Manufacturing Engineer

Location: Herefordshire, UK · Full-time

Salary: £50-75k DOE

Our client already has an aircraft that flies. Building it at scale, identically and at pace, is the challenge, and the part most defence programmes never get right. That problem is yours. Our client is one of the fastest-growing defence technology companies in Europe. Creating the software, hardware and networking that make unmanned systems effective on the modern battlefield, all ideated, designed and manufactured end-to-end in the UK, and in active use today. Deliberately low-profile, small in headcount and outsized in effect, looking for people who are not just talented but genuinely committed to the work, the team, and the purpose behind it.

This role sits at the point where design intent becomes production reality. You will own the tooling, the processes and the production systems that turn an engineered product into something built repeatedly, reliably and at pace. The gap between a design and a product in the field is weeks, not years, so you will see what you build reach production fast. You will help build our client's manufacturing capability at the genuine cutting edge of what is possible.

Responsibilities:

• Design, develop and validate jigs, fixtures and production tooling to support assembly and manufacture of precision components
• Define and own manufacturing processes, work instructions and production standards across assigned areas
• Lead process improvement initiatives, applying lean principles to increase throughput, reduce waste and improve consistency
• Work closely with design engineers to drive design for manufacture (DFM) and design for assembly (DFA) from the earliest stages of development
• Support new product introduction, ensuring manufacturing readiness ahead of production release
• Investigate and resolve production issues using structured root cause analysis techniques
• Develop and maintain accurate process documentation, including routings, BOMs and control plans
• Contribute to the development of manufacturing capability, processes, and standards as the function scales

Requirements:

Minimum:

• Demonstrable experience in a manufacturing engineering role, including process ownership and tooling development
• Experience designing jigs, fixtures or production tooling in 3D CAD
• Practical understanding of precision assembly, machining or fabrication processes
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, including GD&T
• Hands-on experience assembling, testing, or troubleshooting mechanical and electromechanical systems
• Degree in mechanical, manufacturing or production engineering, or a closely related discipline

Preferred:

• Tooling and fixture design in SolidWorks specifically
• Familiarity with lean manufacturing and structured problem solving such as 8D or 5 Why
• Experience in aerospace, defence, or another high-reliability, low-volume high-complexity environment
• Experience working closely with design engineering teams on DFM and DFA
• Comfortable spending significant time on the shop floor, building, testing and improving processes first-hand
• Hands-on experience assembling, testing, or troubleshooting mechanical and electromechanical systems

Benefits:

The job is demanding enough, so they try to take the everyday pressures off your plate. The benefits are built around that, starting with a genuine stake in what they are building. Share options vesting over three years, so you own a real piece of it. Bupa private health, fully funded from day one. 6% employer pension contribution. 25 days leave plus bank holidays, and properly enhanced cover for both parents. Enterprise level AI tooling, with as many tokens as you need to accelerate your work. Relocation support if you are moving to join, or a home office budget if you work remotely.