Sr. Manufacturing Engineer

GKN Aerospace · Tallassee, AL

Level: Senior
Team: Manufacturing
Degree: Required
Experience asked: 6+ years
Industry: Aerospace & defense
Posted: 15 days ago

The role in 30 seconds

A senior manufacturing role at GKN Aerospace (aerospace & defense) in Tallassee, AL. Aerostructures (metallics and/or composites) experience preferred.

They ask for: 6+ years · degree required
Tools it names: Lean, Six Sigma, Value stream mapping, Root cause, Tooling

Read from the posting. The full description is below.

From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026

Manufacturing Engineer roles in Alabama: typical posted base $134k–$165k.

Median of the low and high ends of 6 live postings that list pay, out of 45 manufacturing engineer openings in Alabama, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.

Alabama plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →

How this role compares

Against 44 other live manufacturing postings in Alabama.

Experience asked: More than usual (6+ vs 3+)

Skills these teams ask for most

✓ Tooling 62%
✓ Root cause 60%
FMEA 42%
Welding 42%
Machining 40%
✓ Lean 33%

✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.

Stands out: this posting asks for Value stream mapping, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.

It asks for 6+ years. If you're close, apply anyway: requirements are a wish list. Talk to someone doing this work there first.

At a glance

Training program

Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.

How to get in at this plant

Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.

1
Pick 2–3 people on the Manufacturing team at GKN Aerospace
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Is the work mostly new product launches or sustaining existing lines?
- How much time do you spend on the floor versus at a desk?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.

This plant: GKN Aerospace in Tallassee

3 other open roles at this site.

Configuration Control Manufacturing Engineer · Controls
Director of Quality, Site · Quality · Director+
Sr. Manufacturing Engineer, Tooling · Manufacturing · Senior

Full description from GKN AerospaceAs posted on their careers site.Show

Job Summary

The Senior Manufacturing Engineer will support operational and development Programs to enable and deliver zero defect projects utilizing superior engineering and problem solving skills. They will deliver robust, capable manufacturing process technology as it applies to both materials, tooling, part fabrication and assembly.

Job

Responsibilities

◆Develop technical solutions to complex problems
◆Interfaces and liaisons with multiple functional groups including Supply Chain, Quality and Production Operations to develop strategies for implementation of released engineering
◆Utilize root cause analysis, preventative and corrective action to reduce/eliminate non-conformances.
◆Responsible for the implementation of tooling and or production planning, from original concept through to production. Design these processes with a high degree of process capabilty utilizing the GKN standard Manufacturing Engineering tool suite to demonstrate as such.
◆Accountable for product development, new product quotes, tool fabrication quotes, first article development, configuration changes that involve cost estimation, schedule coordination, build process definition, and implementation
◆Lead engineering teams to delivers measurable, metrics driven results in line with Value Stream and Program goals.
◆Maintain positive, team relationships with internal and external customers, as well as co-workers
◆Continuously improve production processes by implementing Lean initiatives
◆Performs other duties, tasks and

responsibilities

as assigned

Job

Qualifications

✓Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field or equivalent experience
✓6+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering
✓Must qualify as a U.S. Person under ITAR regulations

Show full description ↓

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 32 manufacturing sites in 12 countries we serve over 90% of the world’s aircraft and engine manufacturers and achieved sales of £3.6bn in 2025. There are no limits to where you can take your career.

Preferred Qualificaitons

+Aerostructures (metallics and/or composites) experience preferred.
+Relentless and results driven performer with a Continuous Improvement mind-set.
+A dynamic individual with a high level of energy, a proactive self-starter who is confident and able to work independently.
+Six Sigma Training or Lean Manufacturing experience a plus
+Demonstrated knowledge of scheduling and planning principles and tools
+Proven capability to work independently in a range of different manufacturing environments.
+Superior interpersonal skills, delivers information clearly and factually. Capable of adjusting to situation or audience.
+Team worker with aptitude for mentoring and coaching.
+Demonstrates personal leadership skills; high performance behaviors, self-initiative, excellent work ethic, exercises good judgment, influencing, negotiation and collaboration.

Travel

Up to 10 percent travel may be required based on business needs

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.