Chief Engineer (Hydrogen Propulsion Systems -Flight Trial)

GKN Aerospace
West Midlands, England
22 months ago
Applications closed

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Chief Engineer

Owen Daniels Fareham, United Kingdom

Safety ,Reliability, Maintainability and Testability- Engineer - Shanghai, China

Strongfield Shanghai, China

Software Engineer (Embedded / R&D)

Voltitude Ltd Cove, Hampshire, GU14 9FT, United Kingdom

Industrial Control Systems Engineer- Aerospace Manufacturing – Shanghai, China

Strongfield Shanghai, China
Posted
28 Jun 2024 (22 months ago)

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

GKN is actively engaged in a series of strategic high value development programmes aimed at enabling sustainable aviation and ultimately a zero emission flight solution for large aircraft platforms. As such, we’ve built up a significant technical capability with a diverse, international team of specialist engineers and technologists, based largely at our Global Technology Centre in Bristol (UK). The team is working on the development and certification of liquid hydrogen based electrical fuel cell propulsion systems, including LH2 fuel storage and management, fuel cell power generation and distribution and then cryogenic electrical drive technologies.

This ground breaking technology is maturing rapidly and we’re searching for specialist engineers and scientists who want to work with us in this rapidly changing, dynamic, multifunctional environment to help us push further and faster as we secure our route to flight demonstration and commercial exploitation. We have technology foundation programmes currently live in fuel systems (HYFIVE) and power propulsion systems (H2GEAR) and we are now launching a FLIGHT TRIAL team with the objective of combining the output from those programmes at an aircraft level. 

Working alongside the existing Chief Engineers, this challenging Chief Engineering role is specifically aimed at the technical delivery of the aircraft level solutions, positioning the technology for validation at flight level. 

Please note, the successful candidate will be required on site in Bristol UK 3 days per week. 

Job Responsibilities

• Act as technical authority for the flight test programme at an Aircraft level
• Lead the integration of the technologies and the development of new technology at aircraft level
• Act as primary technical focal point for the programme and any external customer, partner and/or supplier for all technical Issues
• Accountability of all programme technical deliverables against agreed schedule and cost objectives
(including technology maturity, manufacturability, qualification and certification requirements) 
• Technical Leadership functionally and product wise in accordance with the lifecycle management process(Engineering Design Reviews)
• Ability to perform any delegated tasking from the Office of Airworthiness
• Support Programme Level technical management, to include
1. Drafting and delivery of ground based test plans
2. Drafting and delivery of flight test plans
3. Technical risk management at programme level
4. Project Engineering Plan (PEP) and Engineering Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) derivation and management
5. Management of technical change & scope control
• Provide day-to-day technical direction and leadership to the Engineering and Technology Team
(Engineering Work Stream Team Lead(s) and/or Technical Project Leads and/or Engineers)
• Management of engineering resources required
• Management of any equipment/test requirements
• Effective knowledge management
• Support of the functional heads in the PDP Process (Job Appraisals, Career Development Reviews)

How You'll Contribute

To help us make a difference, you’ll bring your expertise, experience and passion in line with the required attributes detailed below:

Essential:

 Bachelor or Master Degree in Engineering Aircraft level integration knowledge and expertise Proven technical experience in the development and certification of experimental flight based hardware Proven technical capability in aerospace power propulsion systems, or significant aspects thereof Previously held technical approval authority (i.e. is recognised as having appropriate technical seniority)  International experience of working in a collaborative technical environment Bachelor or Master Degree in Engineering

Desirable:

• Technical experience of hydrogen based propulsions electrical propulsion systems 
• High level of interpersonal skills
• Strong business and commercial awareness. 
• Exceptional problem-solving abilities in technical and program management fields
• Proven ability to influence at all levels in an organisation, both internally and externally

What We'll Offer


Once you’re on board you’ll get the following perks and benefits:

Competitive salary dependant on experience £5,500 car allowance per annum Opportunity to earn up to 22.5% bonus  Hybrid working – giving you the opportunity to balance home and office working Industry Leading Pension Scheme = we’ll match your contributions up to 8% on a 1 : 1.5 basis Life Assurance 8 x salary 25 days holiday + bank holidays Income protection Shopping discounts Cycle To Work Scheme Employee Assistance Programme A collaborative, dynamic working environment 


As well as a competitive package we’ll offer you a world of opportunity. We want to see your career fly! We’ll support your career progression by providing you with learning and development opportunities. That’s the beauty of being part of a global business, once you’re on board you never know where you career journey may take you! 

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. ​

#LI-HYBRID

Subscribe to Future Tech Insights for the latest jobs & insights, direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

Where to Advertise Space Jobs in the UK (2026 Guide)

Advertising space jobs in the UK requires a different approach to most technical hiring. The candidate pool spans satellite engineers, propulsion specialists, mission analysts, ground segment software developers, space systems architects and commercial space professionals — a highly specific multidisciplinary community that general job boards are poorly equipped to reach. The strongest space candidates are often embedded in ESA programmes, academic research groups, UK Space Agency-funded projects or established primes, and move between roles through sector-specific networks, industry bodies and conference communities rather than mainstream platforms. This guide, published by UKSpaceJobs.co.uk, covers where to advertise space industry roles in the UK in 2026, how the main platforms compare, what employers should expect to pay, and what the data says about hiring across different role types.

New Space Employers to Watch in 2026: UK and Global Organisations Driving the Future of Space Careers

The space industry is entering a new era of growth, innovation, and commercial opportunity. Satellites, space exploration, Earth observation, space data analytics, launch systems and space infrastructure are all areas seeing rapid expansion, bringing demand for engineers, scientists, operations specialists and software developers. For professionals exploring opportunities on www.UKSpaceJobs.co.uk , identifying employers that are scaling, securing major contracts, attracting investment, or establishing UK operations is vital. This article highlights the most exciting space employers to watch in 2026, including UK space start‑ups, established aerospace organisations with UK teams, and global firms investing in British space talent.

How Many Space Industry Tools Do You Need to Know to Get a UK Space Job?

If you’re pursuing a career in the space industry — whether that’s spacecraft engineering, mission operations, space software, satellite systems, ground segment integration or space data analytics — it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of tools, platforms and technologies mentioned in job adverts. One role wants experience with CAD and FEA software. Another asks for experience with GNSS simulation. A third mentions mission scheduling tools, RF link analysis suites, Python, C++, continuous integration — and it seems there’s always another acronym to learn. With so much listed, many candidates fall into the trap of thinking they must master every tool under the sun before they’ll be taken seriously. Here’s the honest truth most UK space hiring managers won’t say out loud: 👉 They don’t hire you because you’ve heard of every tool — they hire you because you can apply the right tools to solve real space problems, explain your reasoning clearly, and deliver results. Tools matter, but they always serve a purpose: achieving mission goals, improving reliability, reducing risk, delivering data, or enabling collaboration. Tools are enablers — not trophies. So how many tools do you actually need to know to get a space job? The answer is much fewer and far more strategic than you might think. This article breaks down: what tools employers really expect which ones are core across most space roles which ones are role-specific how to present your tool proficiency on your CV and in interviews