Be at the heart of actionFly remote-controlled drones into enemy territory to gather vital information.

Apply Now

Manufacturing Engineering Lead

Coven Heath
3 weeks ago
Applications closed

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Engineering Team Leader

Deputy Engineering Lead

Manufacturing Engineer (CNC)

System Development and Validation Manager

Shift Team Leader - AIT

Project Manager

What do we offer?

  • Competitive salary
  • Company performance bonus scheme
  • Pension scheme - up to 10% employer contribution
  • Private medical insurance
  • Comprehensive health cash plan
  • 25 days annual leave + bank holidays
  • Flexible benefits programme (buy & sell holiday allowance, discounted gym memberships, Maternity/ adoption leave- up to 52 weeks, first 26 weeks at full pay, subsequent 26 at 50% (basic pay)
  • Structured training & opportunities to progress
    What does the role look like?
    We're seeking a Manufacturing Engineering Lead to take on a key leadership role within our Wolverhampton site. You'll lead a team of Manufacturing Engineers-covering system engineers and module support engineers-supporting production areas and delivering high-impact project work packages. As a skilled people manager, you'll be responsible for driving performance, supporting technical excellence, and leading improvement initiatives across manufacturing systems, technology, and processes.
    What will your day-to-day responsibilities look like?
  • Lead and coordinate a team of technical contributors to deliver against business and engineering objectives.
  • Set policy deployment goals and ensure alignment across your team to drive strategic outcomes.
  • Develop and manage annual engineering plans, ensuring successful delivery of agreed objectives and KPIs.
  • Represent the Manufacturing Engineering (ME) function at Tier process reviews and business project reviews.
  • Oversee the commissioning and quality assurance of work packages related to production and system improvement.
  • Drive best practice across manufacturing areas, establishing and upholding high standards.
  • Coach, manage, and review performance of engineering staff, including supporting recruitment, training, progression, and succession planning.
  • Lead multi-functional teams to resolve complex manufacturing issues.
  • Manage risks and issues related to achieving engineering and business goals.
  • Support the Head of Manufacturing Engineering in building a best-in-class ME function.
  • Ensure accurate documentation and system transactions in line with customer and financial requirements.
  • Provide regular progress updates to senior stakeholders on engineering and project performance.
    Essential skills:
  • Experience of aerospace manufacturing, assembly, or test.
  • Project management experience.
  • HNC or equivalent in Mechanical or Production Engineering.
    Desirable skills:
  • Degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, or Business Management.
  • Understanding of manufacturing concepts and processes.
  • Project management qualifications (e.g., PRINCE2, APMP).
  • Experience leading and developing technical teams.
  • Knowledge of Lean principles and Six Sigma methodologies.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc.).
    About us:
    Safran is an international high-technology group, operating in the aviation (propulsion, equipment and interiors), defense and space markets. Its core purpose is to contribute to a safer, more sustainable world, where air transport is more environmentally friendly, comfortable and accessible. Safran has a global presence, with 100,000 employees and sales of 27.3 billion euros in 2024, and holds, alone or in partnership, world or regional leadership positions in its core markets.
    Safran is in the 2nd place in the aerospace and defense industry in TIME magazine's 'World's best companies 2024' ranking.
    Safran Electronics & Defense offers its customers onboard intelligence solutions allowing them to understand the environment, reduce mental load and guarantee a trajectory, even in critical situations, in all environments: on land, at sea, in the sky or space. The company harnesses the expertise of its 13,000 employees towards these three functions: observe, decide and guide, for the civil and military markets.
    Please note that potential candidates will be subject to Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) and background checks and that project access restrictions may apply to some nationalities

Subscribe to Future Tech Insights for the latest jobs & insights, direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

Why Space Careers in the UK Are Becoming More Multidisciplinary

The UK’s space sector is growing fast — from satellite systems and Earth observation to satellite communications, space robotics, propulsion, space data analytics, and mission operations. But the nature of space work is changing. Projects involving satellites, launch systems, space robotics and ground infrastructure are now embedded in regulation, public perception, human interaction and cross-disciplinary design. Space careers in the UK used to be dominated by engineers, astrophysicists, systems analysts and telemetry experts. Today, they increasingly demand fluency not only in aerospace, software, electronics & data, but also in law, ethics, psychology, linguistics & design. After all, space systems operate under treaties, privacy constraints, public scrutiny, international collaborations and human interfaces. In this article, we explore why space careers in the UK are becoming more multidisciplinary, how those allied fields intersect with space work, and what job-seekers & employers must do to thrive in this evolving cosmos.

UK Space Team Structures Explained: Who Does What in a Modern Space Department

The UK space sector is rapidly expanding. With growth in satellite design, Earth observation, communications, launch systems, space science, downstream applications, and regulatory and operational services, there’s rising demand for skilled professionals across many disciplines. Building a high-impact space organisation requires well-defined team structures, clear roles, strong collaboration, and alignment across engineering, science, operations, regulation, and commercial functions. If you are applying for roles via UKSpaceJobs.co.uk or hiring into your company, this guide will help you understand the principal roles you’ll find in a space team, how they interact during mission lifecycles, what skills UK employers expect, salary norms, common challenges, and best practice for structuring space teams that succeed.

Why the UK Could Be the World’s Next Space Jobs Hub

Space is no longer just the domain of governments and large agencies. Commercial satellites, Earth-observation, space communications, space launch, applications using satellite data, and downstream services are becoming essential components of national and global infrastructure. Whether for climate monitoring, telecommunications, security, navigation, agriculture, or disaster management, space technologies underpin many of the systems we take for granted. In recent years, the UK has been steadily building its space sector: advancing policy, strengthening research, encouraging private investment, establishing new facilities, and growing its workforce. As this momentum continues, demand is rising for professionals in engineering, operations, software, analysis, project management, regulation, and more. For those interested in ambitious, cutting-edge, and high-impact careers, the UK space sector offers compelling prospects. This article explores why the United Kingdom is exceptionally well placed to become a global space jobs hub, what the current landscape looks like, the roles in demand, sectoral strengths, challenges to be addressed, and what must happen for the UK to fulfil this role in the global space economy.