Northwest UK | £50,000 | Permanent
A long-established defence engineering specialist is looking for a Manufacturing Engineer to join its Northwest Engineering Centre of Excellence. You'll be supporting fabrication and heavy manufacturing operations, driving process improvement, build quality, and production efficiency across large-scale welded and fabricated assemblies for military applications.
What you'll be doing:
Optimising and standardising manufacturing processes for complex welded and fabricated assemblies
Identifying opportunities to reduce waste, improve cycle times, and enhance tooling and fixture effectiveness
Analysing quality trends and driving corrective and preventive actions
Developing and managing structured improvement plans with measurable outcomes
Leading cross-functional teams to embed lean practices and improve cost and delivery performance
Supporting NPI activity with a focus on Design for Manufacturability (DFM) in fabrication and welding
Promoting continuous improvement using structured problem-solving tools including 8D and CAPA
Ensuring compliance with EHS, manufacturing, and quality standards across fabrication processes
Implementing containment and long-term corrective actions for process deviations
What you need:
HND, Higher/Advanced Apprenticeship, or Degree in Manufacturing or Mechanical Engineering
Proven manufacturing engineering background in a technical, industrial, or heavy fabrication environment
Experience with large-scale fabrications, welding processes, or heavy manufacturing flows
Practical knowledge of lean tools and continuous improvement methodologies
Strong problem-solving skills with a hands-on, shop-floor-led approach
Clear communicator able to work across operational and engineering teams
SAP or ERP systems experience advantageous (training available)
What's on offer:
£50,000 per annum
4% employee / 7% employer pension contribution
Half-day Fridays
Life assurance and enhanced sick pay (increasing with service)
Employee Assistance Programme and wellbeing initiatives
Long service awards and additional holidays
Cycle-to-work scheme, on-site parking, and EV charging
Modern, collaborative working environment
This is a permanent position with a respected name in defence engineering, delivering highly engineered mechanical and structural systems for demanding military programmes.
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Salary description
£50000.00 - £50000.00 per year