Manufacturing Engineering Manager (Technical Manager)
GKN Aerospace•Tallassee, AL
•Onsite
About The Position
Join GKN Aerospace as a Manufacturing Engineering Manager to lead manufacturing engineering efforts supporting aerospace programs at our Tallassee, Alabama site. This role involves guiding a team of engineers, driving process excellence, and ensuring manufacturing systems meet high standards of quality, safety, and performance. You will be the primary technical leader for Manufacturing Engineering, collaborating with customers, suppliers, and cross-functional teams to achieve operational success.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Manufacturing Engineering
- 7+ years of experience in manufacturing, ideally in aerospace and composites.
- Proven experience as a technical lead or authority in Manufacturing Engineering.
- Strong understanding of industry standards (AS9100, ISO9001, NADCAP, etc.).
- Familiarity with systems like SIOP, MES, MRB, QMS, and production planning tools.
- U.S. Person status per ITAR/EAR regulations.
Nice To Haves
- Master’s or MBA preferred.
- Experience working with OEMs like Boeing, Airbus, Lockheed Martin, or Bell.
- Background in APQP, new product launches, and cost estimation.
- Experience managing direct reports and leading cross-functional teams.
- Lean or Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or higher preferred).
- Extensive hands-on experience in composite manufacturing.
- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to lead in a matrixed environment and influence without direct authority.
Responsibilities
- Lead and mentor a team of Manufacturing Engineers supporting key aerospace programs.
- Represent Manufacturing Engineering in program reviews, technical discussions, and customer meetings.
- Deliver manufacturing systems that meet stakeholder needs, balancing safety, quality, cost, and delivery.
- Develop solutions to complex technical challenges and drive continuous improvement across the value stream.
- Champion a Zero Defect Manufacturing (ZDM) mindset and build a culture of process control.
- Oversee tooling and production planning from concept through launch, ensuring high process capability.
- Support new product development, quoting, configuration changes, and first article builds.
- Collaborate across departments to align engineering efforts with program and operational goals.
- Drive Lean initiatives and help shape the future of our engineering standards and training.
Benefits
- Fantastic challenges and amazing opportunities.
- Best training on offer in the industry.
- Commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging.
- Culture where everyone feels welcome to contribute.
- Awarded ‘The Best Workplace Culture Award’.
- Accessible recruitment process with reasonable adjustments available.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
