Principal Research Engineer in Bristol

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 are inspired by the opportunities to innovate and break boundaries. We are proud to play a part in protecting the world’s democracies and are committed to putting sustainability at the centre of everything we do.

With over 16,000 employees across 33 manufacturing sites in 12 countries, we serve over 90% of the world’s aircraft and engine manufacturers.

The role of Principal Cryogenic Research Engineer provides a unique opportunity to develop your cryogenics expertise by working alongside world-renowned Tech Fellow Stephen Harrison. You will provide technical leadership and strategic direction for cryogenic power distribution within GKN Aerospace Hydrogen Systems. The role plays a critical part in advancing sustainable aerospace power and propulsion technologies by defining, developing, and integrating cryogenic systems that enhance overall system performance, efficiency, and capability.

This position leads the progression of cryogenic concepts from early-stage research through experimental validation and system integration, advancing technologies across Technology Readiness Levels (TRL 1–6). The role carries responsibility for setting technical vision, leading complex, multidisciplinary development activities, and ensuring robust translation of research into system-level solutions.

The Principal Engineer will provide authoritative technical leadership across projects, drive capability growth within the organisation, mentor and develop engineers at all career stages, and champion engineering best practice, governance, and functional excellence. The role requires extensive cross-functional engagement across disciplines including Electrical, Controls, Systems, and Prototyping to ensure cryogenic solutions are fully aligned with broader system architectures, requirements, and certification pathways. The role offers a hybrid working pattern.

How you’ll Contribute

• Lead the definition and development of system and component designs for cryogenic-electrical power distribution across the full operating temperature range from 20 K to 70 °C, ensuring compliance with applicable safety, airworthiness, and certification requirements.
• Lead the definition and development of system architectures and concepts for MW-class cryogenic-electrical power distribution systems operating at temperatures down to 25 K, ensuring alignment with programme and business objectives.
• Own the end-to-end development of system requirements, providing governance across requirements management, safety assessment, risk mitigation and compliance through design into a validated and certifiable physical product.
• Define and govern design principles, material selections, and technology specifications, ensuring robust, scalable, and cost-effective solutions that meet performance, safety, and airworthiness expectations.
• Lead validation, verification and qualification strategies, defining compliance routes through analysis, simulation, and test (e.g. DO-160) and providing technical leadership to certification planning and engagement.
• Provide functional and technical leadership across multidisciplinary teams, chairing design and peer reviews, assuring technical quality of deliverables, and supporting capability growth through coaching and mentoring.
• Generate and protect intellectual property, shaping cryogenic technology development in line with GKN Aerospace Hydrogen Systems’ long-term technology roadmaps.

What you’ll Bring

• Minimum B.Eng degree or equivalent and qualified with 8 years relevant experience.
• Strong understanding of thermodynamic and mechanical principles, with the ability to apply first-principles engineering to real-world technical challenges.
• Demonstrated experience in the development, integration, and evaluation of cryogenic systems.
• Experience with high-current power systems employing superconducting and/or hyperconducting technologies at cryogenic temperatures.
• Solid understanding of the effects of cryogenic environments on material properties and the resulting implications for system and component design.
• Experience across the full product development lifecycle for cryogenic equipment, from concept definition through detailed design, drawing development and technical review.
• Experience in functional and physical system development at component and system levels.
• Experience conducting and contributing to safety assessments and risk evaluations.
• Experience defining and managing technical work packages internally and with external partners, including specifications and statements of work.
• Experience reviewing, approving, and leading design reviews to assure technical quality and compliance.

What We’ll Offer

Once you’re on board you’ll get the following perks and benefits:

• Competitive salary dependent on experience.
• Up to 15% Bonus.
• Industry Leading Pension Scheme - we’ll match your contributions up to 8% on a 1:1.5 basis (Employer max contribution 12%).
• Life Assurance 8 x salary.
• 25 days holiday + bank holidays.
• Flexible working hours including the ability to finish at 12 noon on a Friday.
• Income protection.
• Shopping discounts.
• Cycle To Work Scheme.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Virtual GP Clinic for you and immediate family.
• A collaborative, dynamic working environment.

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, we’ve created a culture where everyone feels welcome to contribute.