Principal Design Engineer – EWIS, Components & Environmental Testing
GKN Aerospace
full-time
Posted on:
Location Type: Office
Location: Papendrecht • Netherlands
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Job Level
About the role
- Serve as the design authority within your specific area of expertise, leading the development and the validation & verification of EWIS components and constructions (component assemblies).
- Define the technical direction for complex EWIS solutions, establish design strategies, and ensure robust, compliant, and high‑quality engineering outcomes across multiple projects.
- Lead trade‑off studies, defining component selection strategies, overseeing component and construction qualification, and delivering high‑quality technical documentation.
- Collaborate closely with the Engineering Design Team, acting as a key decision‑maker and technical reference point for EWIS component design.
- Mentor, coach, and technically guide Senior, Mid‑level, and Junior Design Engineers, ensuring consistent engineering excellence, reviewing critical work packages, and fostering the development of advanced EWIS domain expertise within the team.
Requirements
- 10+ years of professional experience in a comparable engineering domain, ideally within aerospace, automotive, rail, or other high‑reliability transportation industries.
- Extensive system design background with proven leadership in complex, multidisciplinary aerospace and/or transportation system architectures.
- Expert‑level knowledge of electrical cable harness design, including deep component‑level understanding of connectors, terminals, backshells, splices, shielding, grounding, protective coverings, and integration constraints.
- Strong capability in defining and specifying parts, materials, and assemblies, with a clear understanding of component interactions, system‑level impacts, and design trade‑offs.
- Proficiency in interpreting and applying industry standards (e.g., DO‑160, ARP4754A,
- MIL‑STD, ISO standards) and translating them into practical design requirements.
- Advanced documentation and requirements management skills, including experience with tools such as Codebeamer or equivalent systems.
- Demonstrated ability to lead technical reviews, resolve complex cross‑functional issues, and support design assurance and compliance activities.
- Highly analytical and proactive mindset, capable of diagnosing and resolving complex system‑level engineering challenges.
- Experience with qualification and certification processes, including effective communication and negotiation with suppliers, customers, and regulatory bodies.
Benefits
- 8% holiday allowance
- 42 paid holidays for full-time employment in line with the Collective Labor Agreement Metalektro
- An excellent pension scheme (PME) and travel allowance
- A pleasant and informal working environment
Applicant Tracking System Keywords
Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.
Hard Skills & Tools
electrical cable harness designcomponent selection strategiessystem designdesign trade-offsparts specificationmaterials specificationassemblies specificationqualification processescertification processestechnical documentation
Soft Skills
leadershipmentoringcoachingcollaborationanalytical mindsetproblem-solvingcommunicationdecision-makingtechnical guidancecross-functional issue resolution
Certifications
DO-160ARP4754AMIL-STDISO standards