At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead shipbuilding programmes and optimise production strategies at our Methil yard.
- Company: Join Navantia UK, a leader in innovative shipbuilding.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, pension, 31 days holiday, and health care benefits.
- Other info: Opportunity for career development within the wider Navantia Group.
- Why this job: Shape the future of shipbuilding and drive continuous improvement in a collaborative environment.
- Qualifications: Degree in Engineering and significant experience in shipbuilding or heavy engineering.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
We are seeking an experienced Production Engineering Manager to play a critical role in planning and delivering efficient, build‑ready shipbuilding programmes at our Methil yard. This is a senior operational leadership role where you’ll sit at the heart of design, procurement, construction and testing, ensuring that programmes are delivered efficiently, safely and to the highest quality standards. You’ll define how vessels are built – translating design intent into practical, optimised production strategies.
What you’ll be doing:
- Coordinating design, procurement, construction and test activities across shipyard functions to maximise programme efficiency
- Ensuring designs are manufacturable within Methil yard facilities and capabilities
- Defining and owning the production and build strategy, from top‑level concept down to executable work packages
- Working with the Programme Management Office to develop and maintain integrated schedules that drive delivery
- Leading material strategy, procurement launches and inventory control to minimise shortages, storage time and surplus
- Converting construction design outputs into clear work packages for build and test execution
- Supporting installation and testing activities, resolving issues and feeding lessons learned back into continuous improvement
- Driving LEAN and continuous improvement across production engineering and delivery processes
- Leading, mentoring and developing teams while embedding best practice and Navantia UK values
What we’re looking for:
- Essential Degree in Engineering (or equivalent experience)
- Significant hands‑on experience in shipbuilding or a similar heavy engineering / manufacturing environment
- Proven experience leading and managing teams
- Strong knowledge of production engineering, quality standards and project management
- Experience applying LEAN and continuous improvement methodologies
- Ability to coordinate across multiple functions and influence senior stakeholders
- Strong understanding of manufacturing constraints, material flow and build sequencing
Why join Navantia UK?
- A senior leadership role with real influence over how ships are built
- The opportunity to work on complex new‑build programmes
- A collaborative environment that values Service, Trust, Excellence, Agility, Dedication and You
- The chance to shape production strategy and drive continuous improvement at site level
- Career development within the wider Navantia Group
Interested? Apply with your CV and help define the production strategy behind Navantia UK’s future shipbuilding programmes. Navantia UK is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.
Additional Information On Offer:
- Competitive base pay
- Company pension
- 31 days holiday
- Life assurance
- Health Care Cash Plan
If you experience difficulties or are unable to apply for a role online please contact us at people.skills@harland-wolff.com and one of the team will be in contact to help you.
Production Engineering Manager in Fife employer: Navantia UK
Contact Detail:
Navantia UK Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Production Engineering Manager in Fife
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the shipbuilding industry, especially those at Navantia UK. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insights that a job description just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by diving deep into the company's values and recent projects. Show us how your experience aligns with their mission and how you can contribute to shaping production strategies.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t just wait for job postings! Keep an eye on our website and apply directly. Sometimes, the best opportunities come from being proactive and showing your enthusiasm for the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Practice your STAR technique for answering behavioural questions. We want to hear about specific situations where you've led teams or improved processes—make those experiences shine!
We think you need these skills to ace Production Engineering Manager in Fife
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that match the Production Engineering Manager role. Highlight your hands-on experience in shipbuilding and any leadership roles you've had, as this will show us you're a great fit for the team.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about shipbuilding and how your background aligns with our values at Navantia UK. Be sure to mention specific projects or achievements that demonstrate your expertise.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: Since this is a senior management role, we want to see how you've led teams in the past. Share examples of how you've mentored others, driven continuous improvement, or managed complex projects. This will help us understand your leadership style.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the easiest way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows us you’re proactive and keen to join our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Navantia UK
✨Know Your Shipbuilding Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of shipbuilding processes and production engineering. Be ready to discuss how you’ve applied LEAN methodologies in past roles and how they can be beneficial in the context of Navantia UK.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Production Engineering Manager, you'll need to lead teams effectively. Prepare examples of how you've mentored and developed teams in previous positions. Highlight your experience in coordinating across multiple functions and influencing senior stakeholders.
✨Understand the Role's Impact
Get a clear grasp of how this role shapes the shipbuilding process. Be prepared to discuss how you would define and own the production strategy, and how you can ensure designs are manufacturable within the Methil yard facilities.
✨Prepare for Problem-Solving Questions
Expect questions about resolving issues during installation and testing activities. Think of specific challenges you've faced in the past and how you fed lessons learned back into continuous improvement. This will show your proactive approach to problem-solving.