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- Tasks: Lead tooling and automation strategies for aerospace manufacturing, ensuring quality and efficiency.
- Company: Join Prestwick Aerosystems, a leader in aircraft manufacturing with a rich heritage.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous leave, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Dynamic work environment with a focus on diversity and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in aerospace while fostering innovation and teamwork.
- Qualifications: Strong engineering background and experience in tooling management required.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 80000 £ per year.
Location: Prestwick, Ayrshire
Hours: 37 hours per week (half day Friday)
Type: Full-time
Salary: £70,000 - £80,000
Travel Required: Occasional
Work Location: Site-based (100%)
Security Checks: BPSS, Disclosure Scotland, pre-employment medical (including drug and alcohol testing)
Applicants must have the right to work in the UK (no visa sponsorship available); appointments are subject to pre‑employment checks, and we welcome applications from all backgrounds.
Join one of Ayrshire’s largest engineering employers. Prestwick Aerosystems continues Ayrshire’s long-standing aircraft manufacturing tradition. From our Prestwick site, we manufacture wing structures and complex aerostructures used on Airbus commercial aircraft programmes worldwide.
As Tooling Manager (Head of Tooling), you will lead and manage all aspects of tooling for the business, ensuring robust, cost‑effective and technically sound tooling solutions that support production, new programmes and long‑term business strategy. Working closely with engineering, manufacturing, suppliers and customers, you will play a key role in delivering safe, efficient and high‑quality tooling solutions within a regulated aerospace environment.
How you will contribute to the team
- Own the site tooling and automation strategy, aligning capability, assets and investment with business plans, customer requirements and long-term industrial objectives, acting as the senior subject matter expert to shape solutions and influence stakeholders.
- Lead and develop the Tooling & Automation teams, fostering a high-performance culture of accountability, safety and continuous improvement, with clear focus on capability, capacity and succession planning.
- Own budgets, investment planning and make vs buy strategies, ensuring strong financial control, effective prioritisation, and delivery of robust business cases that optimise cost, quality, lead time and risk, while building a resilient supplier ecosystem.
- Define and deliver PPM and asset management strategies across tooling, automation and transportation media, maximising reliability, performance and lifecycle value while ensuring safe, stable and efficient operations and material flow.
- Lead tooling and automation for new product introduction and ongoing operations, covering definition, industrialisation and production readiness, while driving continuous improvement of existing systems, partnering with R&T to industrialise emerging technologies into scalable, value-driven solutions delivered to cost, quality and schedule.
Requirements for the role
- A strong engineering or quality background with demonstrable experience managing tooling activities within a manufacturing or regulated engineering environment.
- Proven project management capability, including managing tooling projects through defined cost, quality and delivery milestones.
- Practical working knowledge of lean principles and continuous improvement tools applied within an operational setting.
- Experience managing tooling suppliers and technical interfaces, including evaluation, approval and oversight of external tool manufacture.
What we will offer you
- 37-hour working week with half day Friday
- Defined contribution pension
- Annual bonus linked to company performance
- Generous annual leave entitlement
- Life assurance and wellbeing support
- Professional development and training opportunities
- Free onsite parking
If you’re ready to play a key role in supporting our engineering and manufacturing operations at Prestwick, apply today.
Right to Work in the UK
All applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application. Prestwick Aerosystems is unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role. Any offer of employment will be subject to satisfactory Right to Work checks, Disclosure Scotland and a pre‑employment medical.
Prestwick Aerosystems is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace.
This job requires an awareness of any potential compliance risks and a commitment to act with integrity, as the foundation for the Company’s success, reputation and sustainable growth.
Head of Tooling and Automation in Prestwick employer: Airbus
Contact Detail:
Airbus Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Tooling and Automation in Prestwick
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with current employees at Prestwick Aerosystems. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its projects. Understand their tooling and automation strategies, and think about how your experience aligns with their goals. We want to see you shine!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! Be ready to discuss how you've developed teams and driven continuous improvement in past roles. We love candidates who can inspire and motivate others.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the Prestwick team.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Tooling and Automation in Prestwick
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Head of Tooling and Automation role. Highlight your engineering background, project management experience, and any relevant tooling activities you've managed. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for our team at Prestwick Aerosystems. Share specific examples of your achievements in tooling and automation that demonstrate your capability and passion for the role.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: As a potential leader in our Tooling & Automation teams, it's crucial to showcase your leadership style. Talk about how you've fostered high-performance cultures in previous roles and how you plan to do the same with us. We love a good story!
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us directly. Plus, it shows you're serious about joining our team. We can't wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Airbus
✨Know Your Tooling Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of tooling and automation processes. Be ready to discuss specific examples from your past experience where you've successfully managed tooling projects, especially in a regulated environment like aerospace.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a potential Head of Tooling, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to lead teams effectively. Prepare to share instances where you've fostered a high-performance culture or implemented continuous improvement strategies within your team.
✨Understand the Business Strategy
Familiarise yourself with Prestwick Aerosystems' business objectives and how tooling aligns with them. Be prepared to discuss how you would own the tooling and automation strategy to support production and long-term goals.
✨Prepare for Financial Discussions
Since you'll be responsible for budgets and investment planning, brush up on your financial acumen. Be ready to talk about how you've previously optimised costs and managed supplier relationships to ensure robust business cases.