Research Engineer/Specialist

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 £ There are no limits to where you can take your career.

We are looking for a Research engineer with an interest in growing career towards research and development activities in the areas of Software Development & Automation.  You will be responsible for technically supporting the conceptualisation, development and implementation of digital technologies with focus on improving the aerospace design and manufacturing processes. You will be part of the team to shape and manage research and development projects in the TRL1-6 range, using your diverse skills in latest digital technologies. 

     Develop, execute, and implement effective methods, plans, and toolsets that ensure compliant and optimized digital solutions aligned with process objectives.
     Identify technical challenges and apply integrated solutions using a set-based design approach to drive innovation and efficiency.
     Analyze customer requirements thoroughly to define technical solutions that inform proposals and support the development of proof of concepts.
     Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams across multiple sites throughout the development lifecycle.
     Deliver assigned project outputs, including documentation and reports, aligned with project milestones and quality standards.
     Actively participate in technical reviews by preparing technical data, presentations, and providing peer support through constructive feedback.
     Champion Lean culture and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance organizational performance.
     Engage in regular sprint planning sessions to plan, review, and deliver results in accordance with Agile methodologies.
     Contribute to the creation of training materials and promote knowledge sharing within the relevant domain.
     Execute all responsibilities independently while providing support and guidance to fellow engineers within the program.

General:
     Exceptional communication and presentation skills, enabling clear and effective collaboration with business stakeholders.
     Strong knowledge of data pre-processing, annotation, and management tailored to the aerospace sector, with a focus on maintaining data quality and ensuring compliance with industry regulations.
     Collaborative approach to working closely with aerospace and defence teams to identify challenges and develop customized solutions that optimize processes, reduce costs, and enhance operational efficiency.
     Deep understanding of aerospace and defence industry workflows, standards, and requirements, complemented by hands-on experience in applying automation across key areas such as design, manufacturing, maintenance, and supply chain.
Essential:
     Bachelor's degree in Engineering or higher, with 5 to 10 years of proven experience in automation and full-stack software development.
     Strong software engineering expertise, including proficiency in version control systems (e.g., Git), debugging, testing, deployment and thorough documentation practices.
     Good Knowledge in containerization (e.g., Docker) and orchestration technologies (e.g., Kubernetes), with the ability to deploy and manage scalable applications.
     Proficient in programming language Python and experienced with both SQL and NoSQL databases.
     Excellent command of front-end technologies including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Angular, and React.
     In-depth knowledge of Python web frameworks such as Django, Flask, and FastAPI.
     Extensive experience with database technologies including MS SQL Server, PostgreSQL, and MongoDB.
     Strong understanding of data structures, data modelling, and database architecture.
     Proven ability to design and implement robust data pipelines for processing large-scale datasets, ensuring data security and compliance with aerospace and defence standards.
     Adept at evaluating and selecting appropriate tools and technologies, conducting proof-of-concepts (POCs), and mentoring team members to extract insights and enable data-driven decision-making.
     Knowledge and experience in AI / ML / LLM is an added advantage.
     Committed to staying abreast of the latest trends in automation, software development, NLP, ML, AI, and LLM technologies, particularly those relevant to the aerospace and defence sector. 
     Enthusiastic about rapidly adopting and integrating emerging technologies into active projects.
     Strong problem-solving abilities and a collaborative mind-set, with experience working across cross-functional teams—including domain experts, data scientists, and engineers—to transform requirements into scalable, high-performance applications.

Desirable:
     Shall contribute to the development of GKN as a 'Great Place to Work', aligned with the core principles - safe, innovative, open & honest, care & respect, and ownership
Personal Attributes:
     Be capable of: 
o    Working in research projects
o    Focus on continuous improvement and problem solving
o    Commit to relationship building with customers and colleagues
o    Work effectively with diverse groups of people

     Consistently demonstrate the following attributes and values: 
o    Recognise what people need from you and respond flexibly
o    Demonstrates interpersonal sensitivity
o    Builds confidence in others
o    Hunger for continuous learning, growth and curiosity with an innovative mind set
o    Stretch out of comfort zone
o    Challenge assumptions and hearsay, and look for evidence
o    Trusts people to do their job
     Personal knowledge: 
o    Knows what drives profit within their business area
o    Knows the key stakeholders
o    In depth knowledge of own industry and customers

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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