Senior Research Engineer/Specialist - Digital Engineering & Simulation

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 15,000 employees across 41 manufacturing sites in 12 countries we serve over 90% of the world’s aircraft and engine manufacturers. There are no limits to where you can take your career.

Job Summary

As a Senior Research Engineer you will draw on your specialist knowledge, or on your diverse engineering background and product/technology knowledge, to ensure innovative and high quality research and development in the TRL1-6 range, in demonstrator projects and in insertion projects. You have a track record of innovation, leading technical work (including budgeting, schedule and risk management), and are developing a professional network in your field. Your good communication skills enable you to confidently engage with a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders, including non-specialists.
You will be a key player in the development of new technologies and design of future product solutions.  Main tasks are to support the development of new technologies and the design of new product solutions by (1) giving input to design based on expertise in the field, (2) assessing feasibility and requirement compliance by means of structural analysis and (3) supporting testing for verification of these technologies and product solutions.
 

Job Responsibilities

     You have developed an understanding of the strategic direction of our target products and key technology areas and you will contribute to the development of the Technology Strategy for those products, reconciling strategic input from multiple specialist areas.
     You have developed an understanding of the strategic direction of your specialist field inside and outside of GKN, and you will contribute to Technology Strategy within your specialist field, supporting generation of roadmaps associated with your specialist field.
     You will support robust forward planning of technical work.
     You will be responsible of and/or contribute to Technology Development Plans and Technology Business Cases related to your specialist field or product/technology area.
     You will demonstrate a commitment to innovation and technical quality in your specialist field - leading to high quality Technology Readiness Level gates, Notional Type Designs and/or Design Reviews.
     You will ensure all planning documentation in your responsibility is regularly updated, is accurate, and is delivered on time. You may also have schedule accountability for your project(s)
     You will support or lead any necessary 'hands on' development test work and development trials that are required to meet your project and/or functional delivery objectives.
     You will be responsible for originating and issuing high quality and detailed technical documentation.
     You will coach colleagues and upcoming talent in your specialist field. You are expected to supervise graduate students / Masters / PhD theses.
     You will drive maturity of technologies in your specialist field, and undertake technical problem solving in your specialist field, including support with operational issues from time to time.
     You should have, and you will continue to develop and maintain long-term ecosystem & academia relationships in your specialist field for the benefit of the projects, aligned with the company strategy and direction from the Chief Technologist(s).
     You will contribute to new technology research project applications.
     You will ensure adherence to environmental health and safety (EHS) policies and procedures for your activities, and you will contribute to a proactive EHS culture in the wider team.
     You will 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.
 

Job Qualifications

Essential 
You are a mechanical engineer with knowledge and experience in solid mechanics CAE (structural analysis, fatigue, fracture mechanics, dynamic analysis of structures, You are interested in working in aerospace and you are a problem solver who thrives when working in multidisciplinary teams where you can take part of the big picture and bring your expertise to full use.   
     You have a good general engineering/technology knowledge base and can demonstrate strategic thinking. You have good product knowledge in the strategic product/technology areas
     You have a solid awareness of your specialist field outside of GKN, and you are be able to communicate a view on how your specialist field should develop within GKN.
     You have the ability to execute complex development activities according to plan.
     You have a logical and methodical approach to trial/testing planning.
     You have a growing network in your specialist field, and are able to identify and engage in the development of collaboration with internal and external partners
     You are a strong self-starter, competent to work with general goal-based direction as well as more specific task-based requirements.
     You have experience in coaching/supervising upcoming talent.
     (desirable) You have experience engaging with production teams, and able to translate your expertise in order to solve problems today.
     You have good interpersonal and communication skills and have the ability to communicate and develop specialist content with non-specialist stakeholders. You are confident and able to represent your specialist area and GKN values in internal/external review meetings and conferences
Key responsibilities
o    Work in multidisciplinary teams engaged in the design and development of engine structures and new technologies. 
o    Support concept generation and selection. 
o    Dimensioning and verification of engine components through FE analysis (strength, fatigue, fracture mechanics, dynamic analysis) using both commercial and in-house developed tools
o    Develop analysis methods.
o    Support testing: planning, execution and analysis of results
o    Ensure proper documentation of technical results and present the results internally and externally.
o    Identify, develop and implement improvements to methods/way of working.

Education
•    Qualifications:
Master’s degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering or a related field, with 10+ years of experience 

•    Skills and Experience:
o    Experience in strength, fatigue (LCF, HCF) 
o    (optional) Experience in dynamic simulations of large assemblies. 
o    Good knowledge of FEA commercial tools, preferably ANSYS Mechanical (APDL), ANSYS Workbench, (optional) LS-Dyna.
o    General engineering knowledge of metallic materials and manufacturing processes.
o    Experience in programming. Knowledge of Python is advantageous
o    Experience in technology development, knowledge of TRL-scale and TRA-process
o    Experience in demonstrator development and knowledge of demonstrator development process.

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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