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Research & Development Engineering Technician

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Job Description - Research & Development Engineering Technician

Research & Development Engineering Technician in Copt Hall, Luton (LU2), LU2 8RX | GKN Aerospace Search Search These jobs were popular with other job seekers Marine Fuels Technical specialist BP Energy St James, South West London (SW1), WC2N 5DU Competitive 1 day ago Senior Systems Engineer - Electronics GKN Aerospace Copt Hall, Luton (LU2), LU2 8RX To define 1 day ago Field Service Engineer, Laboratory Robotic Systems TRS Consulting Stevenage, Hertfordshire £55K + 10% Bonus + Car 2 days ago Service Team Leader, Medical Devices TRS Consulting Garston, Watford (WD17), WD17 1AA £45K + Benefits 2 days ago Medical Field Service Engineer, Pathology Laboratory Diagnostics TRS Consulting Dartford (DA1), DA1 1AA £44K (OTE £50K) + 10% Bonus + Car 2 weeks ago Electronics Engineer APRIL QUEST LIMITED Chertsey (KT16) From £55,000 to £60,000 per annum 4 days ago Senior RF - Microwave Design Engineer Guidant Global Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG1 2DA From £65 to £75 per hour ; (Umbrella) 1 day ago Principal Lab Manager National Highways Guildford (GU2), GU2 7YL £55810 - £66690 per annum 23 hours ago NEW Senior Electronics Engineer ReeVR Bracknell (RG12) £55000 - £65000 per annum 3 weeks ago Ecologist VolkerWessels Uk Woollensbrook, Hoddesdon (EN11), EN11 9BX Negotiable 3 days ago Marine Fuels Technical specialist BP Energy St James, South West London (SW1), WC2N 5DU Competitive 1 day ago Senior Systems Engineer - Electronics GKN Aerospace Copt Hall, Luton (LU2), LU2 8RX To define 1 day ago Field Service Engineer, Laboratory Robotic Systems TRS Consulting Stevenage, Hertfordshire £55K + 10% Bonus + Car 2 days ago Service Team Leader, Medical Devices TRS Consulting Garston, Watford (WD17), WD17 1AA £45K + Benefits 2 days ago Medical Field Service Engineer, Pathology Laboratory Diagnostics TRS Consulting Dartford (DA1), DA1 1AA £44K (OTE £50K) + 10% Bonus + Car 2 weeks ago Electronics Engineer APRIL QUEST LIMITED Chertsey (KT16) From £55,000 to £60,000 per annum 4 days ago Senior RF - Microwave Design Engineer Guidant Global Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG1 2DA From £65 to £75 per hour ; (Umbrella) 1 day ago Principal Lab Manager National Highways Guildford (GU2), GU2 7YL £55810 - £66690 per annum 23 hours ago NEW Senior Electronics Engineer ReeVR Bracknell (RG12) £55000 - £65000 per annum 3 weeks ago Ecologist VolkerWessels Uk Woollensbrook, Hoddesdon (EN11), EN11 9BX Negotiable 3 days ago Research & Development Engineering Technician GKN Aerospace View Profile Copt Hall, Luton (LU2), LU2 8RX Permanent Published: 1 day ago To define Research & Development Engineering Technician GKN Aerospace Company 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 globally, across 33 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 description: Job Summary You’ll be making a real contribution to the future of aviation. Whatever your role, you’ll play a part in delivering operational excellence for our customers, based at our Luton manufacturing facility. Established in 1993, GKN Aerospace Luton is a world leader in commercial and military ice protection systems and transparencies. The site offers a full breadth of capability, including design, analysis, testing, certification, and manufacture of electro-thermal ice protection systems, military fast-jet canopies, and flight deck windows. Our products support more than 20 aircraft programmes, including the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Airbus A320, AgustaWestland AW101, Eurofighter Typhoon, and Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor. Our customer base includes Boeing, Airbus, Lockheed Martin, Bell Helicopters, Textron, BAE Systems, Pratt & Whitney, and Leonardo.The Luton site is home to over 370 employees and benefits from onsite facilities including parking, a food hub, and vending machines. Our Engineering & Technology team at Luton focuses on developing both product and manufacturing process technologies for aircraft ice protection systems, transparencies, functional coatings, and specialist structures, supporting a wide range of civil and defence applications. We are seeking an R&D Engineering Technician to support Research and Development activities by providing hands-on technical expertise in the build, modification, and testing of prototypes, experimental rigs, and laboratory equipment. Development work will primarily involve composite materials, with some exposure to 3D printing and electronics. The role enables engineers and researchers to translate concepts into practical solutions through accurate experimentation, problem solving, and data capture, while ensuring all activities are conducted safely, efficiently, and in compliance with engineering and laboratory standards. The technician plays a key role in accelerating innovation by supporting iterative development, reliable testing, and the transition of concepts toward validation and future industrialisation. Core operational hours at our