meet your individual needs:

• Non-contributory Pension
• Life Assurance
• Group income protection
• Private medical cover
• Holiday Hourly equivalent of 26 days, with flexible option to buy or sell

Security Clearance

Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance is required and must be maintained for this role. Please note that in the event that BPSS clearance cannot be obtained, you may not be eligible for the role and/or any offer of employment may be withdrawn on grounds of national security.

Right to Work

Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. However, under the applicable UK immigration rules as may be in place from time to time, it may be that candidates who do not currently have the right to work in the UK may not be appointed to a post if a suitably qualified, experienced and skilled candidate who does not require sponsorship is available to take up the post.