Senior Manufacturing Engineer - Product & Planning - Repair Solutions

Senior Manufacturing Engineer - Product & Planning - Repair Solutions

Date: Oct 8, 2025

Location:El Cajon, CA, US

Company: GKN Aerospace Careers

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

The Sr. Manufacturing Engineer – Product and Planning will provide technical expertise at a local project level for operational and development Programs to enable and deliver zero defect projects utilizing engineering and problem solving skills. Accountable for delivering robust, capable manufacturing process technology as it applies to materials, tooling, part fabrication and assembly.

Job Responsibilities

• Exemplifying a safety-first mind-set and ensuring compliance with the GKN Aerospace Health, Safety and Environmental policies and standards.
• Provide Technical expertise at a local project level in governance and deployment of manufacturing development and integration for new production as well as existing product within GKN Aerospace under the CME/ Business line priority decision
• Lead NPI projects and delta NPI products to production state for life cycle.
• Supporting the prep. & bid phase (IR1.0 to IR3.0) up to life cycle
• Supporting the team that is responsible for purchasing, procurement of machines, production preparation of hardware, configuration, tool and fixture development, process verification, etc.
• Develop and establish Processes & planning so that goals in accordance with the NPI process (IR gates) are achieved from life cycle process ensuring quality product by developing robust manufacturing process selection, implementation & control of products to meet stakeholder requirements including;
o Zero Defect Manufacturing (ZDM) process
o AS9145 Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP)
o Production Part Approval Process (PPAP)
• Provides technical expertise to rapidly solve issues pertaining to quality, capability & control of product.
• Breaks down technical problems, risk, opportunities, in the correct order to create products and add value to GKN Aerospace through creating Zero Defects
• Leads positive, team relationships with internal and external customers, as well as co-workers
• Continuously improve production processes by implementing Lean initiative and driving towards automation technics and newer technology to advanced the product in quality & cost
• Provide project technical oversight for the development of manufacturing process solutions to complex problems.
• Design processes to a high level of process capability through utilizing the GKN standard Zero Defect Manufacturing (ZDM) tool suite.
• Implement the global process for product development, first article development, configuration changes, build process definition and implementation.

Job Qualifications

Required Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering (Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, Industrial) or 8 years of related experience in Manufacturing Engineering (recognized qualifications or experience in similar roles)
• 5+ years of experience in Manufacturing Engineering, Aerospace environment preferred
• Must be able to perform work subject to ITAR/EAR regulations and/or program requirements.
Preferred Qualifications:
• GKN Experience
• Ability to work, and deliver, under own initiative.
• Expert Knowledge and experience in launching new product
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Participates in activities within a global technical community and understanding of the interface with broader business functions
• Expert Knowledge of drawing definition and interpretation.
• Expert knowledge of manufacturing operations & processes
• High capability in problem solving and process control
• Knowledge on the following subjects to support the NPI & delta NPI projects
o IR Process gates / lifecycle gates
o Zero Defect Manufacturing (ZDM) process
o AS9145 Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP)
o Production Part Approval Process (PPAP)
• Proficient computer skills; -Basic windows applications and highly proficient in CAD software for modeling and technical instructions
• Develops working relationships through team work, influencing, leadership, coaching and personal drive to succeed
• Prepared to work on the complete range of GKN Aerospace programs, both civil and military.
• Able to travel domestically or internationally as required.
• Ability to lead and mentor others
• Application of Continuous Improvement (CI) and Lean Management tools and techniques.
• Good reporting and communication skills on Technical definitions and processes
• Capable of interfacing professionally with customers and suppliers.
• Self-motivated, resourceful, strong minded and committed.

Compensation Range

The compensation range for this role is between $100,588 - $125,736

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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Nearest Major Market: San Diego