Luton site are: 07:30 - 16:30 Monday to Thursday & 07:30 - 12:30 Friday. Job Responsibilities Prototyping: • Build, assemble, modify, and test prototypes, rigs, and experimental setups • Support engineers during product, process, and technology development • Translate design concepts, drawings, and specifications into practical experimental builds • Adapt equipment and layouts quickly to support iterative design and proof-of-concept work Testing: • Set up and operate test equipment, instrumentation, and data-capture systems • Conduct laboratory, bench, or pilot tests in line with test plans and protocols • Monitor experiments, record observations, and report deviations or anomalies • Assist with verification and validation activities for new designs or materials Fault Finding & Problem Solving: • Diagnose issues affecting prototypes, test rigs, or experimental equipment • Provide practical input to resolve mechanical, electrical, or system-level problems • Identify limitations in designs or setups and suggest practical improvements • Support rapid troubleshooting to minimise test delays Test Equipment: • Maintain R&D laboratory/workshop equipment, test rigs, and specialist engineering tools • Ensure test environments remain safe, organised, and fit for purpose • Manage specialist consumables, components, and prototype materials Documentation & Data Recording: • Accurately record test results, build notes, changes, and observations • Update drawings, build instructions, and experimental documentation • Maintain traceability of prototype versions, test conditions, and configurations • Support technical reports, design reviews, and project documentation HSE: • Work in compliance with laboratory safety procedures, risk assessments, and COSHH • Contribute to safe system-of-work documentation for experimental activities • Identify and report hazards associated with new or unproven technologies • Support safe handling of materials, chemicals, energy sources, and moving systems Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing: • Work closely with engineers, and/or project teams • Provide hands-on technical insight during design reviews and prototype discussions • Support training or handover of experimental setups to colleagues • Share lessons learned to improve future designs and test efficiency Continuous Improvement & Innovation: • Actively contribute ideas to improve prototype build quality, test repeatability, or efficiency • Help refine R&D processes, tooling, and test methods • Stay informed on emerging technologies, tools, and engineering methods relevant to R&D • Support transition activities from R&D into pilot or production environments where required • CATIAv5 experience Profile description: What You'll Bring To help us make a difference, you’ll bring your passion and talent for what you do along with the following skills, experience, qualifications and attributes: Essential: • Industry experience in manufacturing or prototype development in Aerospace or Automotive industry • The successful candidate will be proactive in their work. • Strong hands-on engineering skills with a flexible, solution-focused mindset • Ability to work with incomplete or evolving specifications • Curiosity and willingness to experiment and learn • High attention to detail when recording test data and results • Ability to balance creativity with safety and compliance • Effective communication with multi-disciplinary teams • Methodical and attentive to details Desirable: • Background in composites materials • Design / CATIAv5 experience • HND/HNC in relevant engineering discipline We are looking for people who want to make a difference, talented members with the skills and passions to become the best of the future in what they do. Note: Some GKN programmes are subject to regulatory restrictions which may impact certain nationalities. As part of the application process you will be asked to declare when applying for this role. The position requires UK National Security Vetting (UKNSV) Security clearance (SC) due to the nature and responsibilities of the work carried out. In order for us to obtain an SC you usually need to have been resident in the UK for a minimum of 5 years to current date (but we do assess each case individually). We offer: What We'll Offer Once you’re on board you’ll get the following perks and benefits: • Competitive salary dependent on experience • Industry Leading Pension Scheme = we’ll match your contributions up to 8% on a 1 : 1.5 basis • Life Assurance 8 x salary • 185 hours holiday + bank holidays • Income protection • Shopping discounts • Cycle To Work Scheme • Employee Assistance Programme • Virtual GP Clinic for you and immediate family • Electric Vehicle (EV) salary sacrifice scheme (Insurance, servicing, maintenance, roadside assistance and more included) • Free onsite parking • Local gym discount • Free airport parking • Enhanced family friendly leave • 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! Join us and keep the world moving … click on the link below to apply 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. ? In Short Industry Aviation & Aerospace Founded 1759 Location Worldwide Company size 5000+ Making Aerospace Fit for the Natural World. Every day, around the world, we help aircrafts fly further, faster and greener. We’re the world’s leading multi-technology tier one aerospace supplier.  