Business Systems Architect in Luton

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: It’s great to know you’re making a difference to the future of aviation! Whatever part you play you’ll be helping us deliver operational excellence to our customers. Based at our Luton manufacturing plant you’ll do just that. Established in 1993, GKN Aerospace in Luton is a world leader in commercial and military ice protection systems and transparencies. Offering a full range of capabilities; design, analysis, testing, certification and manufacture of electro-thermal ice protection, military fast jet canopies and flight deck windows to over 20 programmes including: Boeing 787, Dreamliner, Airbus A320, AgustaWestland, AW101, Eurofighter Typhoon and Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor. Our customers include Boeing, Airbus, Lockheed Martin, Bell Helicopters, Textron, BAE Systems, Pratt & Whitney, Leonardo. Our Luton site is home to 370+ employees and onsite facilities including onsite parking, food hub and vending machines.

As a Centre of Excellence (CoE) Architect, you will act as a skilled and knowledgeable team member whose role is to provide the business global support and deliver best practices around the analysis and design of applications and solutions in line with the business requirements. Working as a member of the global CoE team, the CoE Architect will play a role in provisioning ‘build’ and ‘run’ to continuously improve and support their designated application area within the agreed SLA. The CoE forms part of the wider IT applications team, an integral part of the global IT organisation. You will be a trusted partner to the business in providing applications and solutions in line with the IT operating model, working alongside the IT business partners, project management office, security and IT operations teams. Occasional regional and international travel may be required, though this is infrequent. Core working hours at our Luton site are 07:30–16:30, Monday to Thursday, and 07:30–12:30 on Fridays.

Job Responsibilities:

• Works as part of a global team of subject matter experts to deliver support within agreed SLAs.
• Works alongside the other global IT functions (including IT operations, security, project management office and IT business partners) to support the delivery of the IT strategy in line with the IT operating model.
• Ensures the business/function are aware of the latest capabilities and drive standard application best practice.
• Ensures IT security requirements are observed and designed into future demand/requirements.
• Provides structured training for business/function(s) for maximum effectiveness.
• Performs other related duties as assigned by management/team leaders.
• Supports the implementation of global IT standards.
• Application lifecycle management.
• Be a trusted partner to the business in providing fit for purpose applications and solutions.
• Supports annual IT budget.
• Be aware of the latest capabilities and drive the use of standard tools and processes in the system arena.
• Liaising with external parties (e.g. consultants, software vendors, auditors etc.) where required.
• Ability to generate a unified definition of a target landscape based on functional and non-functional requirements to determine solution and environment selection.
• Gathers functional and non-functional requirements of systems, processes and business models.
• Communicates global standards and guidelines to specialists and developers.
• Supports the implementation of new solutions, upgrades and/or enhancements to existing ones.
• Supports the change request process during implementation performing an impact assessment where required, and collaborate on compliance monitoring post-implementation (plan-do-check-act).
• Assist in determining time and cost estimates for assigned projects.
• Identifies options for potential solutions and assessing them for both technical and business suitability.
• Documenting processes and procedures (and maintaining them).

What You'll Bring: To help us make a difference, you’ll bring your passion and talent for what you do along with the following skills, experience, qualifications and attributes:

• Experience working within and/or supporting an information technology environment.
• Experience working with manufacturing and/or business systems.
• Ability to be proactive and take initiative, including performance of duties exercising independent judgement.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment – to effectively listen, challenge and communicate.
• Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong problem solving skills.
• Professionalism and flexibility.
• Experience developing or supporting systems and processes.
• Good written and oral communication skills in the English language.
• Experience working in a customer-facing role.
• Experience and understanding of architecture methodologies.
• Excellent knowledge of business processes across a range of functions.
• Strong analytical thinking skills.

Desirable:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Engineering or related field.
• A strong focus on continuous learning and sharing this information with team members.
• Proficient in all Microsoft Office applications.
• Understanding and experience working with project management methodologies.
• Understanding of change management methodologies.
• Experience working within an application development environment and/or related processes.

We are looking for people who want to make a difference, talented members with the skills and passions to become the best of the future in what they do.

What We'll Offer: Once you’re on board you’ll get the following perks and benefits:

• Competitive salary dependent on experience.
• The opportunity to earn up to 15% bonus.
• Industry Leading Pension Scheme = we’ll match your contributions up to 8% on a 1 : 1.5 basis.
• Life Assurance 8 x salary.
• 185 hours holiday + bank holidays.
• Income protection.
• Shopping discounts.
• Cycle To Work Scheme.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Virtual GP Clinic for you and immediate family.
• Electric Vehicle (EV) salary sacrifice scheme (Insurance, servicing, maintenance, roadside assistance and more included).
• Free onsite parking.
• Local gym discount.
• Free airport parking.
• Enhanced family friendly leave.
• A collaborative, dynamic working environment.

As well as a competitive package we’ll offer you a world of opportunity. We want to see your career fly! We’ll 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’re on board you never know where your career journey may take you!

Join us and keep the world moving … click on the link below to apply. Closing date: 25.5.26.

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. 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’re also committed to providing an accessible recruitment process, so if you require reasonable adjustments at any stage during our recruitment process please get in touch and let us know. We are the place where human dreams, plus human endeavour, shape the future of aerospace innovation and technology.