Manufacturing Engineer in Solihull

Job Purpose
The Senior Manufacturing Engineer is responsible for the development, introduction and ongoing support of robust manufacturing and assembly processes for new and existing products.
Working cross-functionally with Engineering, Project Management, Quality, Purchasing, Operations, suppliers and customers, the role ensures manufacturing processes are capable of delivering products safely, efficiently and consistently to the required quality standards.
The role will provide technical leadership throughout the product lifecycle, from initial concept and pre-production through product launch and series production, while supporting the development of junior members of the Manufacturing Engineering team. Key Responsibilities
Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Manufacturing & Process Engineering
• Specify, develop, introduce and validate manufacturing and assembly processes for new and existing products.
• Review product specifications, RFQs, engineering drawings and build requirements to determine appropriate manufacturing methods, equipment and process layouts.
• Undertake Design for Manufacture (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) reviews and provide manufacturing input into product design.
• Ensure processes are robust, cost-effective and capable of achieving required safety, quality, capacity and production targets.
• Define appropriate process controls, data capture requirements and Poka-Yoke/error-proofing solutions.
• Develop and maintain assembly processes, operator instructions and associated manufacturing documentation.
• Identify and implement opportunities to improve process capability, productivity, quality and manufacturing cost. New Product Introduction & Quality Planning
• Lead Manufacturing Engineering activities throughout pre-production, launch and transition into series production.
• Work with Project Management, Engineering, Quality, Purchasing and Operations to ensure manufacturing requirements and project timings are understood and achieved.
• Lead the development and maintenance of PFMEAs in alignment with DFMEAs and project requirements.
• Provide Manufacturing Engineering input into DFMEA development and ongoing product reviews.
• Participate in cross-functional APQP activities and ensure manufacturing deliverables are completed in line with programme timing.
• Support product testing and validation throughout prototype, pre-production and production build phases.
• Ensure lessons learned and known product or process issues are effectively fed back into future product and process development. Equipment & Supplier Management
• Develop technical specifications for manufacturing equipment, tooling, fixtures and assembly systems.
• Work with Purchasing and suppliers to ensure equipment is specified, ordered, delivered, installed and approved in line with project requirements.
• Act as the key Manufacturing Engineering contact for production line and equipment suppliers from project development through to series production.
• Support equipment commissioning, validation and final handover to Manufacturing Operations.
• Identify and escalate technical or timing risks associated with manufacturing equipment and suppliers. Production & Technical Support
• Provide technical Manufacturing Engineering support during product launches and throughout series production.
• Investigate manufacturing and process concerns using structured problem-solving techniques and implement robust corrective actions.
• Support engineering changes and assess their impact on manufacturing processes, equipment and production.
• Work closely with Operations and Quality to resolve product and process issues and maintain production performance. Customer & Stakeholder Management
• Act as a key technical interface between Manufacturing Engineering and internal and external customers.
• Understand customer vehicle, powertrain and transmission requirements and translate these into effective manufacturing solutions.
• Maintain effective customer relationships and provide clear updates on Manufacturing Engineering activities, risks and project status.
• Prepare technical reports and presentation material for customer and internal project reviews.
• Work collaboratively across departments to prioritise engineering activities in line with customer and business requirements. Health, Safety & Compliance
• Ensure Health and Safety requirements are incorporated into the design and introduction of manufacturing processes and equipment.
• Ensure new processes and equipment are appropriately assessed and validated before release into production.
• Develop appropriate operating instructions and ensure production personnel are trained in the safe and correct operation of new processes and equipment.
• Ensure Manufacturing Engineering activities comply with relevant company procedures and applicable quality and regulatory requirements. Leadership & Continuous Improvement
• Promote engineering best practice and support the standardisation of manufacturing methods and processes.
• Lead and contribute to continuous improvement activities across quality, cost, productivity and process efficiency.
• Support other members of the department in achieving team and business objectives. Key Skills & Competencies
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing and assembly process development.
• Strong understanding of automotive manufacturing principles and production environments.
• Practical knowledge of APQP, PFMEA, DFMEA, DFM and DFA.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications and technical requirements.
• Strong understanding of process validation, Poka-Yoke, process control and manufacturing data.
• Strong technical problem-solving and root cause analysis capability.
• Experience specifying and introducing manufacturing equipment and tooling.
• Strong project management, planning and organisational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities within demanding project and production environments.
• Strong communication and presentation skills with the ability to engage effectively with customers, suppliers and cross-functional teams.
• Ability to provide technical leadership, coaching and support to less experienced engineers.
• Commercial awareness with an understanding of quality, cost and delivery requirements.
• Proactive, analytical and solutions-focused approach. Experience & Qualifications
Essential
• Significant experience within Manufacturing Engineering, Production Engineering or a comparable engineering role.
• Experience within a manufacturing or engineering production environment.
• Demonstrable experience developing and introducing manufacturing and assembly processes.
• Experience supporting new product introduction and production launches.
• Practical experience of PFMEA and structured automotive quality planning.
• Experience specifying, introducing and validating manufacturing equipment and tooling.
• Strong experience of technical problem solving within a production environment.
• Experience working within cross-functional engineering and project teams. Desirable
• Degree, HNC, HND or equivalent qualification in Manufacturing, Mechanical, Automotive Engineering or a related discipline.
• Automotive, powertrain or high-performance engineering experience.
• Knowledge of transmission design, function, assembly and testing.
• Knowledge of IATF 16949 requirements.
• Experience working with automotive OEM customers.
• Experience managing manufacturing equipment or production line suppliers.
• Previous experience coaching or developing junior engineers. TPBN1_UKTJ