We develop, build and supply an extensive range of advanced aerospace systems, components and technologies for use in Defence and Commercial aircraft ranging from helicopters and business jets to passenger planes and the most advanced fighter aircrafts. Please let me know if you are succesful with this. If not, please could you send through a screenshot of the error message? Our technology is on-board 100,000 flights a day and we’re a market leader in Aero structures, Engine Systems, Transparencies and Wiring Systems.  We’re a truly global business, with 16,000 employees across 33 manufacturing sites in 12 countries serving over 90% of the world’s aircraft and engine manufacturers. In the UK we operate across 5 performance centres; Bristol Filton, Bristol Western Approach, Bristol Global Technology Centre, Luton and Cowes (Isle of Wight). People. Our people work with passion and determination; proud that our work impacts our company, industry and planet.  We draw on each other’s expertise and experience to achieve excellence.  We build our teams on trust and respect, we believe there is power in people, but even greater power in teams. Whether you’re looking to start your career at the forefront of engineering as an Apprentice, Intern, Graduate or Associate, work in a global support role, work regionally in one our performance centres, or as an executive helping to lead our business, there is plenty of opportunity to make an impact.  We can offer you a career that can go in many directions thanks to our breadth of international opportunities. Planet. Our ambition to be the most sustainable partner in the sky has real purpose and is opening up a world of fantastic challenges and amazing opportunities. In the last decade we’ve made record investments into research and development to accelerate sustainable aviation and the ultimate goal of net zero by 2050. We’ve invested deeply in the future of flight through new materials and processes, electrification and hydrogen propulsion technologies. We’re doing everything possible now to reduce emissions and waste in our manufacturing processes, making aerospace fit for the natural world. Progress. We’re a tier 1 supplier to the aerospace industries biggest names, so a career at GKN Aerospace can truly offer you an unrivalled breath of experience to achieve your full potential. We want you to succeed and progress. We support our employees with training; developing their capabilities and helping realise their aspirations. Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging Our goal is to embrace the human attributes that make each of us unique, to value those attributes and their uniqueness, and to create an environment where everyone feels welcome to contribute and bring their full self to work every day.  We need people of different backgrounds, with different skills and perspectives to spark originality, imagination and creativeness in our teams. We’re committed to providing an accessible recruitment process, if you require reasonable adjustments at any stage during our recruitment process please get in touch and let us know. Similar Research & Development Engineering Technician Jobs Popular with Other Job Seekers Marine Fuels Technical specialist BP Energy St James, South West London (SW1), WC2N 5DU Competitive 1 day ago Senior Systems Engineer - Electronics GKN Aerospace Copt Hall, Luton (LU2), LU2 8RX To define 1 day ago Field Service Engineer, Laboratory Robotic Systems TRS Consulting Stevenage, Hertfordshire £55K + 10% Bonus + Car 2 days ago Service Team Leader, Medical Devices TRS Consulting Garston, Watford (WD17), WD17 1AA £45K + Benefits 2 days ago Medical Field Service Engineer, Pathology Laboratory Diagnostics TRS Consulting Dartford (DA1), DA1 1AA £44K (OTE £50K) + 10% Bonus + Car 2 weeks ago Electronics Engineer APRIL QUEST LIMITED Chertsey (KT16) From £55,000 to £60,000 per annum 4 days ago Senior RF - Microwave Design Engineer Guidant Global Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG1 2DA From £65 to £75 per hour ; (Umbrella) 1 day ago Principal Lab Manager National Highways Guildford (GU2), GU2 7YL £55810 - £66690 per annum 23 hours ago NEW Senior Electronics Engineer ReeVR Bracknell (RG12) £55000 - £65000 per annum 3 weeks ago Ecologist VolkerWessels Uk Woollensbrook, Hoddesdon (EN11), EN11 9BX Negotiable 3 days ago Engineering Technician jobs Engineering Technician jobs in Copt Hall Engineering jobs Engineering jobs in Copt Hall Research And Development jobs Research And Development jobs in Copt Hall Jobs in Copt Hall Engineer jobs M&E Engineer jobs Mechanic Engineer jobs Electronic Technician jobs Mechanical Technician jobs Electrical Mechanical Technician jobs Technical Engineer jobs Electromechanical Engineer jobs Trainee Engineer jobs Engineer Technician jobs Medical Engineer jobs Eng Tech jobs Technologist jobs Engineering Maintenance Technician jobs Military Engineer jobs Get hired. 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