Manufacturing Engineer - Continuous Improvement (CI) in Reading

Location: RG7 4PR & RG30 3RR, located between Reading and Basingstoke, with free onsite parking.

Package: £39,280 - £45,000 + Allowance (depending on your suitability & level of experience)

Closing date: 9th June 2026

Working pattern: AWE operates a 9-day working fortnight. We will consider flexible working requests so that your work may fit in with your lifestyle. Just let us know your preferred working pattern on your application.

At AWE, it’s not just a job, it’s far more than that. Our shared purpose is to help keep the nation safe. Could this role be the opportunity for you to play your part?

AWE is currently recruiting for a Manufacturing Engineer to help design and shape the UK’s future nuclear deterrent using innovation and the latest technologies, processes and capabilities. The role is to support and improve our manufacturing systems used in the manufacture of the deterrent via Continuous Improvement.

Due to the classified nature of the work involved, there are limited opportunities to work from home in this role. It is anticipated that the successful candidate will spend the majority of their time working on site at AWE.

This role is ideally suited to candidates with demonstrable experience in working within a manufacturing environment. Specifically, the support of production capabilities, the management of non-conformance, the deployment and usage of Lean manufacturing tools & Techniques and Problem Solving.

Working in a highly regulated environment, alongside our design teams, technical experts and Operations team, the role of the Manufacturing Engineer is to identify, develop and implement innovative ways of working, supporting production operations to delivering continuous improvement activities.

Who are we looking for?

• Knowledge of and Experience applying Lean Manufacturing Techniques, Value Stream Mapping (VSM), Statistical Process Control (SPC), Continuous Improvement, Quality Tools, Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), Obsolescence Management and Model Based Engineering
• Knowledge and understanding of process control and problem investigation tools (PFMEAs, control plans, RCA, A3, 5 whys)
• Process and manufacturing documentation development to support safe systems of work
• Experience of working in a manufacturing or operational environment, supporting production and driving efficiencies
• Experience of using MRP / ERP systems to support production, manage inventory and to generate business data
• Experience of driving and managing those improvements through to completion and validating efficiencies (Plan, Do, Check, Act)
• Experience and Knowledge of creating and managing Route Cards (RC), Technical Instructions (TI) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• Design to Manufacture experience of process, tooling or equipment including requirements capture and presenting at design reviews
• Configuration management
• Tools and software supporting digital manufacturing
• Driving and managing engineering change and transformation within a manufacturing environment

We would love you to have the following soft skills:

• Excellent interpersonal and team building skills, capable of building good working relationships within the organisation
• Leadership skills
• Stakeholder engagement
• Strong communication skills

Work hard, be rewarded:

We ask a lot and set the bar high because our work truly matters. In return we offer balance, with award winning benefits including:

• 9-day working fortnight – meaning you get every other Friday off work, in addition to 270 hours of annual leave.
• Market leading contributory pension scheme (we will pay between 9% and 13% of your pensionable pay depending on your contributions)
• Family friendly policies: Maternity Leave - 39 Weeks Full Pay and Paternity Leave - 4 Weeks Full Pay
• Opportunities for Professional Career Development including funding for annual membership of a relevant professional body
• Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services
• Life Assurance (4 x annual salary)
• Discounts – access to savings on a wide range of everyday spending
• Special Leave Policy including paid time off for volunteering, public service (including reserve forces) and caring

You must be willing and able to obtain and maintain the security clearance required for the role and be willing and able to travel within the UK and overseas if required.

Next steps: Everyone who works at AWE brings unique skills and perspectives to the table. We recognise that great people don’t always ‘tick every box’. That’s why we focus on your potential, your fit with our values, your transferable skills as well as your experience. Even if you don’t meet every point above, but you feel that this role and AWE are a great fit for you, please go ahead and apply, we’d love to receive your application.

Important things you need to know:

• We encourage you to apply promptly to avoid disappointment if applications are high and the role therefore closes.
• You will need to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance for the role. This will be funded by AWE. The nature of our work does mean you need to be a British Citizen who has been resident in the UK for the past 5 years in order to apply for SC clearance and 10 years for DV.
• We want you to feel comfortable and able to shine during our recruitment process. Please let us know on your application form if you need any adjustments/accommodations during the process.
• Our interviews typically take place over Teams and for most roles are a 1 stage process.

Our ambition is to create workplaces where we recognise and celebrate differences, encourage diverse contributions and our employees feel able to be themselves at work. We strive to create a genuine culture of openness and inclusion and encourage diverse applicants.

Please note that you must be a British Citizen to apply for a role with us.