Manufacturing Engineering Manager in East Cowes

Based in our thriving Manufacturing Centre of Excellence in East Cowes, and reporting into the Director of Manufacturing Engineering, this newly created role is responsible for leading the ME Technical functions through Functional Leads and Technical Authorities supporting all site programs. The functions include Materials & Processing, NDT, Industrial Engineering, Tooling & Metrology & CAM.

The Manufacturing Engineering Manager will lead a diverse, multi-disciplined, process‑control focused, departmental engineering team that eliminates defects through deployment of GKN Aerospace Zero Defect Manufacturing (ZDM) tool suite. They will deploy engineering resources to Production & Development Programs and ensure compliance of these teams to the established functional processes. They will deliver robust, capable manufacturing process technology as it applies to materials, tooling, part fabrication and assembly. With a wider team of over 40 engineering professionals (estimated 5‑7 direct reports), this is predominantly a people‑management role, so experience of successfully leading and developing high‑performing teams will be a requisite. There will also be a certain amount of technical support required, with a main focus on material science, so candidates with a background or understanding of material science will be of particular interest. Relocation allowance available for applicants currently based on the mainland.

Job Responsibilities

• Develop technical solutions to complex problems, delivering a manufacturing system that fulfils all stakeholder requirements including safety, quality, producibility and business case.
• Lead engineering teams to deliver measurable, metrics‑driven results in line with operational and program goals.
• Deliver class‑leading engineering solutions to complex problems.
• Develop, deploy and maintain functional engineering standards.
• Develop and deliver a manufacturing engineering training strategy for the business; lead capability and career development of the engineering team.
• Build a culture of process control, Zero Defect Manufacturing (ZDM) mind‑set in the manufacturing engineering team.
• Implement tooling and/or production planning from original concept through to production, designing these processes with a high degree of process capability using the GKN standard ZDM tool suite.
• Accountable for product development, new product quotes, tool fabrication quotes, first article development, configuration changes that involve cost estimation, schedule coordination, build process definition and implementation.
• Maintain positive team relationships with internal and external customers as well as co‑workers.
• Continuously improve production processes by implementing Lean initiatives.
• Exemplify a safety‑first mind‑set and ensure compliance with the GKN Aerospace Health, Safety and Environmental policies and standards.

Job Qualifications

• Technical expertise in Manufacturing Engineering, with a professional qualification or background (university degree) in engineering (Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical).
• Experience of managing New Product or Process introduction (industrialisation) and existing production process improvements.
• Ability to influence people, build trust and establish effective working relationships within a global organisation.
• Working knowledge of LEAN processes and practices.
• Significant previous experience within Manufacturing Engineering.
• Working knowledge of quality system models such as ISO9000, AS9100 or D1‑9000.
• First‑class communication skills.
• Project or program management experience.
• Familiarity with AS9145 APQP process or equivalent.