Chief Engineer (Hydrogen Propulsion Systems -Flight Trial)

GKN Aerospace
West Midlands
11 months ago
Create job alert

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

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Chief Engineer (Aerospace)

Chief Engineer (Aerospace)

Chief Engineer (Aerospace)

Chief Engineer (Hydrogen Propulsion Systems -Flight Trial)

Systems Engineer (Landing Gear Integration)

B1 Licensed Engineer

Get the latest insights and jobs direct. Sign up for our newsletter.

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

Industry Insights

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

Top 10 Mistakes Candidates Make When Applying for Space-Industry Jobs—And How to Avoid Them

UK space hiring is accelerating—but so are application mistakes. Learn the ten biggest errors candidates make, with practical fixes, expert tips and live resources that will help you launch your next space-industry role. Introduction From nanosatellite start-ups in Glasgow to deep-space mission teams in Harwell and propulsion testbeds in Cornwall, the UK space sector is expanding at orbital velocity. A quick scan of LinkedIn and niche boards like SpaceCareers.uk shows hundreds of open roles spanning RF systems, orbital dynamics, on-board software and space sustainability. Yet recruiters still reject a majority of CVs long before interview—usually for slip-ups that take minutes to fix. To keep your application from burning up on re-entry, we analysed recent space-industry adverts, spoke with hiring managers across the UK “space cluster”, and gathered feedback from career advisers. Below is a definitive list of the ten most expensive mistakes we see—each linked to a trusted, working resource so you can dive deeper. Bookmark this checklist before you hit Apply.

How to Write a Winning Cover Letter for Space Sector Jobs: Proven 4-Paragraph Structure

Learn how to craft the perfect cover letter for space sector jobs with this proven 4-paragraph structure. Ideal for entry-level candidates, career switchers, and professionals looking to advance in the space industry. When applying for a job in the space sector, your cover letter is a crucial part of your application. The space industry is an exciting and rapidly evolving field, offering opportunities in satellite technology, space exploration, and related research. Your cover letter provides an opportunity to showcase your passion for space, your technical expertise, and your understanding of how you can contribute to cutting-edge advancements in space technologies. Whether you're new to the space sector, transitioning from another field, or looking to advance your career in this exciting industry, this article will guide you through a proven four-paragraph structure. We’ll provide sample lines and practical tips to help you create a compelling cover letter that stands out in the competitive space sector job market.