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Principal Temporary Works Design Engineer
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GKN Aerospace
Luton, Bedfordshire, Bedfordshire; East of England; England, United Kingdom Permanent
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Job Description
GKN Aerospace is reimagining air travel: going further, faster and greener! 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 globally, across 33 manufacturing sites in 12 countries we serve over 90% of the world’s aircraft and engine manufacturers.
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. 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 Luton site is home to 370+ employees and onsite facilities including onsite parking, food hub and vending machines.
Join our Transparencies team as a Principal Design Engineer and help drive innovative design solutions.
We are looking for a Principal Design Engineer to join our Transparencies team to support a portfolio of new and existing programmes including Fast jet canopies, Helicopter Windscreens and Flight Deck Windows.
Job Responsibilities
- Act as the technical authority for transparency design across multiple programmes, ensuring design integrity, safety, and compliance with customer, regulatory, and airworthiness requirements.
- Lead the definition of design standards and engineering best practices for transparency systems and approve design solutions, specifications, concessions, rework schemes, and compliance documentation.
- Provide expert guidance on requirements management, materials selection, structural performance, optical performance, manufacturing processes and qualification methods.
- Represent Design function in MRBs and serve as the primary escalation point for all MRB-related queries, exercising technical authority to determine and approve the disposition of non-conforming parts.
- Define and validate test methods and/or alternate means of compliance (analysis/similarity) as required to demonstrate design solution complies with requirements.
- Act as a senior technical interface with customers, suppliers, regulatory bodies, and internal stakeholders.
- Lead major technical reviews, gate reviews, and customer design reviews, ensuring high-quality technical data and presentations.
- Identify, assess, and manage technical risks across programmes, proposing mitigation strategies and influencing programme direction.
- Support capability development within the Transparency Systems team including training, knowledge capture, and succession planning.
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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:
Essential:
- Degree in Aerospace, Mechanical or similar
- Experience in Aerospace design or Aerospace product development.
- Deep understanding of the full product lifecycle, design practices, manufacturing processes, and airworthiness requirements.
- Proven ability to lead complex engineering work packages and solve complex technical problems using evidence-based, methodical approaches.
- Familiarity with digital engineering and model-based design preferably using CATIA V5.
- Excellent communication skills, able to create clear, concise, and accurate technical content and present to senior stakeholders.
Desirable:
- Expert user of CATIA V5 for complex modelling and drawing creation
- Chartered Engineer status (CEng)
- Experience working with defence customers and regulatory authorities.
- Experience in transparencies, composites, or specialist structures/systems.
This is a hands-on role, and the work will entail a high level of collaboration with Manufacturing Engineering and Operations as part of an integrated programme team to ensure both technical and programme objectives are met. You’ll have strong leadership qualities with experience mentoring and developing engineering teams.
As Principal Design Engineer, you will be naturally detail-oriented and appreciate the need for procedural compliance to meet both regulatory requirements and maintain product safety. You should seek to increase/deepen own technical knowledge through study, training, collaborative working and continual professional development.
Note: Some GKN programmes are subject to regulatory restrictions which may impact certain nationalities. The position requires UK National Security Vetting (UKNSV) Security clearance (SC) due to the nature and responsibilities of the work carried out.
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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
- Free onsite parking
- Local gym discount
- Free airport parking
- Enhanced family friendly leave
A collaborative, dynamic working environment
Join us and keep the world moving, click on the link below to apply.
A Great Place to work needs a Great Way of Working
Everyone is welcome to apply to GKN. 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.
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Job Overview
- Designation: Principal Temporary Works Design Engineer
- Offered Salary: 1
- Post Date: August 10, 2026
- Country: United Kingdom
- Job Type: Permanent
GKN Aerospace
Luton, Bedfordshire, Bedfordshire; East of England; England, United Kingdom Permanent
Apply for job
Job Overview
- Designation: Principal Temporary Works Design Engineer
- Offered Salary: 1
- Post Date: August 10, 2026
- Country: United Kingdom
- Job Type: Permanent
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Newport Isle Of Wight PO30 1SB.
email@nexusleadsservices.com
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