Manufacturing Engineer

Manufacturing Engineer - What does the job involve? The Manufacturing Engineer will be responsible for developing, improving and supporting robust manufacturing processes within a high-precision engineering environment. The role will support the manufacture of complex, high-integrity components and assemblies for demanding customers in the nuclear submarine, defence, aerospace and wider safety-critical sectors. The successful candidate will work closely with production, quality, inspection, planning, supply chain and customer-facing teams to ensure products are manufactured safely, efficiently, right first time and in accordance with customer, regulatory and quality requirements. Hours of work: 39 hours per week. Dayshift - Monday to Thursday 7.30am to 4.30pm with 30-minute unpaid break for lunch and Friday 8.00am to 1.00pm Manufacturing Engineer - What will my responsibilities include?’ - Develop, implement and maintain manufacturing methods, routings, work instructions and process control documentation for precision-machined components and assemblies. - Provide day-to-day technical support to the shop floor, resolving manufacturing issues, non-conformances, bottlenecks and process variation. - Support New Product Introduction (NPI), including review of drawings, specifications, tolerances, materials, tooling, fixtures, inspection requirements and manufacturability. - Define and improve methods of manufacture to meet customer requirements for safety, quality, cost, delivery and compliance. - Drive continuous improvement activities using appropriate tools such as root cause analysis, 8D, PFMEA, control plans, capability studies, 5S/6S, Kaizen and value stream mapping. - Design, specify or support the introduction of jigs, fixtures, tooling, gauges and production aids to improve repeatability, safety and productivity. - Work with CNC programmers, machinists and inspection personnel to optimise machining processes, cycle times, tool life, set-up methods and right-first-time performance. - Support First Article Inspection, process validation and production readiness activities for new or changed products. - Maintain accurate technical records and ensure full traceability of materials, processes, concessions, changes and inspection evidence where required. - Assist with customer, internal and third-party audits, ensuring manufacturing processes comply with applicable quality standards and customer-specific requirements. - Identify and deliver cost-reduction, lead-time reduction and productivity improvement opportunities without compromising safety, quality or compliance. - Promote a strong health, safety, quality and security culture appropriate to the manufacture of defence and nuclear-related components. Manufacturing Engineer - What key skills and experience do I need? - Proven experience in a Manufacturing Engineering, Production Engineering or Process Engineering role within a precision engineering or advanced manufacturing environment. - Strong understanding of CNC machining, milling, turning, grinding, fabrication, assembly or related manufacturing processes. - Ability to interpret complex engineering drawings, geometric tolerancing, customer specifications and manufacturing documentation. - Experience working in controlled quality environments such as ISO 9001, AS9100 / EN9100, or equivalent defence, aerospace or nuclear supply chain standards. - Knowledge of process control, root cause analysis, corrective action and continuous improvement methodologies. - Experience supporting low-volume, high-complexity components, tight tolerances, specialist materials and safety-critical or high-integrity applications. - Good working knowledge of inspection methods, calibration control, traceability and First Article Inspection principles. - Competence with Microsoft Office and relevant business systems such as ERP/MRP, CAD/CAM, document control or quality management systems. - Strong communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with machinists, inspectors, engineers, managers, suppliers and customers. Desirable Experience - Experience working within the defence, marine, nuclear, aerospace or other highly regulated sectors. - Familiarity with customer requirements associated with Rolls-Royce nuclear submarine programmes, BAE Systems or other prime defence contractors. - Knowledge of export control, security classification, configuration control and handling of sensitive technical information. - Experience with advanced materials such as stainless steels, nickel alloys, titanium, aluminium, copper alloys or other specialist engineering materials. - Experience supporting supplier development, subcontract manufacture, manufacturing readiness reviews or customer source inspection. Manufacturing Engineer - What qualifications do I need? - HNC, HND, degree or equivalent qualification in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Production Engineering or a related discipline. - Equivalent practical experience in a precision manufacturing environment will also be considered. - Lean, Six Sigma, APQP, PFMEA, auditing or quality-related qualifications would be advantageous. Manufacturing Engineer - What qualifications will I need? - HNC, HND, degree or equivalent qualification in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Production Engineering or a related discipline. - Equivalent practical experience in a precision manufacturing environment will also be considered. - Lean, Six Sigma, APQP, PFMEA, auditing or quality-related qualifications would be advantageous.