Senior Production Manager in Bicester

About Flare Bright

Flare Bright is a fast-growing software company specialising in Flight Safety and GPS-free Navigation Systems for the Aerospace, Defence, and Urban Air Mobility sectors. With a team of around 30 professionals, we operate from Oxford/Bicester and White City, London. Our culture is professional, flexible, and inclusive, offering excellent benefits and a proven track record of success. This is a rare opportunity to join an expanding, cutting-edge team.

The Role

Reporting to Flare Bright’s Head of Engineering, the Production Manager will be responsible for developing and running Flarebright’s new manufacturing capability to deliver complex flight safety and navigation products on time, to budget and in-line with Flarebright’s existing ISO-9001:2015 quality standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development of Flarebright’s new production facility to ensure all products are delivered in line with existing ISO-9001:2015 quality accreditation.
• Develop and execute production schedules to meet delivery milestones within budget.
• Take responsibility for supplier selection, vetting and engagement, coordinating procurement to ensure supply chain resilience for production as well as in support of wider product development.
• Maintain accurate stock forecasts to guide procurement and commercial decisions.
• Lead Flarebright’s Quality function and set the foundations for AS9100 certification at the appropriate time.
• Foster a ‘safety first’ culture as a key part of Flarebright’s Health and Safety leadership team.
• Identify bottlenecks in the manufacturing process and implement improvements to reduce cost and delivery timelines.
• Recruit, train and mentor Flarebright’s growing production team.

Requirements

You must be comfortable working within the defence industry. A Baseline Personnel Security Standard check will be undertaken before an offer is made, and you must be willing and eligible for (or already have) at least UK SC clearance. References will be checked.

Skills and Experience

• Knowledge of ISO-9001:2015 and/or AS9100 standards.
• Degree in Aerospace, Mechanical or Manufacturing Engineering (or related field) is desirable.

Experience

• 5+ years of leading electronic component production within an ISO-9001:2015 and/or AS9100 accredited organisation, ideally in the aerospace sector.
• 5+ years in a line management role with proven experience of building individuals and teams.
• Demonstrable experience of supplier management and manufacturing process improvement.
• Ideally, familiarity with product compliance testing and certification, including CE/UKCA marking or aerospace environmental standards like DO160.

General

• You must be highly organised, reliable and process-oriented with excellent written and spoken English and clear communications.
• You must be strongly computer literate particularly with documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and cloud drives.
• Must not be subject to restrictions under any non-UK export laws (such as US ITAR).

Location

• You will be based at our Head Office in Westcott Venture Park (15 minutes drive from Bicester or Aylesbury, 30-minute drive NE of Oxford). There is provision for flexible working where necessary, but this is an onsite position.

Why Join Us?

• Be part of a rapidly growing company at the forefront of cutting-edge technology in the defence sector.
• Enjoy a flexible, professional, and inclusive work culture.
• Work with a talented team shaping the future of Autonomous Aviation, Machine Learning & Digital Twin technology.
• Competitive pro rata salary and benefits.
• 33 days annual holiday (pro rata), Employee Assistance Programme, cycle to work scheme and support for Continuous Professional Development.