Manufacturing Engineer

This role is key in supporting the customer-facing project work, particularly for clients such as Airbus and BAE. Reporting with a dotted line to the Technical Director and working directly under the Lead Engineer, this role will help bridge design, production, and customer requirements, ensuring delivery of bespoke and technically demanding engineering projects.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities

• Translate customer requirements into production-ready engineering packages, ensuring technical accuracy and timely delivery.
  
  
• Read and interpret engineering drawings and specifications.
  
  
• Conduct FMEA analysis and contribute to lean manufacturing activities across departments.
  
  
• Identify, investigate, and resolve in-process production issues in collaboration with internal teams and customers.
  
  
• Coordinate with design, production, CI, and tooling suppliers to develop effective manufacturing solutions.
  
  
• Support new product introductions (NPI) and legacy programmes – ranging from cutting-edge aerospace to older hand-drawn engineering work.
  
  
• Provide formal problem-solving and root cause analysis, using structured methods to identify and implement improvements.
  
  
• Work on projects with variable lead times typically managing 1–2 core projects concurrently, with additional small tasks as needed.
  
  
• Ensure safe working practices and adherence to 5S principles in all activities.
  
  
• Occasionally travel to customer sites for technical discussions or problem resolution.
  
  Skills and Experience Required
  
  Essential:
  
  
• Previous experience in a Manufacturing Engineer, Project Engineer or Project Manager role within a manufacturing environment.
  
  
• Proven ability to read and interpret technical engineering drawings and specifications.
  
  
• Experience in creating manufacturing routings and build documentation.
  
  
• Strong problem-solving and root cause analysis capabilities, able to address production issues methodically.
  
  
• Familiarity with lean manufacturing and continuous improvement principles – with measurable examples (e.g., % improvement, cost saving).
  
  
• High-level communication skills, capable of coordinating with customers and cross-functional internal teams.
  
  
• IT proficiency, including experience with SAP or similar MRP/ERP systems and Microsoft Office Suite.
  
  
• Commitment to safety and working to 5S standards.
  
  Desirable:
  
  
• Exposure to fabrication, treatment, and assembly environments beyond CNC machining.
  
  
• Experience within aerospace, defence, precision engineering, or potentially motorsport (e.g., Formula 1).
  
  
• Understanding of both legacy and modern documentation – including hand-drawn and CAD-based.
  
  
• Involvement in Design for Manufacture (DfM) practices.
  
  
• Passion for technical challenges and a willingness to work on both high-tech and traditional projects.
  
  
• Ambition to develop and progress within the company.
  
  Company Culture
  
  My client are not a corporate machine – they are a close-knit, engineer-led business with a no-nonsense approach. Everyone is capable of having a laugh together, but when it comes to delivery, they’re serious about improvement, team engagement, and high standards. You’ll be supported, challenged, and expected to contribute to the bigger picture