Manufacturing Engineer - Product & Planning

Manufacturing Engineer - Product & Planning

Date: Aug 27, 2026

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 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.

Job Summary

About the opportunity

GKN Aerospace is a global engineering business. Everytime you travel by air almost anywhere in the world it is likely that GKN is helping you on your way. We design, manufacture and service systems and components for original equipment manufacturers around the world. We are continuously evolving, pioneering new technologies and reinventing existing ones, stretching ourselves to better in everything we do.

What you’ll do

You will lead and coordinate cross-functional activities to support project execution, with a strong emphasis on equipment and process qualification. Acting as the key liaison between Operations and Engineering, you will align priorities, resolve scheduling conflicts, and ensure efficient machine utilization. You will manage the planning and execution of engineering test pieces alongside production work, track their progress through manufacturing, and ensure timely completion without disrupting production commitments.

In this role, you will compile and communicate qualification data, support adherence to project timelines, and proactively identify and mitigate risks. 

This position is designated as safety-sensitive under Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations and is subject to random drug and alcohol testing.

Job Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate activities required to projects, with a strong focus on completing equipment and process qualification.
• Act as the primary interface between Operations and Engineering, aligning priorities and resolving conflicts related to machine availability, scheduling, and workload.
• Ensure engineering test pieces are planned, prioritized, and executed alongside production and revenue-generating parts.
• Coordinate and secure machine time to support qualification activities without significantly impacting production commitments.
• Track and manage the flow of test parts through the manufacturing process to avoid delays.
• Compile, organize, and communicate qualification and test data to Engineering teams to support validation and decision-making.
• Support the process engineering team in adhering to project timelines and milestones, ensuring alignment with the overall project plan.
• Identify risks to project execution and proactively drive mitigation actions to maintain schedule.
• Review, interpret, and validate technical documentation, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
• Develop clear and concise technical reports and documentation to support qualification, process definition, and project closure.

Job Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering and 2 years of manufacturing engineering experience or 7+ Years of experience in Manufacturing Engineering.
• Must be able to perform work subject to ITAR/EAR regulations and/or program requirements.  

Preferred Qualifications:

• 3-5 years of experience in Manufacturing Engineering
• GKN experience and/or Aerospace Industry experience
• Experience in an MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) organization is strongly preferred
• Increasingly able to provide technical input at all levels of work
• Identifies and anticipates technical problems and offers solutions
• Drives to complete the job on time and continually searches for better ways of doing things
• Understands situations by analyzing them logically and uses information in a systematic way to identify appropriate courses of action for resolution. Ability to apply complex and non-routine analysis
• Applies knowledge and skills to a range of activities
• Understands the formal and informal structure of the business

Compensation Ranges

The compensation range for this role is between $91,083 - $113,853

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.​
​

Nearest Major Market: San Diego