The company are a multi-national group, being No 1 in Europe for what they do! With a number of awards and recognitions, with great career progression and opportunities across the business!
Important: All applicants must be able to obtain Security Clearance and must hold British Nationality as their primary nationality.
Working: The role requires you to be on site for 4/5 days per week and is a on secure site where SC clearance is needed.
Join a business at the forefront of innovation, with a lot to offer! A company backed by a record multi-year order book, offering long-term stability and sustained investment, with years of secured work ahead!
Company Highlights:
- Be part of an organisation that invests in its people and their long-term success:
- Join a company who are a global leader in defence innovation, known not only for its technological excellence but also for its outstanding workplace culture.
- A reputable business who, have a number of awards and recognitions, including Sunday times 'Best Places to Work 2024'. Recognised as a 'Most Loved Organisation'
- A organisation passionate about it's people with accreditations such as 'Investors in People 'We Invest in People' (Gold) & Investors in People 'We Invest in Wellbeing' (Platinum) - the highest level of accreditation.
- Passionate advocates for Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, with 10+ employee networks.
- Committed employer of veterans and service leavers, awarded as one of the Top 15 Great British Employers of Veterans in the Forces in Business Awards 2025 and Gold member of 'The 5% Club'. Armed Forces Covenant (Gold).
We are seeking an experienced Principal Manufacturing Engineer to lead and develop our Manufacturing Engineering team. This is a key leadership role responsible for delivering day-to-day operational excellence, driving continuous improvement, and ensuring projects are completed on time and to the highest standards.
Responsibilities:
- Lead, manage, and support the Manufacturing Engineering team, ensuring effective delivery of both project and functional workloads
- Oversee team performance, including workload planning, appraisals, absence management, and individual development
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives across the organisation and champion a culture of innovation
- Represent Manufacturing Engineering in cross-functional forums and stakeholder engagements
- Support business growth, including production rate increases and operational scalability
- Supporting and managing Senior Manufacturing Engineers in their technical delivery
- Partnering with Design teams during development phases to ensure optimised Design for Manufacture (DfM)
- Leading and supporting the Non-Conformance process
- Ensuring all processes and equipment comply with safety standards and legal requirements
- Developing robust, repeatable manufacturing methods, processes, and equipment
- Performing and reviewing PFMEAs (Process Failure Mode and Effects Analyses)
- Building strong relationships with suppliers and key internal stakeholders
- Supporting the training and development of Process Engineers
- Contribute to manufacturing architecture strategies and future-focused "Factory of the Future" initiatives
- Develop business cases for process improvements and new manufacturing technologies
Essential Skills & Experience
- Formal Engineering/Craft Apprenticeship (NVQ Level 3) plus HNC (or equivalent), or
Degree in a relevant Engineering discipline
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
- Strong problem-solving mindset with a proactive approach to delivery
- Experience interpreting engineering drawings and creating manufacturing build instructions
- A collaborative team player with strong communication skills
- Experience working within manufacturing or production environments
- Familiarity with digital communication tools and modern workplace platforms
Desirable Experience:
- Experience in the Defence / Aerospace or safety regulated environment would be advantageous.
Even If you feel like you don't meet every requirement, we encourage you to reach out and apply.
