Chief Engineer

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

A unique exciting opportunity has arisen to work at GKN Aerospace based at our Shanghai facility.

We will provide full expat assignment status for 2 years making this a a great opportunity for the right person.

In this role you will help further develop the GKN Aeropsace footprint in China with the Management & development of the Engineering team and support the delivery of Engineering tasking to meet program and business objectives.

This is will be a customer facing role requiring experience of large sub structure or wing development programmes.

What You'll Bring

The Chief Engineer will be responsible for the following:

• Report to the Engineering function, China VP and China Program Director
• Management & Technical development of the China Engineering design & analysis team
• Interface with the GKN Global Product Group (for new bids) and GKN Global Engineering teams
• Management of GKN China engineering resource requirements to meet program priorities
• Input to annual budget submissions for China Engineering team and control of Engineering spend to meet agreed budgets
• Technical Interface with GKN China customers
• Technical interface with GKN China Bid Development function
• Assistance with bid development activities for the Engineering team in China
• Generation of Technical Statement of Works in line with customer requirements
• Assist to Contractual negotiations from an Engineering perspective
• Assist to Commercial with bid cost generation
• Management of Engineering contracts to ensure contracts are delivered to Quality, Cost & schedule requirements.
• Responsible for Engineering quality checks for the GAS Engineering team.
• Responsible for the Engineering team compliance to Technology Export Control regulations
• Responsible for the generation and maintenance of GKN Aerospace Shanghai
• Engineering procedures to ensure all Engineering adheres to approved processes and ways of working.

What you'll Bring

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

Essential:

• Sound background in Structural Aerospace Engineering (design, analysis, manufacture, engineering, integration, composites etc
• Ability to develop technical solutions, compliant with requirements within agreed program and timescales
• Have a responsible approach to the Health & Safety of themselves and others
• Knowledge of Engineering & Manufacturing processing methods for both metallic and composite aerospace structures.
• Proactive with regard to new developments in the area of expertise.
• Good interpersonal team working skills, including development and mentoring of junior engineers.
• Self-motivated and resourceful.
• Innovative toward all aspects of the job.
• Flexible and capable of working in a complex environment.
• Good reporting skills on project status and progress.
• Capable of interfacing professionally with customers and suppliers.
• Willingness to travel
• Readiness to assume responsibility for one or more projects
• Knowledge of standard Design & Analysis Engineering toolsets i.e., CATIA, NASTRAN, PATRAN
• PC literate – MS Office, Trubiquity, Windchill

Desirable:

• Knowledge of Chinese culture & Mandarin would be beneficial

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. ​
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